State Inspections

[TLCMose]

I'm looking at picking up a 1996 LWB with the gas engine. Fresh off the boat, no mods.

Has anyone had problems with state inspections, if your state requires it? I'm in Virginia.

The guy at the dealership told me it won't pass inspection because of emissions, (I'm not in an emissions testing area), just that it doesn't meet DOT emissions sticker. Also that the headlights are not DOT and won't pass. Apparently there is a state trooper around that dealership area that if he sees an inspection sticker he pulls you, pulls the inspection sticker, and then may charge the shop who did the inspection.

I called another dealership in a different part of the state and they use a non-JDM dealership and never have any problems. I see people driving RHD from time to time, and think they are inspected.

I would intend to swap the headlights for the retro round looking style, if I can find the correct trim pieces and wiring.

I don't want to end up with a truck I can't drive daily like I intended.

Anybody have any experience on this? Thanks

 

[apexwerks]

@spyrobyte any advice on VA inspections?

 

[apexwerks]

OK... pending a response from others more knowledgable, here's my feedback:

1. I'm in NC, not VA, so take all this with a grain of salt.
2. This sounds like a dealership who either doesn't want to do the work or is just actively pulling your leg.
3. VA will let you register a vehicle over 25 years old as an antique auto. Based on my cursory reading of the requirements, the registration process does not require an official state inspection at all.

Regardless, I've never heard of anyone being unable to register a 25+ year old vehicle in VA.

 

[TLCMose]

Thanks Apexwerks You are correct on the antique tag. In VA that comes with some restrictions, though not really enforced. Since I intended on this being a daily driver I was going to try not to push the line.

I think it's this one guy in the dealers area, so I am still planning on moving forward with it.

I plan to replace the headlights anyway when I can source the correct inserts for the 7" round conversion since I have the LWB. I found some on Ebay but aren't sure how legit they are.

Thanks for your excellent thread on the purchase and build of yours. I've read over it a couple times.

 

[apexwerks]

Thanks Apexwerks You are correct on the antique tag. In VA that comes with some restrictions, though not really enforced. Since I intended on this being a daily driver I was going to try not to push the line.

I think it's this one guy in the dealers area, so I am still planning on moving forward with it.

I plan to replace the headlights anyway when I can source the correct inserts for the 7" round conversion since I have the LWB. I found some on Ebay but aren't sure how legit they are.

Thanks for your excellent thread on the purchase and build of yours. I've read over it a couple times.

Thanks, I'm behind on my thread but hope to get some updates up next week. If you're going to do the round headlight conversion, go ahead and make the jump to TruckLite or Philips LEDs. You'll also need a harness with relays if yours is a switched ground like mine, but the modern lighting is totally worth it.

 

[TLCMose]

Thanks, I'm behind on my thread but hope to get some updates up next week. If you're going to do the round headlight conversion, go ahead and make the jump to TruckLite or Philips LEDs. You'll also need a harness with relays if yours is a switched ground like mine, but the modern lighting is totally worth it.

That's the plan. I saw your comments about that harness and will likely source that harness to have it on hand when I do the switch. Where did you get yours? I don't think that was on your list of vendors. Thanks again.

 

[apexwerks]

That's the plan. I saw your comments about that harness and will likely source that harness to have it on hand when I do the switch. Where did you get yours? I don't think that was on your list of vendors. Thanks again.

You’re right, I didn’t put that in the list. There’s a bunch of them on eBay for $12-15. I thought about making one - it’s just a couple of relays and three connectors, plus a fuse. But they’re so cheap I couldn’t justify the labor.

 

[spyrobyte]

I'm running antique tags on my LC Prado and Hijet (kei truck) in VA. I have not run into any issues in the past two years with my imported vehicles.

A few things to note about antique tags in VA:

• Cost / Taxes - The application fee is a one time $50 fee when you apply. You do not pay any property tax on anything with antique tags.
• Inspection - Self certify that the vehicle is safe to drive when you sign the DMV (VSA 10B) form. No yearly safety inspection is required.
• Secondary Vehicle - Virginia requires that you certify that you either own another vehicle with standard plates or have permission to drive one. You'll need that information when you apply for the tags. I have two other vehicles with standard Virginia plates so this was not a issue for me personally.

The restrictions on these plates are not heavily enforced...at-least in the Hampton Roads area. The local PD's have better things to-do. I have also driven out of state to NC without any problems. It sounds like they are giving you a hard time for the inspection. I'd find another shop if you plan on getting it inspected.

Feel free to DM me if you have any questions.

 

[TLCMose]

Thanks, I run antique tags on a motorcycle I have but wanted to run regular tags on this one, though if I have to go to antiques I will. I'm pre-ording all the parts to retro-fit the headlights to 7" round and DOT approved and take away their complaints.

Thanks again.

 

[1MOA]

Your inspection guy is full of himself. Find a better inspection place.

 

[John Young]

I have a couple of LC's registered in VA; and I decided to go ahead and renew online.

Next page:

After a couple of screens and a decision to support organ donorship:

and then a couple more screens plus payment and...

So I can confirm that one can RENEW a VA registration without inspection on a 25 year old truck. As far as I know the safety inspection sticker is still required, but now I am not so clear on that...

 

[John Young]

It so happens that I also happen to have a 1998 LC also eligible for renewal, that is not quite 25 years old.

When I tried the same process with the 1998 there was a new section:

When I tried to 'waive' it gave me an error and told me to enter a test month. I think I might recall that emissions might not be every year...

So there you have it. If the car is 25 years old I think you are good in VA to register. If you need to prove the date of your vehicle go to ToyoDIY and enter the VIN and it will show you the production month, which can be a year earlier than the first title in the US. Worth making the argument anyways.

Let us know how it goes!

 

[D21FJ60]

It so happens that I also happen to have a 1998 LC also eligible for renewal, that is not quite 25 years old.

When I tried the same process with the 1998 there was a new section:

View attachment 3062133

When I tried to 'waive' it gave me an error and told me to enter a test month. I think I might recall that emissions might not be every year...

So there you have it. If the car is 25 years old I think you are good in VA to register. If you need to prove the date of your vehicle go to ToyoDIY and enter the VIN and it will show you the production month, which can be a year earlier than the first title in the US. Worth making the argument anyways.

Let us know how it goes!

@John Young , Emissions is every 2 years for a few select counties and incorporated cities outside DC- including arlington which is why youre see it for Dhanno..
@TLCMose I don;t think you guys have emissions in SWVA but I could be mistaken

 

[TLCMose]

You are correct, we do not have emission in the SW area of the state. Thanks for the continued information. I don't think I'll run into any real problems, looks like it's pretty contained to the area around the dealership, for whatever reason.