Lindsey Desmet
Short Answer — Valvoline does state inspections at some (but not all) of its service locations. Vehicle inspections typically take 30 minutes to one hour and do not require an appointment; the average cost is about $25.
Does Valvoline Do State Inspections?
Valvoline does state inspections at select service locations — the company recommends contacting your local Valvoline to find out if it offers inspections.[1]
If your local Valvoline doesn’t offer inspections, an associate should be able to tell you if there are other service centers in the area that do.
For more about Valvoline’s state inspection services, we contacted Valvoline Instant Oil Change and Valvoline Express Care locations across the U.S.
States That Require Inspections
Not all states require regular vehicle inspections.
Our research focused on the states that require annual or biennial inspections; these include:
- Hawaii[2]
- Maine[3]
- Massachusetts[4]
- Missouri[5]
- New Hampshire[6]
- New York[7]
- North Carolina[8]
- Pennsylvania[9]
- Rhode Island[10]
- Texas[11]
- Utah[12]
- Vermont[13]
- Virginia[14]
About 60% of the Valvoline service centers we contacted in these states said they offer state safety and emissions tests.
However, none of the locations we contacted in Delaware, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania offer inspections.
Inspection Costs
Costs for state inspections vary widely based on a few factors, including:
- The type and age of your vehicle — inspection requirements are typically more extensive for older cars[1]
- Whether the state requires emissions testing in addition to a safety inspection[1]
- Whether the state requires testing on a set schedule or offers one-year and two-year certification options[1]
- Your state’s fee schedule and regulations. For example, while the state sets inspection fees in New York,[15] Pennsylvania’s inspection regulations require separate charges for the inspection and the certificate of inspection.[16]
Although each state has unique regulations (making it impossible for us to give exact pricing details), the Valvoline locations we contacted gave inspection price estimates between $12 and $40, with an average cost of about $25.
You’ll want to check with your local service center or your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for more pricing information.
Valvoline service centers are typically open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.[17]
State inspections take anywhere from 30 minutes to one hour, depending on the type(s) of inspection required.
All services at Valvoline are “first come, first served,” so no appointment is necessary.[1]
Where Else Can You Get a State Inspection?
If your local Valvoline doesn’t offer state inspections — or if there is no Valvoline near you — you’ll need to find another service center in your area that does inspections.
You may want to look into getting an inspection at one of the following locations:
- Firestone Complete Auto Care
- Goodyear Auto Service
- Jiffy Lube
- Midas
You may also be able to get an inspection at a Walmart Auto Care Center, though the locations that offer the service are severely limited.
Some states like Delaware also allow inspections at the DMV.[18]
Firestone’s website includes a helpful vehicle inspection guide sorted by state; most state websites have inspection station finders to help you locate a licensed inspector.
William Lipovsky
