Virginia State Inspection

Took my truck in today for its first annual check-up. Thought it would be quick and easy, but 2-hours later I found myself speaking with the technician about why my less-than-a-year-old truck failed Virginia state inspection.

As soon as I bought the truck I replaced my front halogen bulbs with LED's, and my rear with MESO's Total Tail Stage 1 kit. I didn't really consider that my headlights might be a problem. If anything, I thought maybe there would be something silly about the turn signal and reverse bulb being in the same housing. Well, I now know that, according to Virginia administrative code 19VAC30-70-510, it's a no no to install LED's in halogen headlamp housings. Looks like @MESO did his homework though, no hits on the Total Tail kit.

Thought I'd pass along my new found knowledge to you fine folks. Looks like I'll be swapping back to my OEM bulbs to get my approval.. then coming right back home to swap them back again.

 

Such a silly gotcha inspection requirement. I decided to opt for the LED lighting package from the factory luckily. Glad to now know I avoided the inspection hassle.

 

Wow that’s silly but luckily it’s easy to swap the bulbs back.

 

Not silly at all. I don't know how many people come at me in the night with "aftermarket" led headlights that blind oncoming traffic. Either pony up and get factory led's or run stock until you can afford a trim that has stock led's.

 

Wow. And I thought we have it bad here in California.

 

Just move to a state without an inspection. Here in Oregon we can drive the Flintstone mobile as long as it passes emissions testing in the larger metropolitan areas.

 

Keep the truck stock and you won’t have any problems.
You want to make changes call your state police and ask.
Don’t assume anything.
My normal was to fail 3 or 4 trucks a week…

 

Gotta give it to Oregon, you all definitely take the cake for “how the **** is this thing on the road?” Impressive or scary? Not certain

As for inspections, there’s pros and cons to both. Freedom is cool and all, but I’m sick of being blinded by anything and everything.

@VABeachTacoTrail do you plan to swap out the bulbs every year just for inspection? Seems annoying and definitely a questionable way of skirting the purpose of an inspection.

 

Lots of people do that and with other things as well.
I use to take pictures and archive them. Saved my license many a time..

 

I’m with @hiPSI.

Running LEDs in a halogen housing is shitty for everyone you pass in the opposite direction.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/why-leds-should-not-be-run-in-halogen-reflectors.454371/

 

Good for Virginia. About damn time.

Not making it a personal attack @OP... I've been there done that. I noticed it big time on my Subaru due to the reflection of the signs on the road and instantly uninstalled.

Also, today I saw some asshat with straight up blue headlights... just felt the need to share that...

 

Here in FL they don't have inspection or emissions testing in any part of the state. It's up to the police to stop and cite you if you're violating anything in the MV code, and that's not high on their priority list. Honestly with what some people drive here I wish they had a full inspection like when I lived in NJ.

 

I have been dealing with Va. state inspections for 35 of driving and dealing with the yearly inspections. I never had a car or truck fail. A state inspection takes about 20 minutes by a good state inspector. I use LEDs in my Tacoma for a few years and never had an issue with them failing, I use LEDs in the license plate lights and reverse lights. Your inspector seems to be a little tuff on some things as I understand its now against the law but really? I have had a few mods that were on the line of causing a failure but it passed. Its also illegal to alter the suspension but its never enforced at inspection time. Lots of inspectors just do a lickem and stickem!!!

 

Anything that happens in Oregon is not a surprise these days… ‘nuff said.

I too hate the “look at me” assholes who think it’s cool to blind oncoming drivers with their cheap headlight setup…do it right or don’t do it.

 

When I first moved to Virginia they would take my car apart looking for "business" I now know better. Stay within compliance and find someone more than reputable.

 

All fair points.. when I first put them in I was sure to check that the throw wasn't significantly higher or wider. It's a bit "cleaner" in my opinion, and I've become accustomed to the temperature.

To @hiPSI's point, it'd prob be best to go with the OEM LED option. I guess I just have issues with justifying that cost difference.

@Hook78 you seen anything comparing the two in the 3rd gen housing? I know sometimes those 2nd gen housings can get frosty.. wondering if that was some of the cause for concern.

 

Putting LEDs in a Halogen housing will give you terrible results. Although it might seem brighter, the actual projection of light isn’t there. Here’s a thread with the science in it.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-hid-vs-led-vs-halogen-h11-projector-headlights.589465/

 

Not that I recall but this is the guy to ask:

@crashnburn80

 

Seriously though. Don’t put those lamps back in. The world doesn’t need another asshole. There are already plenty of them out there. It might look fine to you, but do you drive past yourself at night? Do you have astigmatism in both eyes? Those aftermarket LED lamps really are blinding. If you just NEED upgraded lights, get the whole thing.

 

In Houston 25%+ of the vehicles run LED’s or their bright, it’s truly F annoying.