CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia lawmakers are once again taking up legislation that would eliminate the state’s mandatory vehicle inspection requirement.
Senate Bill 249, introduced by Sen. Hart, would repeal all provisions in state law requiring vehicle owners to have their cars periodically inspected. The bill would remove inspection standards, regulations for inspection stations, penalties for non-compliance, and all related inspection procedures.
Under current law, West Virginia vehicles must pass an inspection every two years, a change made in 2024 after inspections were previously required annually. Inspections typically cover items such as brakes, lights, tires, windshield wipers, and emissions systems.
Efforts to eliminate or modify vehicle inspections have surfaced repeatedly at the Capitol. Lawmakers have introduced similar proposals for at least eight consecutive years. In 2023, the House of Delegates narrowly defeated a repeal measure by just three votes.
A related bill, House Bill 2717, was introduced in February 2025 by multiple delegates but failed to advance.
Senate Bill 249 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and will then move to the Senate Committee on Finance. The bill includes a fiscal note outlining potential revenue losses tied to the elimination of inspection fees and associated procedures.
