Motor Vehicle Inspection Stickers Explained
The Virginia State Police Motor Vehicle Inspection Program has experienced a recent increase in requests for replacement state inspection stickers and is reminding the public of the proper procedures surrounding inspection sticker removal and replacement during windshield service.
Virginia Code § 46.2‑1164 allows a valid state inspection sticker to be removed solely for the purpose of transferring it to a newly installed windshield.
Inspection stickers are issued to the vehicle, not to the individual or business performing repairs. Possessing an inspection sticker that does not belong to a vehicle you own or operate may lead to criminal prosecution. The current anti‑counterfeiting stickers are designed to be removed and reapplied; minor cosmetic changes that occur during transfer do not affect their validity until the next annual inspection.
Sticker replacements should only be necessary when a sticker is completely destroyed or damaged. Businesses performing windshield replacements are required to make a good‑faith effort to transfer the existing Virginia State Inspection sticker from the old windshield to the new one. If the sticker is damaged in the process, the business must provide the customer with the destroyed sticker. The customer may then contact the nearest State Police Motor Vehicle Inspection Program Office to receive a replacement. With a valid inspection receipt, replacement stickers issued through this process are provided at no charge. In cases of lost or stolen inspection stickers, a police report is required before a replacement can be issued.
Vehicle owners should keep the original Motor Vehicle Inspection receipt inside the vehicle, as required by law. If a transferred sticker leads to a traffic stop, presenting the inspection receipt and documentation of the windshield replacement should resolve any concerns.
September 16, 2026 @ 8:26 pm
Why do we have to have inspection stickers? Why do we have to have front license tags? Why? Another reason to tax us for ignorant items that really are unnecessary. Another state cut the inspection stickers over 40 years ago! Anything to tax us
September 16, 2026 @ 11:55 am
On a recent bike ride through a large neighborhood, fully 25% of the cars had an expired inspection sticker. Some by 2 or 3 years. And these cars were all parked on the street….Just sayin…
September 16, 2026 @ 9:42 am
Whenever my car is due for some kind of maintenance, oil change, etc. I usually return to the dealership and if not, wherever I take the vehicle, I go ahead at that time and have an inspection done. It saves having to go back in the month the inspection expires and go thru the frustration of having to compete for a time to get it done.
September 15, 2026 @ 11:42 am
florida did away with the inspection stickers
September 15, 2026 @ 7:10 am
They need to do away with this process totally. Who has the money anymore to even fix what they will fail you for???
September 15, 2026 @ 1:46 pm
Karen people like you are the reason we have inspection,to keep the roads safe and cars are in good repair to protect other people on the roads of Virginia.
September 15, 2026 @ 7:02 am
i have been an inspector since 1975. our family business always did the inspections as it was designed. to keep people safe. most people wont see a tire that has worn to the cord on the inside edge. they wont feel or tell that a tie rod end is ready to fail causing you to loose steering. they wont see rusted brake lines, or a leaking exhaust that could make you sick on a long trip. over the years i feel we have saved people lives by doing the the hated inspection. but we did it as it was intended to be done. its a safety inspection. it could save your life.
September 14, 2026 @ 7:43 pm
another way to squeeze more dollars out of our overrated pockets virginia is for lovers. lol it a wonder there isn’t a tax on love here in the commonwealth what a joke
September 14, 2026 @ 7:43 pm
yep total bc
September 14, 2026 @ 7:36 pm
They should just call them “pointless stickers to take your money”. There are only like 10 or 11 states that have these.
September 14, 2026 @ 5:20 pm
Inspection process is a major pain! The shops do not make them a priority, so you wait behind the profitable repairs before they hopefully get to you. I had to try 3 places before I found someone who said they could do it in 2-4 hours, ended up taking 8 hours! And I was the very first one in line when the shop opened.