Virginia Car Registration, Inspection and Emissions Testing

We got the postcard in the mail about a month ago. It was time to register the car again. Not only that an inspection and emissions test was required first. So after our morning walk yesterday we took the car for a spin and drove to a gas station that is located right before the ramp to the GW Parkway. Last year when we went to a neighborhood gas station we waited in the car for about an hour. So we decided to try another place this year. My husband checked to see if the inspection could be done in short order and they said it could. It took about half an hour. The inspection was $20 and the emissions test was $28. When we got home I got on the DMV website and was able to log in - something that was a problem last year. So there was an additional $42 to register. Additionally we have to pay a tax for the privilege of parking our car in the state of Virginia. I don’t remember having that expense in the Midwest and I don’t remember having to do emission testing every year in DC. I’m just glad we got that out of the way - until next year. 

DC Motor Vehicle Registration and Parking Permit

In Wisconsin we had a two car garage and a long driveway. We never worried about parking. Things are much different here in DC. Yes, you had to register your car, but you didn't have to pay for the privilege of parking in the street somewhere near your house - if you're lucky. I envy anyone who has a garage around here. Luckily we can usually find something close by, but you need to be adept at parallel parking. I'm so sorry our new subaru doesn't have that function! So today we decided we better put the new parking sticker on the front left lower windshield as the old one expires this month. It's always a tricky business, and we had our scraper with the cutting blade to help. With the holiday weekend the neighborhood is a ghost town. All he locals leave and that means ample parking. I suppose it could be worse. But I still wish we had our own driveway and garage. It's just one more thing to think about.