Your Virginia State Safety Inspection, done right the first time. TAB Motors is an official inspection station on Langston Blvd in Arlington, most cars are in and out the same day.
What you get
Official VA inspection station
Honest pass/fail, no scare tactics
While-you-wait, most vehicles
Every vehicle registered in Virginia needs a valid state safety inspection sticker, and TAB Motors on Langston Blvd is an official inspection station right here in Arlington. Our certified inspectors run the full Virginia State Police checklist, brakes, steering and suspension, tires, lights, wipers, horn, mirrors, seat belts, and exhaust, and give you a straight answer on what passes and what doesn't.
Honest results, no manufactured failures
Plenty of Arlington drivers worry an inspection is a sales pitch in disguise. It isn't here. If your car passes, you get the sticker and you're on your way. If something fails, we show you the actual worn or broken part, explain why it's a safety issue, and give you an upfront price to fix it, you're never pressured, and you're free to take the repair elsewhere. That "honest diagnostics, quality work, and fair pricing" is exactly what our reviews keep pointing to.
Inspection + repair in one stop
Because we're a full-service shop, anything that fails inspection can usually be corrected the same day, a brake repair, a suspension or steering part, a burned-out bulb, or a fresh set of tires. You don't have to drive to a second shop and come back. Need your emissions done too? We handle Virginia emissions inspection as well, so both requirements are covered in one visit.
Driving on an expired sticker
An expired inspection sticker is a ticketable offense in Arlington and across Northern Virginia. If yours is close, swing by or call (703) 243-3080 and we'll get you in.
What the inspection costs
The Virginia safety inspection is a regulated test with a fee set by state law, not a repair we quote. Under the Code of Virginia the fee is fixed by vehicle class, so it is the same at every official station in the Commonwealth and does not change based on what your car turns out to need. Call (703) 243-3080 for the current inspection fee and we will tell you the exact amount before you come in. Any repair is a separate job with its own price.
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
Every vehicle registered in Virginia needs a valid safety inspection sticker, and the inspection is due once a year. If you are new to the Commonwealth, you need one when you register the vehicle here. The sticker on your windshield shows the month it expires in the center and the year around the edge, and it is good through the end of that month.
What gets checked
Brake pads, rotors, lines and parking brake operation
Steering, ball joints, tie rods and suspension play
Tire tread depth, sidewall condition and matching
Headlights, brake lights, turn signals and markers
Wipers, washer, horn, mirrors and windshield condition
Seat belts, fuel system integrity and exhaust security
What to bring
The vehicle, with the current sticker still on the windshield
Your registration
Anything you already know is wrong, so we can look at it in the same visit
Walk in or book ahead
Walk-ins are welcome for inspections. You do not need an appointment, but calling (703) 243-3080 ahead means less waiting, and mornings are usually the quickest time to come in.
If your vehicle fails
You get a rejection sticker instead of a pass, and the inspector writes up exactly which items failed. Under Virginia regulation a rejection sticker is valid for 15 calendar days from the day it is issued. We show you the part, explain why it failed, and quote the repair before we touch anything. Because we are a full repair shop as well as an official inspection station, most failures can be fixed here the same day instead of sending you to a second shop. You are free to have the repair done elsewhere.
Reinspection and retest
If the vehicle comes back to the station that rejected it, within the rejection sticker's validity period, state law caps what may be charged for the reinspection at a nominal amount rather than a second full inspection fee. Ask us at the counter and we will confirm what applies to your vehicle.
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
How long does a Virginia state inspection take?
Most passenger vehicles are done while you wait, typically under an hour when we're not backed up. Call ahead at (703) 243-3080 and we'll tell you the best time to come in.
How much is a Virginia safety inspection?
Virginia sets the maximum inspection fee, so it's a small, fixed cost. We charge the standard state rate, call for the current amount.
What happens if my car fails inspection?
You get a rejection sticker and 15 days to repair the failed items. We'll show you exactly what failed and can usually fix it the same day so you leave with a passing sticker.
Do I need an appointment?
Walk-ins are welcome for inspections, but calling ahead means less waiting. Mornings are usually the quickest.
Do you do emissions inspection too?
Yes. Arlington is in the Northern Virginia emissions region, and we handle both the safety inspection and the emissions test in one visit.
