Newly-introduced bill would eliminate mandatory vehicle inspections in this state

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va (WDTV/Gray News) – A new West Virginia bill would repeal the state’s mandatory vehicle inspection requirement, eliminating a long-standing regulation that requires vehicle owners to have their cars inspected periodically.

Senate Bill 249, introduced by Senator Craig Hart, would eliminate all provisions requiring West Virginia vehicle owners to pass state inspections, including:

• Inspection standards and requirements
• Inspection station regulations
• Penalties for non-compliance
• All related inspection procedures

West Virginia currently requires vehicles to pass an inspection every two years. A similar bill, House Bill 2717, was introduced in February 2025, but did not advance.

Inspections have been a long-standing requirement in West Virginia, checking items like brakes, lights, tires, wipers and emissions systems.

For eight consecutive years, lawmakers have introduced proposals to eliminate or modify the inspection requirement.

Lawmakers have been trying to eliminate or modify vehicle inspections since at least 2015. In 2023, the House of Delegates came close to passing a similar measure, defeating it by only three votes.

In 2024, the inspection requirement was changed to every two years after originally being required annually.

The bill comes with a fiscal note, indicating potential revenue impacts from the elimination of inspection-related fees and procedures.