RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia State Police (VSP) have announced that vehicles passing safety inspections in 2026 will receive a blue inspection sticker.
Sticker designs got a major overhaul in 2025. They were reduced in size and began incorporating additional security features, including a holographic state seal and a dogwood flower image — both designed to deter counterfeiters.
For the first time, stickers began displaying two QR codes. The larger QR code links to the VSP Safety Division webpage, while a smaller QR code is used for administrative purposes.
The expiration month appears on a white background, while the expiration year is printed over the dogwood image.
Rejection stickers will also have a new design in 2026. The stickers will be white (instead of pink) and will adhere more securely to windshields.
Previously, rejection stickers did not adhere as well and often fell off after the grace period for required repairs expired. Now, once a previously rejected vehicle passes inspection, the sticker will have to be scraped off.
Also beginning in 2026, motorcycles and trailers will share a single inspection sticker rather than two separate versions. That sticker will be orange.
According to VSP, inspection stickers expiring in 2027 will be blue. For 2028 and 2029, the stickers will be red (2028) and yellow (2029).