DC residents are required to have their vehicles inspected prior to registration. New vehicles which have a Manufacturers Certificate of Origin (i.e., title for a new vehicle) and which are not used for commercial or for hire use are exempt from an initial inspection. The vehicle's inspection must be periodically renewed.

• What is a vehicle inspection?
• How do I get my vehicle inspected the first time?
• Can I schedule a vehicle inspection in advance?
• What if my vehicle fails inspection?
• How do I renew my vehicle's inspection?
• How do I get my vehicle re-inspected?
• What are the inspection requirements for my vehicle?
  • Privately Owned/Not For Hire Vehicle
  • Taxi Vehicle
  • Bus or Commercial Vehicle
• What are the fees for vehicle inspection?
• How are the vehicle inspection fees charged?

• Directions to the 1001 Half Street, SW Inspection Station Location
• Senior citizens are expedited when they arrive at the inspection station on Tuesdays through Fridays.
• For Hours of Operation and other information visit Service Locations.
• The best times to visit the station are Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday afternoons from 3 pm - 6 pm. Customers are advised that the days before and after a holiday and most Saturdays are especially busy due to many customers being off from work.
• Although vehicle inspections are conducted on a first come, first served basis during normal hours of operation, appointments may also be scheduled in advance using our online Inspection Station Appointment Scheduling System.

• Items that will be inspected on the vehicles include: lights, brakes, suspension, emissions, and other safety components.
• Vehicles smoking excessively will not be inspected.
• Please do not bring pets to the inspection station
• Vehicle mileage at the inspection station is recorded to the nearest thousand by rounding down. This is an industry standard.
  
• Once an inspection sticker is removed from the windshield, it will display "VOID". Since it is illegal to display a voided sticker, if your windshield is replaced, please proceed to the Inspection Station within 72 hours for an inspection sticker replacement. A fee is required for the sticker replacement.
• Due to the implementation of the EPA mandated requirement to perform IM240 inspections on vehicles 1995 and older, which require a dynamometer test, your inspection will take longer than newer vehicles.
• As of September 19, 2005, the requirement for IM240 inspections was not being accomplished due to new dynamometers being installed at the station; the new equipment is now in place and in service as of July 30, 2007