Top 10 Reasons Cars Fail Virginia Safety Inspection
Skip the rejection sticker. These are the issues that most often trip up Virginia drivers — and what to do about each.
Most Virginia inspection failures come down to a handful of cheap, fixable issues. Tires below 2/32" tread, burnt-out bulbs, cracked windshields in the wiper sweep, worn brake pads, and bad wiper blades top the list every year.
Less common but still frequent: loose or torn ball joints, leaking brake lines, missing license plate lights, and exhaust leaks ahead of the catalytic converter.
If your check engine light is on, your car will fail a Northern Virginia emissions inspection (but not a safety inspection unless the light itself is broken).
Frequently asked
Will my car fail with a check engine light?
It will fail emissions in NoVA, but the safety inspection itself is unaffected by a CEL — only by the warning lights that affect safety (ABS, airbag, brake).
Can my car fail for a cracked windshield?
Yes, if the crack is in the wiper sweep area on the driver's side or obstructs the driver's view.