VA State Inspection

Sunset Hills Automotive is a Virginia State Police licensed inspection station. In the state of Virginia it is required that you have you vehicle inspected every year. We handle inspections for cars and light trucks. We serve Reston, VA, Herndon, VA, Sterling, VA, , and all of the Northern Virginia Area.

Find My Nearest Location

Licensed Inspection Center in Reston, VA

Before we can inspect your vehicle, two things have to happen.

• The entire (old) inspection sticker is removed
• The vehicle must be able to be driven (under it's own power) into the inspection lane

Then the following items are inspected:

1. Service brakes
2. Brakes: emergency, parking, or holding
3. Steering & Suspension
4. Frame, engine mounts, coupling devices and emergency chains (for trailer)
5. Tires, Wheels & Rims
6. Headlamps
7. Rear lamps: tail lamp; license plate lamps and rear lamp combinations
8. Auxiliary lamps: backup; cornering; driving; fog; spot and warning
9. Parking lamps
10. Clearance lamps and reflectors
11. Signal device (intention to stop or turn), hazard lights, stop lamp
12. Permissible lighting equipment (e.g. Running board or courtesy lamps)
13. Windshield And Other Glass
14. Mirrors
15. Windshield Wiper/Defroster
16. Horns and other warning devices
17. Doors At The Right & Left Side Of The Driver’s Seat
18. Hood latch system
19. Floor Pan
20. Driver’s Seat
21. Seat Belts (including Air Bag And Airbag Readiness Light)
22. Muffler, exhaust system and trailer venting
23. Air Pollution Control System or device
24. Fuel System

After the inspection is complete you’ll either get a new safety sticker, dated for the same month for the following year, or a rejection sticker on your vehicle.

If you receive a rejection sticker you will be told why you have failed and provided with a list of the failing items along with an explanation. The rejection sticker is valid for 15 days during which you are entitled to receive up to 2 re-inspections for a fee of $1.00.

VA Emissions Inspections

Your vehicle will also need a state emissions inspection. If your gas-powered vehicle is less than 25 years old, or a model year before 1997 for a diesel, you'll need an emissions test. A simple tailpipe test will be done. This measures the emissions that your vehicle puts out. The maximum inspection fee is $28. If the vehicle fails the inspection, the vehicle is eligible for ONE free retest at the original emissions inspection station within 14 calendar days of the Initial inspection.