West Virginia

West Virginia Motorcycle Inspection Requirements

West Virginia motorcycle inspections cover 11 aspects, all detailed below. These inspection requirements are part of the 256-page West Virginia State Police Official Motor Vehicle Inspection Manual.

Of course, we’ll save you the time of thumbing through that document. The information we’ve distilled should answer any question you have as to whether your motorcycle will pass inspection in West Virginia.

If you still have questions, just get in touch. We are legal experts on motorcycle laws in West Virginia and are happy to answer any questions you may have.

Brakes

Chapter 17-C, Article 15, Section 32, Motor Vehicle Law

Inspect For and Reject If:

  • Rods are bent, cotter keys or lock nuts are missing, or cables frayed or broken.
  • Not able to stop within 30 feet from 20 miles per hour or decelerate 14 feet per second.
  • Levers (foot and hand) do not have at least one-third of their travel as reserve after brakes are fully applied.
  • Not equipped with brakes, or with a disconnected brake.

Headlamp

Chapter 17-C, Article 15, Section 23, Motor Vehicle Law

Inspect For and Reject If:

  • Headlamps must be approved for highway usage and meet the requirements of the U.S. Federal Safety Standards. The usage of approved modulating headlamps are permitted. (A motorcycle or motor-driven cycle may have one or two headlamps, but not more than two.)
  • Lens are cracked or broken. Reflectors not clean and bright.
  • Bulbs are blackened.
  • Lamp is not focused.
  • Lamp is not properly aimed.
  • Lamp not mounted securely to prevent excessive vibration, or if wiring is not good with good ground, or if switch does not operate properly and make good contact.
  • Light output is not sufficient to make persons and objects visible at 200 feet.
  • Not equipped with lamp or headlamps.

Rear Lamp, Sidecar Lamp and Turn Signals

Chapter 17-C, Article 15, Section 5, Motor Vehicle Law

Inspect For and Reject If:

  • Lamps are not of approved type. (White light to illuminate license plate.)
  • Bulbs blackened or discolored.
  • Lens cracked or broken, or not proper color.
  • Lamp not properly mounted to prevent vibration or does not make a good electrical ground.
  • Filaments in all lamps do not burn when headlamp switch is turned on to any position or if rear lamps are not visible at 500 feet.
  • The rear license plate is not properly illuminated.
  • Not equipped with proper lighting equipment Motorcycles manufactured after January 1, 1973 for sale in the United States are required to have turn signals.

Prohibited Lighting Equipment

Chapter 17-C, Article 15, Section 26, Motor Vehicle Law

  • Any lamp showing red to the front, except police vehicles.
  • Any auxiliary lamp except approved type.
  • Any flashing lighted advertising sign.

Handlebars

Chapter 17-C, Article 15 Section 44c Motor Vehicle Law

  • Inspect and reject if the handlebars or handles of the motorcycle are more than fifteen inches higher than the uppermost part of the operator’s seat when the seat is not depressed in any manner.

Mirror

Chapter 17-C, Article 15, Section 35, Motor Vehicle Law

Inspect For and Reject If:

  • Reflector tarnished or peeling.
  • Not mounted securely.
  • Operator does not have a view of the road 200 feet to the rear.
  • Not equipped with a mirror.

Odometer

  • Inspect for presence of the odometer and reject if not present.
  • If the odometer is broken reject vehicle unless odometer is repaired.
  • Not required for vehicles 10 years old or older.

Horn

Chapter 17-C, Article 15, Section 33, Motor Vehicle Law

Inspect For and Reject If:

  • No approved type.
  • Siren or exhaust whistles on any motorcycle or motor-driven cycle not a police or fire department vehicle.
  • Not mounted securely, or if wiring is not good, or if control button is not operating properly.
  • Sound not audible for 200 feet.

Tag Mounting

Chapter 17-C, Article 3, Section 15, Motor Vehicle Law

Inspect For and Reject If:

  • Not securely fastened in a horizontal position to the vehicle for which issued.
  • Not properly illuminated as required by law.
  • Tags are not placed so as to be clearly visible from rear.
  • Vertical tags are permitted if the tag is designed to be vertically mounted, reading from top to bottom.

Muffler and Exhaust System

Chapter 17-C, Article 15, Section 34, Motor Vehicle Law

Inspect For and Reject If:

  • Has no exhaust line and muffler. Tail pipe if system is designed for same.
  • Vehicle a straight exhaust, gutted or altered muffler.
  • Vehicle has a muffler cut out.
  • There is excessive vibration of exhaust line.
  • Leakage of gasses is noted at:

A. Manifold gaskets

B. Manifold and exhaust gasket

C. Muffler and muffler connections

D. Any point in exhaust line

  • Tail pipe opening is mashed or pinched.
  • Tail pipe discharge is not directly parallel with the ground or upward has a straight exhaust, gutted or altered muffler.
  • Vehicle has a muffler cut out.
  • There is excessive vibration of exhaust line.
  • Leakage of gasses is noted at:

A. Manifold gaskets

B. Manifold and exhaust gasket

C. Muffler and muffler connections

D. Any point in exhaust line

  • Tail pipe opening is mashed or pinched.
  • Tail pipe discharge is not directly parallel with the ground or upward.

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Wheels and Tires

Inspect For and Reject If:

  • Any tire worn to the point where little or no tread design remains or where any part of the ply or cord construction is exposed.
  • Any tire which has any bump, bulge or knot.
  • Temporarily repaired tire by the use of blowout patches and boots.
  • Tire with tread cuts or snags in excess of one inch in any direction that is deep enough to damage the body cords.
  • Any deflated tire or any having an audible leak.
  • Any tire of a smaller size designation than those recommended by the manufacturer as standard or optional equipment.
  • If the wheel is bent, loose, cracked or has a defective rim or wheel flanges so as to effect the safe operation of the vehicle.
  • Wheels having defective spokes, bolts, nuts, or lugs.

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