West Virginia requires a routine safety inspection every twelve (12) months (WV Code 17C-16.4). Vehicles may be inspected at any official inspection station licensed by the West Virginia State Police. When a vehicle passes the inspection, a sticker valid for twelve (12) months will be placed on the inside of the windshield. It is illegal to drive a vehicle in WV without a valid inspection sticker.

We contacted the West Virginia State Police, since that is who oversees the inspection process in WV, for information on when an inspection sticker officially expires. The response was that a WV inspection sticker expires at midnight on the last day of the month indicated. So it as the end of the month that the sticker is stamped that it expires, not the beginning.

West Virginia Code 17-16-9 notes that it is a misdemeanor for any owner or operator, or both owner and operator, of any vehicle required to be inspected to operate or permit to be operated such vehicle without having displayed thereon a current and valid certificate of inspection.

Unless another penalty is by the laws of this state provided, every person convicted of a misdemeanor for operating a vehicle without having displayed thereon a current and valid certificate of inspection and approval or for failure to produce such certificate upon demand of an authorized person shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100).

If you were cited for having an expired inspection in WV than you can contact the court listed on your ticket to find out the penalties including the fine amount you will receive. You may also want to ask and find out if renewing the inspection sticker before your court date could help you reduce your penalties.

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