Car care — straight talk
What we'd tell you
if you were family
No fear-mongering and no upsell scripts. What's worth doing, what can wait, what it costs around here, and how to tell the difference — written at the counter by people who have been answering these questions in Sandston since 1980.
Virginia State Inspection: What to Expect & the $20 Fee
See what a Virginia state inspection checks, common reasons cars fail, and how the $20 fee works. Plan your inspection at Lloyd’s Tire & Auto in Sandston.
Inspections · Aug 4, 2026 · 3 min read
The one everybody asks about
$20
The maximum any Virginia station may charge for a passenger-car safety inspection. It's the Commonwealth's number, not ours.
Tire pressure drops when it gets cold. Here is the math.
A TPMS warning can appear when temperatures fall because tire pressure changes with the weather. Learn how to check and correct it safely.
3 min readRead it →Should you buy all four tires or just two?
Whether to replace two or four tires depends on tread, drivetrain, tire matching, and condition. Learn the questions to ask before buying.
4 min readRead it →Squealing that is not brakes: belts, bearings, pulleys
An engine squeal can come from a belt, pulley, bearing, or accessory. Learn what the timing and sound can reveal before scheduling diagnosis.
4 min readRead it →How long do brake pads actually last?
Brake pad life depends on driving, load, and conditions. Learn the signs of wear and how to plan a brake inspection before metal meets metal.
3 min readRead it →The five things that fail a Virginia inspection most
Most inspection failures come from ordinary wear: lights, tires, brakes, wipers, and safety equipment. Learn what to check before your visit.
4 min readRead it →Why we photograph everything before we quote you a dime
A measurement you can see is a different thing from a mechanic's opinion. How photo inspections work, and what to ask for at any shop.
3 min readRead it →Virginia winter prep: five things, one afternoon
Virginia winters are mild until they aren't. The five checks worth doing in October, and why battery and tires matter more here than snow tires ever will.
3 min readRead it →When Is My Virginia Inspection Due? Sticker & Grace Rules
Find your Virginia inspection deadline, understand expired-sticker rules, and plan your $20 inspection at Lloyd’s Tire & Auto in Sandston before month-end.
3 min readRead it →Will a cracked windshield fail your Virginia inspection?
Virginia's windshield rules are more specific than most people expect. Where the crack is matters more than how long it is — here's the actual standard.
3 min readRead it →The penny test is fine. The gauge is better.
How to read your own tire tread in about ninety seconds, why 2/32 is later than you think, and what uneven wear is telling you about the rest of the car.
3 min readRead it →That grinding noise is your brakes talking
Squeal, grind, pulsation and a soft pedal all mean different things. What each brake noise actually is, how long you've got, and which one means stop driving.
3 min readRead it →Broke down on I-64? Do these four things first.
What to do in the first two minutes after your car quits on I-64 near Richmond — in the order that actually keeps you safe, from a shop a mile off Exit 197.
4 min readRead it →Why your A/C quits in the first week of August
Car air conditioning rarely dies all at once — it fades. The three cheap checks worth doing in spring, and the expensive part everybody guesses at and shouldn't.
4 min readRead it →Your battery doesn't die in winter. It dies from last summer.
Heat kills car batteries; cold just exposes the damage. Why the January no-start began in July, and the two-minute test in the fall that prevents it.
3 min readRead it →What a check engine light actually costs to figure out
A free code read gives you a number, not an answer. What real diagnosis involves, why the fee gets credited to the repair, and when the light means pull over now.
4 min readRead it →No, using an independent shop does not void your new car warranty
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act says a manufacturer can't require dealer service to keep your warranty. What you do need to keep, and the one real exception.
3 min readRead it →Alignment, balancing, rotation: which one do you actually need?
Three different services that get confused constantly. What each one fixes, what symptom points to which, and what happens when you buy the wrong one.
4 min readRead it →Buying a used car around Richmond? Spend $100 before you spend $10,000.
What a pre-purchase inspection actually covers, what it catches that a test drive can't, and how to handle a seller who won't allow one.
3 min readRead it →What should an oil change cost around here — and what should be in it
Why the same oil change ranges from $40 to $120, which oil your car actually needs, and the questions worth asking before you hand over the keys.
4 min readRead it →What's actually on the free 16-point check
The free check that comes with every service, line by line — what each point catches, and why a health report is a different thing from a sales pitch.
3 min readRead it →Before you drive to the Outer Banks: a real pre-trip check
The seven things worth checking before a long drive out of Richmond, in the order they're most likely to strand you, and the two-week rule that makes it useful.
3 min readRead it →35 more posts are written and scheduled — a new one publishes every week.
Car care
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