1. Do I have
to pay a fee at the inspection station?
You do not have to pay any inspection fees at the station; the cost
of inspection, including any late and re-inspection fees, are included
in registration and tag fees and must be paid at the time of registration. Additional
fees may apply if you are re-inspecting
your vehicle.
2. How long will it take to
get my vehicle inspected?
The actual inspection
takes about 8-10 minutes but depending on the time you come, wait times can vary up to 30 minutes.
The best time to arrive at the station is Tuesday to Friday between
3 pm and 6 pm or Saturday, 1 pm - 3 pm when wait times are often
less, due to lower traffic volume. Our busiest hours are 6
am to 8 am and during lunch time hours. Our busiest days are Monday
and Saturday morning.
3. What do I need to bring
with me?
To facilitate the process,
you may want to bring one of the following items.
At the time of the initial inspection:
- Out of State Registration - If the vehicle is not currently
registered in DC
- Bill of Sale
- Manufacture's Certificate of Origin
- Title
At the time of the inspection renewal
- Inspection Renewal Notice
- DC Registration
At the time of the re-inspection:
- Inspection Failure Notice
- DC Registration
4. What kinds of vehicles
require inspection?
Any motorized
vehicle that is operated in the District of Columbia. This
includes passenger cars, taxis, buses, motorcycles, snowmobiles,
trailers, commercial, and government vehicles.
5. Is there any reason that
my car can be refused for inspection?
Yes, your vehicle can be refused for a number
of violations, such as excessive exhaust smoke or if the vehicle
is deemed unsafe to operate. If a vehicle fails the initial or the
renewal inspection, DC residents are required to re-inspect the
vehicle within 20 days of the failure notice. Within the 20 days
of the failure notice, the owner may re-inspect the vehicle two
times for free, but will be charged a $25
Re-Inspection Fee for a third re-inspection. If the vehicle
is not re-inspected within the allotted 20 days, a $20
Inspection Late Fee will be applied and an additional penalty
of $20 for each 30-day period or portion thereof will be added.
If applicable, late and re-inspection fees must be paid when the
vehicle's registration is renewed.
6. What is entailed in a safety
inspection?
7. Are any vehicles exempt
from the emissions test?
The only vehicles
which are exempt from the emissions test process are new vehicles
which have a Certificate of Origin (i.e., original title from the
dealer) and zero emission vehicles.
8. What happens
when my vehicle passes inspection?
An inspector
will place a passed sticker on your vehicle and you have successfully
completed the inspection process. Depending on the type of vehicle
you own, the amount of time the sticker is valid for will vary.
If you own a privately owned/not for hire vehicle (passenger car, truck, van, or SUV),
then you will receive a sticker valid for two years. If you
own a taxi then you will receive a sticker valid for six months.
If you own a commercial vehicle you will receive a sticker valid
for one year.
9. What
happens when my vehicle fails inspection?
An inspector will place a failed sticker
on the vehicle valid for 20 days only! The inspector will hand you
a failed report listing the items that failed. Take the report to a mechanic
of your choice for a solution. If you have any problems or complaints
about the inspection ask to speak to a resolution coordinator. Click here for a brochure on vehicle inspection failure.
10. What
are the operating hours of the inspection station?
Operating hours of Inspection station.
11. Can
I make an appointment?
If the wait at the
inspection station is too long, a resolution coordinator will walk
through the line and ask if you would like to come back at a scheduled
time. At your scheduled time you will be inspected immediately without
having to wait in line. Senior citizens will be expedited through
the inspection process.
12. What do I do if I have a problem with the inspection
results?
Ask
to speak with a resolution coordinator, who will assist
you with any questions you may have.
13. If
I fail inspection on just a couple of items, will my
vehicle have to go through a complete re-inspection?
No.
When you bring your car back to the inspection station within 20
days for re-inspection, only the items you failed on the first time
will be checked. After 20 days have elapsed, you will have
to go through a whole new inspection.
14. What happens
if I spend a lot of money on getting my emissions system
repaired and my vehicle still fails?
If you spent
over $725, DMV will waive your vehicle inspection as long as you
spent $725 on getting your emissions repaired and nothing else.
The repairs must also have been done by an emissions certified mechanic.
Original receipt for repairs must be provided in order to receive
a waiver.
15. Do I need my historic
car inspected?
Yes, in order to get historic tags you need to have a single safety
and emissions inspection. After a successful completion of the initial
inspection, the vehicle does not need to be inspected again.
16. Is my vehicle going to
be failed with minor problems?
No. If the vehicle's problems fall under the Pass With Warning category,
then your vehicle will be passed and the problems will need to be
resolved before the next inspection date and no re-inspection is required.
