I agree that shops do (and are incentivized by the sub-market mandatory fee to) charge the customer more. I was rejected in Arlington VA two years in a row. The issue reported for rejection in the second year was already present during the first year's inspection. I took this rejection to a second mechanic and they said that it was bogus. But the second mechanic could not help me with the rejection; he said that I needed to satisfy the original shop that had rejected my vehicle. So, Pham's didn't fail me one year for an issue, but then did the next year, and then another mechanic said the failure was bogus. These facts suggest to me that the shop was just looking for an excuse to fail so that they could charge for the fix. If they were doing a proper inspection, and the rejection was valid, they should have failed the vehicle in year 1 for this issue. I think that a second shop should be allowed to determine whether the issue exists and pass the vehicle. Otherwise you are subject to the whims of a dishonest shop.
J
John Garrison
8 years ago
We need to at minimum do away with the stickers!!!
A
Anonymous
8 years ago
I come from a state no inspection is required I'd like to rid Virginia of the yearly inspections. It causes me great anxiety an stress
B
Bonnie R Wilson
8 years ago
I am originally from VA. I have lived in Knoxville for almost 20 years. There is no car inspections in TN. I am planning to move back up there sometime in the VA. Inspections are not necessary. I see you only have 51 signatures. Do the citizens of VA not want want them to stop these inspections?? They like paying out that extra money for nothing....
A
Allen Johnson
8 years ago
Concur. Have seen all these issues myself. When receiving a rejection sticker I am advised that I am responsible if mechanical failures cause an accident. Does that mean the state is liable if a mechanical failure causes an accident with a vehicle with a valid safety inspection?
C
carl mizzelle
8 years ago
Get rid of asap
B
Bill Amos
8 years ago
Being a mechanic I have been to too many Inspection Stations that try to get you to pay $30.00 for a lightbulb that mysteriously burnt out on the way to the station. Va should abolish this requirement for state inspections.
L
Lori A King
8 years ago
Very good idea & I've been a victim of this more than once!
D
Don Hurley
8 years ago
I am a professional home builder and I would love to visit some of these inspectors homes and compel a list of needed repairs that must be done within 15 days or you can no longer live in the home without being cited. Same with the police officers that want to write tickets for this petty b.s. I guarantee that I could walk into 90 percent of these peoples homes and find issues that need immediate fix. How about a mandatory annual home inspection. Sure would be great for business.
A
Anonymous
8 years ago
for less government
D
Don L Jones Jr
9 years ago
VA State should look at how California State Inspection works (Universal prices with All Shops)
J
John Jackson
9 years ago
State legislators claim that they can't require vehicle owners from out of state to abide by state regulations concerning highway safety by submitting the the same inspection process that state residents are required to submit to because these United States citizens cannot be denied the RIGHT to travel. In contrast the same career politicians claim that driving is a privilege and that is why state residents must comply with this mandate. So state residents are required to prove compliance to earn the privilege to drive but out of state vehicle owners only need to drive because they have the right to do so. This may not involve race, religion, ethnicity or gender but is a discrimintory law just the same. As a state resident you have the RIGHT to vote, but if it were up to the politicians they would claim that voting is a privilege and since you disagree with them you have not met the criteria to earn this privilege.
A
Anonymous
9 years ago
Every year I get charged for ball joint replacement on 3 different vehicles. Beginning to wonder how many lawmakers have interests in repair shops cause it's obvious profits are part of the equation. Get rid of it.
J
Jordan Hedgepeth
10 years ago
Less government
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
Get rid of it...
P
Peter Akey
10 years ago
I have an older car which is VERY well maintained by a VERY good mechanic. These shops just see dollar signs when I roll in for an inspection. The fact that a service shop does the inspection themselves, how is bias and the thought of profitability removed from this equation? I have been reject for every reason imaginable and charged exorbitant amounts of money. This prays on the poor and struggling class.
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
This is absolutely ridiculous! It is to the point - where every time I go in its $200-$300 to pass the inspection. I have lived in four other states and they do not have this. Never was it even an issue! It is enough to make me want to move out of Virginia and get away from this stupid law.
I agree that shops do (and are incentivized by the sub-market mandatory fee to) charge the customer more. I was rejected in Arlington VA two years in a row. The issue reported for rejection in the second year was already present during the first year's inspection. I took this rejection to a second mechanic and they said that it was bogus. But the second mechanic could not help me with the rejection; he said that I needed to satisfy the original shop that had rejected my vehicle. So, Pham's didn't fail me one year for an issue, but then did the next year, and then another mechanic said the failure was bogus. These facts suggest to me that the shop was just looking for an excuse to fail so that they could charge for the fix. If they were doing a proper inspection, and the rejection was valid, they should have failed the vehicle in year 1 for this issue. I think that a second shop should be allowed to determine whether the issue exists and pass the vehicle. Otherwise you are subject to the whims of a dishonest shop.
We need to at minimum do away with the stickers!!!
I come from a state no inspection is required I'd like to rid Virginia of the yearly inspections. It causes me great anxiety an stress
I am originally from VA. I have lived in Knoxville for almost 20 years. There is no car inspections in TN. I am planning to move back up there sometime in the VA. Inspections are not necessary. I see you only have 51 signatures. Do the citizens of VA not want want them to stop these inspections?? They like paying out that extra money for nothing....
Concur. Have seen all these issues myself. When receiving a rejection sticker I am advised that I am responsible if mechanical failures cause an accident. Does that mean the state is liable if a mechanical failure causes an accident with a vehicle with a valid safety inspection?
Get rid of asap
Being a mechanic I have been to too many Inspection Stations that try to get you to pay $30.00 for a lightbulb that mysteriously burnt out on the way to the station. Va should abolish this requirement for state inspections.
Very good idea & I've been a victim of this more than once!
I am a professional home builder and I would love to visit some of these inspectors homes and compel a list of needed repairs that must be done within 15 days or you can no longer live in the home without being cited. Same with the police officers that want to write tickets for this petty b.s. I guarantee that I could walk into 90 percent of these peoples homes and find issues that need immediate fix. How about a mandatory annual home inspection. Sure would be great for business.
for less government
VA State should look at how California State Inspection works (Universal prices with All Shops)
State legislators claim that they can't require vehicle owners from out of state to abide by state regulations concerning highway safety by submitting the the same inspection process that state residents are required to submit to because these United States citizens cannot be denied the RIGHT to travel. In contrast the same career politicians claim that driving is a privilege and that is why state residents must comply with this mandate. So state residents are required to prove compliance to earn the privilege to drive but out of state vehicle owners only need to drive because they have the right to do so. This may not involve race, religion, ethnicity or gender but is a discrimintory law just the same. As a state resident you have the RIGHT to vote, but if it were up to the politicians they would claim that voting is a privilege and since you disagree with them you have not met the criteria to earn this privilege.
Every year I get charged for ball joint replacement on 3 different vehicles. Beginning to wonder how many lawmakers have interests in repair shops cause it's obvious profits are part of the equation. Get rid of it.
Less government
Get rid of it...
I have an older car which is VERY well maintained by a VERY good mechanic. These shops just see dollar signs when I roll in for an inspection. The fact that a service shop does the inspection themselves, how is bias and the thought of profitability removed from this equation? I have been reject for every reason imaginable and charged exorbitant amounts of money. This prays on the poor and struggling class.
This is absolutely ridiculous! It is to the point - where every time I go in its $200-$300 to pass the inspection. I have lived in four other states and they do not have this. Never was it even an issue! It is enough to make me want to move out of Virginia and get away from this stupid law.
[email protected]