Service

Virginia State Safety Inspection in Arlington

Your Virginia State Safety Inspection, done right the first time. TAB Motors is an official inspection station on Old Dominion Dr in Arlington. Walk-ins are welcome; call to check the queue and inspector availability before you travel.

Call about inspection availability Get directions

(703) 243-3080 · Mon–Fri 7–6 · Sat 7–3. Call to confirm an inspector is available before travelling.

Plan your inspection visit

Test fee: Virginia’s maximum safety inspection fee is $20 for standard passenger vehicles, $12 for motorcycles and autocycles, and $51 for the heavy trucks and buses listed by Virginia State Police. Repairs are separate and quoted before work starts.
Walk-ins and waiting: Walk-ins are welcome. Call to check the queue and inspector availability. Shop hours are Mon–Fri 7–6 and Sat 7–3; these are not a guarantee that an inspector is available at every moment.
Bring with you: 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

A request is not a confirmed appointment. Any repairs are separate and need your approval.

Official Virginia inspection fee information

About this inspection

Every vehicle registered in Virginia needs a valid state safety inspection sticker, and TAB Motors on Old Dominion Dr 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.

Requirements, checks and retesting

What the inspection costs

Virginia’s maximum safety inspection fee is $20 for standard passenger vehicles, $12 for motorcycles and autocycles, and $51 for the heavy trucks and buses listed by Virginia State Police. Repairs are separate and quoted before work starts.

The test fee is regulated by Virginia. The maximum safety inspection fee for a standard passenger vehicle is $20; other vehicle classes have different maximum fees.
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. Call (703) 243-3080 to check the queue and inspector availability before travelling. An online request does not reserve a time.

If your vehicle fails

You get a rejection sticker instead of a pass, and the inspector writes up exactly which items failed. The rejection period includes 15 days in addition to the inspection day. A rejection sticker does not make an unsafe vehicle legal to drive. 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.

Talk to the shop

Call (703) 243-3080 or come by 4035 Old Dominion Dr, Arlington, VA 22207. You can also send us the details online and we will get back to you.

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 a maximum fee of $20 for a standard passenger-vehicle safety inspection. Other vehicle classes have different maximum fees. Repairs are separate and require your approval.
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. Call ahead to check the current queue and inspector availability; an online request does not reserve a time.
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.

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Ready for your inspection?

Call before you travel to check inspector availability and the current queue. Walk-ins are welcome; the phone call does not reserve a place.

Call (703) 243-3080