Vehicle Inspection
Vehicle Inspection Requirements
West Virginia requires a routine safety inspection every twenty-four (24) months. Vehicles may be inspected at any official inspection station licensed by the West Virginia State Police. When a vehicle passes the inspection, a sticker valid for twenty-four (24) months will be placed on the inside of the windshield. It is illegal to drive a vehicle without a valid inspection sticker.
New Residents and Recent Purchases
- New Residents: You have 10 days from the date you title a vehicle to obtain a West Virginia inspection.
- Out-of-State Purchases: Vehicles purchased out of state must be inspected within 10 days of titling.
- In-State Acquisitions: Any vehicle acquired within West Virginia without a valid inspection sticker must be inspected within three days.
Reciprocity States
West Virginia honors valid, unexpired out-of-state inspection stickers from the following states:
Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.
What to Bring
At the time of inspection, you must have the following documents in the vehicle:
- A valid registration card
- A current certificate of insurance
For more information, visit the WV State Police Motor Vehicle Safety Program.
View all official motor vehicle inspection stations.
New Law: Two-Year Inspection Cycle
Effective January 1, 2024, West Virginia extended motor vehicle inspection requirements from one to two years (HB 2310).
- Frequency: Inspections are now required once every two years.
- Fees: The maximum inspection sticker fee is $19, which covers the full two-year period.
- Scope: The Superintendent of the West Virginia State Police requires every motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer, and pole trailer registered in the state to be inspected to ensure mechanisms, brakes, and equipment are working properly.
