DC Vehicle Inspection Station

Disorganized. Was third in a lane, then proceeded to wait 20 min while they took 8 cars ahead of me that arrived later. The folks on my lane moved like molasses. No one paying attention.
Update: as soon as I posted a gentleman came by and said he didn’t know why I was left there and that he saw a lot of people go ahead. He took care of the inspection himself in a few minutes.

I don’t think anyone likes going to the DMV or getting a car inspection. But, my experience was extremely pleasant. I pulled in around 2pm on a Friday. Kevin Lewis directed me to an open lane that only had two cars in front of me. All they needed was the key to my car. I didn’t have DC plates yet and it was still easy. For other out-​of-​towners, make sure you get the inspection done before you go to the DMV to register your car. I waited about 20 – 30 minutes and just chatted with other patrons outside. It was a nice day so I got lucky. My car is also a 2012 so by the time my car came up, I think the inspection lasted maybe 5 minutes. The guy put the sticker in my window and gave me my printout. I then took the printout to the DMV to get my car registered. This placed changed my opinion on an inspection station.
Sidenote: They don’t check tires or car tints.

Amazing! I am speechless that this is a DMV service. We went at 215pm in the fall. Station closes at 300pm. No line. Tony took us in and was super super friendly. Inspection done in ten minutes. Even though the car seat clinic is on Tue and Thur Larry Walker with his supervisors permission helped install out seat. He was amazing. Showed me all the evidence on the different places to install the seat and installed it several times till I was happy. I was so grateful and he was so kind! I felt like I was on the north pole with Santa’s helpers and the elves. Such nice friendly people!

Three visits here now and I’m noticing some patterns. Overall it’s a pleasant process as long as you don’t get stuck in lines waiting for your inspection. I suggest setting up an online appointment, but it seems there are also hours where they’re not busy.
Across three visits from 2010 – 2015
Visit 1: Came middle of day and had a 10 – 15 min wait
Visit 2: Wait was ~1hr at 7:30AM on a Sat morning. Sucks I woke up early just to wait in a huge line.
Visit 3: Made an online appointment for Thurs 8:15am. It wasn’t needed though since there was no line when I arrived.
Also, get your car inspected before it expires. $ 20/​month fee every month past expiration.

So easy! I needed to come here prior to visiting the DMV to switch my out-​of-​state plates and ID. I was dreading coming because I thought it would be a long, painful process but I was in and out of there in under 15 minutes. I came on a Thursday morning right when it opened at 6am. I was the first car in the last lane and left quickly after with an inspection sticker and the paper document detailing the inspection. 4 other cars were already waiting when I arrived 5 minutes before 6am and it seemed as though a lot more cars were beginning to come around 6:10-ish. The people who worked there were very nice and professional as well.

Friendliest people! In and out in 3 min (no line) at 1:45pm on a Saturday. Really easy. They replaced my sticker, put the paperwork in my car.
Don’t forget to take off the emergency brake cause I often drive away with it on. Oops!

I arrived around 9:15 on a Thursday morning in August without an appointment, and I had no line at all. The whole process took under five minutes! Amazing!

Outstanding service, friendly and professional. I will not dread next year’s inspection. Even the restrooms were clean.

They do NOT inspect window Tints! I have 35% all around and got through no problems (I did roll down my windows).
They appear to be only running an ODB scan and checking for codes. So as long as you don’t have a Check Engine Light (CEL) you should pass the inspection.
It took 45 minutes at noon Friday in July.
Staff is positive, friendly and very professional.

I honestly don’t know how anyone can complain about this inspection station. The people there are extremely friendly, efficient and professional.
Like any DMV there are good times to go and bad times to go, which they even list on their website. Having noticed that Wednesday mornings at 6:00 am are a good time to go, I arrived at 5:30 am and was literally back home by 6:15. Amazing!

Depending on the day, and time you go. Remember it is the DMV, and no matter where you go, in what state you go, they are always a cranky bunch.
DC now, you only get your emissions inspected, not saftey inspected, unless you are a commercial vehicle.
Check online for the times they are open, as they are open odd times, more so in the summer, when it is HOT. I have found if you go towards the end of their day, which might be early in the afternoon, you tend to get thorugh the fastest.

Showed up at 6:45 am on Saturday and I was out by 7:30. You can watch through a window as your vehicle gets inspected, just like a full-​service car wash. No paperwork required.

The inspection station was great. Granted, my expectations were low. But even still… DC Vehicle Inspection Station was a well-​oiled machine.
There was a guy flagging people in to the shortest of about 5 inspection lines. The guy who greeted me was patient, explained the process and made things simple for me. Background: I’ve never registered a vehicle in DC. He gave me a rough time-​table, which seemed reasonable.
My next encounter was with the guy who completed my inspection. He found me inside and showed me to the car. He gave me the appropriate paper work and told me to have a nice day. Good guy. I asked him where the nearest DMV center was where I could register my car. He gave me directions and was friendly about it.
I was dreading doing this errand, but the people I met treated me kindly and respectfully. The process was totally painless. Overall, it took about 15 minutes total. Not bad IMO.

Ok. I’m continuing in my quest to give credit where credit is due. I arrived here to get an inspection in preparation for switching my out of state plates to DC plates. I went on a Saturday at 10:45 am. I was literally through the line and inspection process in 20 — 25 minutes. No hassles at all.
I do wish they had one day with later hours for those who work days during the week (I say this about all the DMV offices), if they did I would give them 5 stars.

If the DMV makes you want to poke your eyes out, this place will make you elated. The last two times I’ve gone, I’ve made an appointment through the easy online system (the only thing that isn’t easy is figuring out where to go for your appointment once you actually get to Half St SW), but today (a Friday in the summer) at 9:45am, it was so empty that the appointment wasn’t even necessary. We were in and out of the inspection station in under ten minutes. Everyone who works here is very friendly, and it’s totally efficient.

Here is a new tip:
Come here to get your car inspected when there is a Mayoral election going on — especially when there is a Mayor trying to get re-​elected.
You’ll be in and out guaranteed.
A few years ago, this would have been a 1-​star experience when you would be expected to use an entire PTO day to just go through the cumbersome process of getting DC tags.
On a funny note, there were other Mayoral candidates campaigning here. Not very smart when things have apparently become much much better.

Not to be confused with the Department of Motor Vehicles main location which is next door and has it’s own Unilocal listing, the Vehicle Inspection Station is not bad at all. Assuming your check engine light isn’t on, you have the usual paperwork (ie reg or temp tag, reg or temp registration, insurance, all which may or may not be needed depending), and nothing is expired. They are NOT OPEN ON MONDAYS, and the lines can be long on the other days, but they try to keep many bays open. In my 3 experiences I usually average around 30 mins waiting in line, then it takes 7 – 15 once your car is actually in the bay, then you’re out of there. It’s much easier to pass inspection in DC than Maryland or Virginia.

It’s centrally located, which is important since this is DC’s only inspection station. There is an online appointment system, which I did not use. Coming in on an afternoon there was a modest wait, maybe 15 – 20 minutes until it started and another 10 until it was over. Pleasant people. You don’t pay any fees at the site, which makes things easier; they’re included when you register the vehicle. Not a bad experience at all.

This place is awesome. Yeah, you have to wait on the line — I waited maybe 15 minutes or so on a weekday at 1pm. BUT, once you get to the front they inspect your car in about 5 minutes or less. I literally went to go sit down in the waiting room and my car was already done.
Not sure if they are really looking at the car or if this is just a way for the DC government to make some cash, but either way, I felt the whole process was pretty painless. What more can you ask for when something is expected to be a bureaucratic nightmare?

What’s to say, it’s a requirement so no level of service is expected or initiated by staff.
The lines are long and the drinks are weak.
…wait that second comment was for a different review. But the lines part is correct here also!