Virginia Law

A. The inspection of motor vehicles required by this chapter shall be made only by those individuals who are certified and licensed as safety inspectors by the Department of State Police. The procedures outlined in this section are applicable to the processing of applications for initial certification, reclassification of safety inspector's licenses, and reinstatement of suspended or revoked safety inspector's licenses.

B. All certified inspectors shall be at least 18 years of age and meet the following qualifications:

1. A minimum of one year of practical experience as an automotive mechanic (six months of practical experience as an automotive mechanic combined with an additional and separate six months of mirroring a certified state inspector shall suffice as practical experience), or

2. Satisfactorily completed a training program in the field of automotive mechanics approved by the Superintendent of State Police.

A person who has met either of the practical experience requirements in repairing motorcycles may be certified to inspect motorcycles only. A person who meets practical experience requirements in repairing trailers may be certified to inspect trailers only.

C. Each mechanic entering the inspection program is required to satisfactorily pass a written and practical examination exhibiting knowledge of the inspection procedures.

D. Each certified inspector shall possess a valid Virginia driver's license with the following exceptions:

1. An inspector who is a resident of an adjoining state holding a valid driver's license in that state and who commutes regularly to work in Virginia; or

2. A member of the armed forces of the United States on active duty, or a dependent or spouse thereof, who holds a driver's license from the inspector's home state.

E. An inspector whose driver's license is suspended or revoked, including the seven-day administrative suspension for an arrest for driving under the influence (DUI), must immediately notify the station's supervising trooper or the local Safety Division Area Office of the suspension or revocation. The suspension or revocation of an inspector's driver's license shall automatically act as a suspension of the inspector's privilege to inspect motor vehicles until such suspension or revocation is terminated, and the reinstatement has been made by the Superintendent of State Police.

F. Each licensed safety inspector must have a valid safety inspector's license in the inspector's possession at all times while conducting inspections.

G. Each safety inspector with a valid safety inspector's license need only present such valid license to the inspector's new employer to commence participation in the program at a new place of employment. Management of the inspection station is required to notify the Safety Division when a safety inspector begins or ends employment. This notification may be handled by contacting the inspection station's supervising trooper by telephone.

H. In the event the safety inspector's license becomes mutilated, lost, or stolen, the inspector must notify the Department of State Police immediately to request a duplicate using the Safety Inspector Notification Form. All required information shall be printed legibly and completely. An inspector who is not employed, writes "Inactive" in the station name block.

In those cases where notification is being made due to an address change, it is necessary to complete the Safety Inspector Notification Form and submit it to the Safety Division Headquarters. The inspector's information will be updated within the MVIP database by the Inspector Files Clerk.

NOTE: The Safety Inspector Notification Form can be downloaded from the Virginia State Police website under the Vehicle Safety Inspection link.

NOTE: Safety inspector licenses are only generated and distributed for initial certifications, renewals, name changes, and mutilated, lost, or stolen licenses. Inspectors submitting a change of address notification are not issued a new license.

I. An inspector must notify the station's supervising trooper or Safety Division Area Office within 72 hours of an arrest for a criminal offense or the institution of a civil action.

J. Requirements for safety inspector applicants with a specific learning disability.

1. Applicants must furnish documentation from the particular school division where the applicant was classified as having a learning disability. The specific learning disability must be clearly identified.

2. Once the learning disability has been documented, and if applicable, the applicant will be allowed to test with the written exam being orally presented.

3. The station management, where the applicant is employed or to be employed, must agree to have someone present during the hours the employee is conducting inspections to assist with the reading of the Official Motor Vehicle Safety Inspection Manual when necessary during the initial three-year certification period. If the inspector changes stations within the first three-year period, it is the inspector's responsibility to notify station management of the inspector's disability and this requirement.