I am probably going to be moving to Virgina beach or somewhere near that area from oklahoma w/in the next month or two and i just have a few questions. Do they require you to have a front liscends plate? what are the window tint laws and how strict are they... and what is there inspections like? Do they check all of stuff or basic's like tires, lights, windshield, and stuff like that? but most important about that tag thing i would hate to drill holes on my car, is there any possible way of avoiding it like keeping the tag inside my car just incase if that is the law? thanks for any help.

Alex.... Abercrombiealex15@hotmail.com

We lived in VA Beach for 12 years, believe me they are strict on the front plates! Chester got a ticket for "improper display of state tags" when we lived there ( he had a "Chevy Eater" plate on the front instead of the actual tag). Inspections wre pretty stiff also. We now live in NH, it's about the same here, except NO COMMONWEALTH!!! Chester's parent's still live in VA Beach.

Hi Alex, It's true that you do have to display a front license plate, properly attached to the front of the car, in Virginia. Annual state inspections check all the usual stuff, including the integrity of the exhaust system, the tire tread depth, brake component condition, and many other things. I'm not sure, but I don't think the inspectors check window tinting, but I could be wrong. Even so, if they don't, the state police will if they see it and suspect it is too dark. Also, a regional Va. state inspection note: So far, in the Tidewater area (Norfolk/Va. Beach/Hampton areas), they don't do a smog check during the normal state inspection. Farther North, like around Wash. D.C., Alexandria, and other major metropolitan areas, they include a smog check as part of the annual inspection. Have a safe trip to the Old Dominion, be sure to look us up when you get settled.
Curry Obenshain
Pres. Fiero Owners Club of Southeast Virginia www.vafieros.com

Alex,
Just some more info, Agian yes to the plate and yes to checking tint, as long has you have no more than 35% sides and 20% rear you are ok. I have 4 cars inspected each year. I take my fieros to a guy who "takes care of me". Its not that bad, most of the stuff they check you want them to check anyway, like brake pads, lights, horn ect.. Again no smog test unless you are up north so its not that bad. The plate thing sucks cause they get you everytime you take it off, at least they do me. I take it off for shows sometimes but never drive with out it anymore. And like Curry said, if you keep it regestered in anonther state you are good to go.

Rob

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"DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT"

Thanks for the info. So about keeping my car registered as an OK car how would i go about that. mean just keep updating my OK tag or just get a VA tag. i'm confused on this issue. LoL, you have to explain it alittle better about the registration. I have 20% window tint all the way around my car so would i probably get stopped for it? and then a few more questions. How much does inspection cost each year, and how much does it cost to update your tag each year? and if i went to get a VA tag would i have to register my car and then get the front tag, and would i have to buy my own tag bracket? Sorry for all the questions but this is all happening probably in about 1 month. Thanks for all of the info!!!!

Alex...

Hi Alex,
Let's see: Inspections are an annual thing, and cost $10. If your car fails, they put a "rejected" sticker on the windshield and you have 1 week to get the car to comply. If your car then passes reinspection, there is no additional charge, but if you miss the one week deadline, a new inspection must be done, again for the $10 fee. When you move to Virginia, I believe (and I might be mistaken) you have 90 days to register your car and get Va. plates. However, if you claim to be a resident of another state, and maintain an address there (as Harry does), you may continue to display license plate(s) from that state. There are a LOT of military members in the Tidewater area, so it is not unusual to see license plates from all over the place. I'm not sure if cars registered in other states (but whose owners live here permanently) are required to have the annual inspection. Harry or Rob could probably answer that. If you decide to bite the bullet and register your Fiero in Virginia, I have an extra Fiero front license plate bracket that you may have for free. It's in good condition, and you will only have to get some screws to hold the license plate in place, and some clips and screws to mount the bracket to your Fiero's nose. As for the all around tint (I think none is allowed in the front), if you have 20% on the sides and rear, you should be ok according to what Rob told you. I hope this helps! Take care.
Curry

Virginia native here and state inspector. If you have a GT or that type front end you don't need to drill any holes...if you get the correct bracket for the car. The other models...I can't remember.

As for inspection....you run the gamit from insp. stations that just pull the car in and check the lights and write a sticker to ones like me that check EVERYTHING! Hell you're paying good money...don't you want to know you're safe? Or that you car needs work...I would. Tinting is not inspected anymore but the cop can give you a ticket for it as soon as you pull out of the insp bay.....lol. No tinting is permitted on the front side glasses or windshield without a medical waiver....rear glass can be tinted as dark as you like as long as you have 2 side mirrors. If you have a 4dr car you can have the rear glasses tinted 35%. Also, exhaust just has to be not leaking...and no...exhaust patch stuff won't pass. You can run straight exhaust as long as you have a cat...but the cops can give you a ticket for loud exhaust as soon as you pull out of the insp bay.....lol. Lots of diff things about VA inspections from other states...silly ones I think. If you have any other questions just ask me...been inspecting for over 25 years. Welcome to VA..it's a beautiful state.

Phil

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GTDude 88 Formula V-6
5spd T-Tops
25 years GM experience

[This message has been edited by GTDude (edited 02-09-2002).]