Registration inspection path

New-resident vehicle inspection in District of Columbia

The vehicle must pass DC inspection before full registration. Brand-new passenger vehicles are exempt, and a 45-day temporary tag may be available when an expired out-of-state tag or lender-held title blocks inspection.

Requirement boundary

Vehicle or VIN inspection

The reviewed state rule identifies a statewide inspection, safety, or VIN step for an incoming vehicle.

Official sources

DC DMV: Register a new or used vehicleReviewed 2026-07-31DC DMV: Temporary registration and tagsReviewed 2026-07-31
Official station search

Use the state source to choose an approved station

No station-level import is current for this route. The official source above remains the authority.

No verified provider is listed for this exact transaction yet

Use the official state instructions. We do not show a near-match, unverified business, or provider with an expired authorization.

Open the official state guide
Failed inspection

Read the failure report before booking a repair

The failure code determines the repair and any waiver path.

Open the failed-inspection path