Va. Code » Title 46.2. Motor Vehicles » Subtitle III. Operation » Chapter 10. Motor Vehicle and Equipment Safety » Article 21. Safety Inspections
Virginia Code

Va. Code Ann. § 46.2-1158 (2026)

Frequency of inspection; scope of inspection

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Motor vehicles, trailers, and semitrailers required to be inspected pursuant to the provisions of § 46.2-1157 shall be reinspected within 12 months of the month of the first inspection and at least once every 12 months thereafter.

Each inspection shall be a complete inspection. A reinspection of a rejected vehicle by the same station during the period of validity of the rejection sticker on such vehicle, however, need only include an inspection of the item or items previously found defective unless there is found an obvious defect that would warrant further rejection of the vehicle.

A rejection sticker shall be valid for 15 calendar days beyond the day of issuance, during which time the operator of the vehicle shall not be charged for a violation of vehicle equipment requirements set forth in Article 3 (§ 46.2-1010 et seq.) through Article 9 (§ 46.2-1066 et seq.) for such vehicle. A complete inspection shall be performed on any vehicle bearing an expired rejection sticker.

The completion of the conversion process for a converted electric vehicle shall invalidate any inspection of such vehicle conducted in accordance with this section prior to the conversion. Following the initial inspection of a converted electric vehicle, as required under § 46.2-602.3 and the provisions of this chapter, such vehicle shall be reinspected in accordance with this section.

1977, c. 655, § 46.1-315.2; 1978, cc. 302, 748; 1982, c. 646; 1989, c. 727; 2012, c. 177; 2020, cc. 1230, 1275.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4 cases, 1998–2013 · leading case: Reel v. Commonwealth, 522 S.E.2d 881 (Va. Ct. App. 2000).
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Reel v. Commonwealth, 522 S.E.2d 881 (Va. Ct. App. 2000). · cites it 7× “Code § 46.2-1158 provides that “[a] rejection sticker shall be valid for fifteen calendar days beyond the day of issuance.”
Ceon Maurice Fauntleroy v. Commonwealth of Virginia, 746 S.E.2d 65 (Va. Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 2× “” See Code § 46.2-1158 (requiring such inspections "within 12 months of the month of the first inspection and at least once every 12 months thereafter”).”
Eberth v. Cnty. of Prince William, 637 S.E.2d 338 (Va. Ct. App. 2006). · cites it 2× “operated on the highways in this Commonwealth to [an] inspection [of its mechanism and equipment].” Any vehicle “required to be inspected .”
Commonwealth v. Vernon, 47 Va. Cir. 321 (Charlottesville Cir. Ct. 1998). · cites it 2× “Such a law promotes the Commonwealth’s interest in public safety by helping to ensure that only properly-functioning vehicles are permitted to operate on the roads. If a vehicle fails the annual inspection, it must display a rejection sticker.”
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