>In theory I don't mind the annual safety inspections in Virginia, because they can catch stuff people wouldn't otherwise notice until it's too late. In practice it doesn't seem to make much sense since at least half the cars around here are from other states which aren't subject to the same standards. So, out of curiosity I looked into this. I think that the state would do better by allowing motorists to get a subsidy towards their automobile insurance in the state if they have regular inspections instead of mandating them. $20 ain't bad for all the systems that are inspected though. And most people suck at looking at things. That doesn't mean you force them to have a surveyor check things out or get a fine. For example if your house catches on fire it might cause damage to your neighbors house and even lead to people's death. People could argue that for this reason you now have to have an anual home inspection where they check your smoke detectors, electrical wiring, chimney flu, oven cleanliness, etc.