Arlington sits in the Northern Virginia emissions region, so most vehicles need an emissions test to renew registration. TAB Motors handles it quickly and honestly on Langston Blvd.
What you get
Northern VA emissions testing
OBD & tailpipe as required
Fix-and-retest under one roof
If you live in Arlington, Fairfax, Alexandria or most of Northern Virginia, your vehicle is part of the Commonwealth's emissions inspection program and needs to pass an emissions test every two years to renew its registration. TAB Motors | Exxon is set up to run that test right here on Langston Blvd and get you back on the road fast.
How the Virginia emissions test works
Most vehicles from 1996 and newer get an OBD (on-board diagnostics) emissions check, we plug into your car's computer and confirm the emissions systems are working and that there are no active fault codes. Older or specialty vehicles may get a tailpipe-style test instead. Either way, the goal is the same: making sure your car isn't polluting more than it should.
Why cars fail emissions, and how we fix it
The most common reason a car fails is a check engine light or a "not ready" monitor status. That's rarely a mystery to us, our technicians run full engine diagnostics, find the real cause (a bad oxygen sensor, a loose gas cap, a failing catalytic converter, a misfire), and repair it. Because we're a complete repair shop, we can fix the failure and re-test without sending you across town.
Check engine light on or recent battery disconnect ("not ready")
Failing oxygen (O2) sensor or air-fuel ratio sensor
Catalytic converter efficiency below threshold
Evaporative (EVAP) leaks, often just the gas cap
Engine misfire from worn spark plugs or coils
Emissions + safety inspection together
Virginia requires both a safety inspection and, in our region, an emissions test. Doing them together at TAB Motors saves you a second trip. Come in, get both handled, and if anything needs attention we'll give you an upfront price before touching a thing.
What the inspection costs
The emissions test is a regulated test with a maximum fee set by state law, not a repair estimate. The Code of Virginia caps what any station in the program may charge for an emissions inspection, so the test itself does not cost more because your car is older or bigger. Call (703) 243-3080 for the current test fee. If the car fails, the repair is a separate job that we quote separately before starting.
The test fee is set by the Commonwealth and is the same at every official station.
Any repair is a separate job, quoted separately, and only after you approve it.
Optional work we notice while the car is here is exactly that. We will mention it and leave it to you.
The reinspection or retest has its own rules, set out below.
Who needs this
Arlington sits inside the Northern Virginia emissions program, along with Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William and Stafford counties and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park. Most gasoline vehicles registered here need an emissions test every two years to renew registration. Vehicles from the current model year and the three model years before it are exempt, and so are gasoline vehicles more than 25 model years old. Diesels and some other categories have their own rules. If you are not sure which applies to you, call with your year and model and we will check.
What gets checked
An OBD scan of the emissions systems on most 1996-and-newer vehicles
Whether the readiness monitors have completed, or read not ready
Whether the check engine light is commanded on
A tailpipe-style test instead, on older or specialty vehicles that need one
The gas cap and evaporative system where applicable
What to bring
The vehicle, driven long enough to be warmed up
Your registration
A note of any recent battery disconnect or repair, which can reset the readiness monitors
Walk in or book ahead
Walk-ins are welcome and the test itself is quick. Calling (703) 243-3080 ahead is worth it if you want your safety inspection done in the same visit, which we can do.
If your vehicle fails
An illuminated check engine light is an automatic failure, and so is a set of monitors that will not read ready. Neither is a mystery: we run engine diagnostics, find the actual cause, and quote the repair. Common causes are an oxygen sensor, a catalytic converter below efficiency, an evaporative leak (often just the gas cap) or a misfire from worn plugs or coils. You are never obliged to have the repair done here.
Reinspection and retest
Under the program rules, a vehicle that fails is eligible for one free retest at the station that performed the original test, within 14 calendar days of that test. That is a state program rule rather than a TAB Motors offer, and it is a good reason to have the repair and the retest done in the same place. Ask us and we will confirm the date your free retest window closes.
Call (703) 243-3080, start a quote online, or stop in. What you hear or feel, and when, narrows things down before anything comes apart.
2
We look at the car
We check the actual parts rather than guessing from the symptom, and we tell you if the cause turns out to be something other than what you came in for.
3
You get the price first
We show you what we found, explain what is urgent and what can wait, and quote the work before we start. You are free to think it over or take the quote elsewhere.
4
We do the work
Once you approve it, the job goes ahead, backed by our 1-year warranty on parts and labor. Payment plans available for larger repairs.
5
You get the car back
Road tested where it matters, with a plain explanation of what was done and anything worth keeping an eye on.
AAA members save
AAA members get 10% off labor, up to $75. Bring your card.
Backed for a year
1-year warranty on parts and labor.
Payment plans available
Spread the cost of a bigger job. Ask us in the shop.
Frequently asked questions
Does my car need a Virginia emissions test?
Most gasoline vehicles registered in Arlington and the Northern Virginia region need an emissions test every two years. Vehicles from the current model year and the three model years before it are exempt, and so are gasoline vehicles more than 25 model years old. Diesels and some other categories have their own rules. Call (703) 243-3080 if you're unsure.
My check engine light is on, will I fail emissions?
Almost certainly, yes. An illuminated check engine light is an automatic emissions failure. Bring it in and we'll diagnose the cause and fix it so you can pass.
How long does the emissions test take?
The test itself is quick. If your car passes, you're in and out. If it fails, we'll walk you through the repair options right away.
Can you fix my car if it fails and then re-test it?
Yes, that's the advantage of testing at a full-service shop. We diagnose, repair, and re-run the test without sending you elsewhere.
Do I need emissions AND a safety inspection?
In Arlington, yes. We can do both in the same visit to save you time.
