New Virginia State Inspection Guide for Chester Drivers
Virginia state inspection in 2026: blue stickers, white rejection stickers and lifetime inspections at Haley Ford
In 2026, Virginia cars that pass inspection get a blue sticker, and cars that fail get a new white rejection sticker that has to be scraped off later[4]. The rules underneath didn’t change: every car, including a brand-new one, still needs an inspection every 12 months[2], the fee is still up to $20[2], and your license plate still needs its registration decal[3]. If you bought your car from Haley Ford, your state inspections are included for life with the Haley Advantage on qualified vehicles.
What changed in 2026: the stickers
The Virginia State Police redesign the inspection sticker each year to make it harder to counterfeit. For 2026[4]:
- Pass sticker: blue. It still carries the holographic state seal and the dogwood image.
- Rejection sticker: white instead of pink. It sticks much harder and has to be scraped off once your car passes. The old pink ones often fell off on their own.
- Motorcycles and trailers: one orange sticker instead of two, with the expiration year printed on it.
- Coming next: red in 2028 and yellow in 2029.
Your sticker expires on the last day of the month shown on it[8].
What didn’t change, whatever you’ve read
Two bills from the 2025 General Assembly were widely reported as law. Neither passed.
- New cars still go 12 months, not 24. HB 2334 would have given new vehicles a 24-month first sticker at double the price. It was tabled in committee and died[5]. Virginia law still requires reinspection within 12 months[2].
- Plate decals are still required. HB 2080 would have ended registration decals. It died in 2025[6], and a 2026 version, HB 1143, was held over to 2027[7]. Virginia law still requires a decal showing the month and year your registration expires[3]. Buying a car? Our buying guide covers title, registration and fees.
If either bill becomes law in a future session, we’ll update this page.
Do new cars need a Virginia inspection?
Yes. When a dealer completes the manufacturer’s required inspection on a new vehicle, that counts as its first state inspection[2]. From there, it needs a new inspection within 12 months, then every 12 months after that[2][8].
What the inspection checks
Virginia’s inspection is a full safety check of about two dozen items[1], including:
- Brakes and parking brake
- Headlights (type, aim and output), taillights, brake lights and turn signals
- Steering, suspension, ball joints, tie rods and wheel bearings
- Tires (including tread depth), wheels and rims
- Windshield and other glass, wipers and defroster
- Exhaust system and emissions equipment
- Mirrors and horn
- Seat belts, airbags and the airbag warning light
- Doors, hood latch, fuel system and floor pan
The inspector also removes any unauthorized stickers from the windshield[1]. The full list is in the State Police inspection procedure.
What it costs
A Virginia safety inspection costs up to $20 for a car or light truck, and up to $12 for a motorcycle[2]. That price is set by state law, so it’s the same maximum at every inspection station.
If your car fails
You’ll get a white rejection sticker that’s good for 15 days[2]. Fix the items listed, then bring the car back to the same station within those 15 days and the reinspection of those items costs $1[2]. After 15 days, or at a different station, it’s a full inspection again.
If your sticker has expired
Get it inspected as soon as you can. Police can’t pull you over just for an expired sticker until the first day of the fourth month after it expired[2], but it’s still a traffic infraction, and an officer who stops you for something else can cite it.
Lifetime state inspections at Haley Ford
Every qualified vehicle bought at Haley Ford includes the Haley Advantage, and lifetime Virginia state inspections are part of it. Bring it in each year for as long as you own it, and the inspection is covered.
Not a Haley customer yet? Our service team on Route 1 in Chester inspects all makes and models.
Service hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–6 p.m. · Saturday 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
Frequently asked questions
Do new cars need a Virginia state inspection in 2026?
Yes. A dealer’s manufacturer-required inspection counts as a new car’s first state inspection, and the car must be inspected again within 12 months and every 12 months after[2]. A bill to give new cars a 24-month first sticker (HB 2334) did not pass[5].
Why is there no registration sticker on my Virginia plate?
Virginia still requires plate decals, so a missing one usually means it fell off, was stolen, or hasn’t arrived after renewal[3]. Bills to end decals have not become law[6][7]. Contact Virginia DMV for a replacement.
What color is the 2026 Virginia inspection sticker?
Blue. Rejection stickers are now white instead of pink, and motorcycles and trailers get a single orange sticker[4].
How much is a Virginia state inspection?
Up to $20 for a car or light truck and up to $12 for a motorcycle, set by state law[2]. Haley Ford customers with the Haley Advantage get lifetime state inspections on qualified vehicles.
What happens if my car fails inspection?
You get a white rejection sticker good for 15 days. Fix the listed items and bring it back to the same station within that time, and the reinspection of those items costs $1[2].
Can I get pulled over for an expired inspection sticker?
Not for the sticker alone until the first day of the fourth month after it expired, but it’s still a traffic infraction and can be cited if you’re stopped for something else[2].
Sources
Facts on this page come from these sources, checked October 27, 2026. Bracketed numbers in the text match the numbers below. We recheck this page after each General Assembly session.
- Virginia State Police, “Vehicle Safety Inspection.” vsp.virginia.gov/safety-and-enforcement/vehicle-safety-inspection Required inspection procedure and maximum fees.
- Code of Virginia, Title 46.2, Chapter 10, Article 21, “Safety Inspections.” law.lis.virginia.gov/vacodefull/title46.2/chapter10/article21 §§ 46.2-1157 (expired stickers), 46.2-1158 (12-month cycle, 15-day rejection), 46.2-1158.01(A)(18) (dealer first inspection), 46.2-1158.02 (penalty), 46.2-1167 (fees).
- Code of Virginia § 46.2-712, “Requirements of license plates and decals.” law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter6/section46.2-712 Decals still required.
- WRIC ABC 8News, “VSP inspection stickers 2026,” December 30, 2025. www.wric.com/news/virginia-news/vsp-inspection-stickers-2026/amp Virginia State Police release on blue, white and orange stickers and future colors.
- VPAP, HB 2334 (2025), “Vehicle safety inspections; extends period for new motor vehicles.” vpap.org/bills/85661 Status: Killed.
- VPAP, HB 2080 (2025), “Registration decals; discontinued.” vpap.org/bills/85465 Status: Killed.
- VPAP, HB 1143 (2026), “Registration decals; discontinued.” origin.vpap.org/bills/89206 Continued to the next session.
- Virginia State Police, “Vehicle Inspection FAQs.” vsp.virginia.gov/safety-and-enforcement/safety-division/vehicle-inspection-faqs New vehicles and dealer inspections; sticker expiration.
Due for an inspection?
Schedule online or call 804-748-2253. Haley Ford service is on Route 1 in Chester, open Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–6 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
General information only, not legal advice. Inspection requirements are set by the Code of Virginia and the Virginia State Police and can change. Lifetime state inspections are part of the Haley Advantage on qualified vehicles; see dealer for details.