VA ride height laws?

[Glassnpowder98]

I was trying to look online but I couldn't find anything... I took my car in to get inspected and the dude said that my car is too low and it won't pass inspection. We'll just say that they offered to throw a sticker on for a little extra cash... Does anyone know what the laws are because my friend said he thinks I got conned?

[krazyboi]

I too think you might've gotten conned. I could be wrong, but that "law" sounds pretty ridiculous. I'll see if I can research.

[Grishbok]

yes you got conned and could report the shop that would cost them about 50,000$ for a first offense. There is no "pay this $ and you pass" you either do or dont. There is no ride height law to that extent.

For passing emissions in VA on cars that will NOT legitimately pass, we used to lower the car so much you cant get the bung into the exhaust OR get it on the dyno, they HAVE to give you an exemption, next time, same thing. etc etc.

They give you a pink slip with the safety inspection check list on it at the shop and nowhere on it does it mention ride height. Your car was fine, when i saw your car.. there is no reason at all for it not to pass. You should pm me the name of the shop so i can get your money back.

[Glassnpowder98]

Damn, oh well... the mechanic who originally said no definitely made it sound legit and offered to show me the "rule book" or whatever about the ride height law. I don't know why I said no, ha guess I'm a retard. I think I'm just going to eat it on this one because the place is directly across the street from my work and don't really want anything to come up from it since I told him where I work when he asked when I could pick it up. But thanks for the information, I definitely won't let it happen next year...

[Grishbok]

Best place to go is manassas, theres alot of these little gas stations that dont really care and will pass your car regardless of condition just for the standard fee.

[Grishbok]

Heres the official rulebook

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp...19VAC30-70-110

Also, VA does have this generic and vague law that i got a ticket under awhile back, ANY modification to the vehicle that is not within the parameters of the intended original manufacturers operation, is prohibited from being operated legally. ANY modification to the car is deemed illegal in VA unless the dealer put it on/designed it. Ill see if i can rummage up that ticket and show you the law code for it, its hilarious.

[Glassnpowder98]

Thanks for the link. I think he was going by the law that you can't have anything that isn't stock... because he asked me if it came like that from the factory. Oh well, lesson learned.


Haha I definitely don't pass this one...
5. Any modification has been made to cause the wheels to come in contact with the body or frame under normal operating conditions.

[nivanm5]

haha I Definitely Don't Pass This One...
5. Any Modification Has Been Made To Cause The Wheels To Come In Contact With The Body Or Frame Under Normal Operating Conditions.

Lol

[S4shpion]

bah i hate gas stations, failed my safety inspections today by 2 different stations because my front springs the bottem 3 spiral part of the springs are touching. Ended up taking it to a auto shop by the dulles expo center and they passed me with no problems.


The circled part is the part of the springs that were touching when the car is on the ground. Just curious is this a problem?

[Grishbok]

wish i knew enough about it to give you a straight answer. My assumption would be that no its not good and it might be time to look at some new springs.

[S4shpion]

funny cause my mechanic said that some springs are going to touch due to the spring rate and i shouldnt worry about it. When the car is jacked up the springs dont touch. i guess im going to wait until i can talk to my neighbor that lives above me that has the same suspension that im running on his imola b5 s4 and see if his springs are touching.

[Grishbok]

yeah i just dont know enough about it

[Ben@SpeedBarn]

They are progressive rate springs, and that is normal for them to touch when in resting position.