If you are one of the many individuals who need a Washington State Patrol vehicle inspection, the process for scheduling just got easier. The State Patrol is announcing the launch of an online program designed to streamline the process for scheduling a VIN inspection.

Better yet, the new system will help you determine if your vehicle needs an inspection at all.

VIN stands for Vehicle Identification Number, and is the unique number assigned to every vehicle by the manufacturer. While the state issues license plates, VINs are the one true identifier of every vehicle.

The State Patrol is required to do VIN inspections on vehicles that have been rebuilt after being destroyed or declared a total loss by an insurance company. They also perform physical inspections as required on vehicles reported stolen, homemade vehicles, or other vehicles without a proper VIN, when there is a VIN discrepancy, when there is a record dispute, when ownership is in doubt, or other special cases as directed by the Washington State Department of Licensing.

Previously, those needing to schedule an inspection needed to call by phone, leave a message and then wait for a return call to schedule the appointment. Last year alone, inspectors handled over 47,000 phone calls. In the process, they discovered that many customers didn’t need an inspection at all.

Now, customers need only go to wsp.wa.gov and select VIN Inspection Schedule under “Hot Topics” on the right side of the page. The new page includes a great deal more information designed to allow vehicle owners to educate themselves on the VIN inspection process. The State Patrol included a more detailed FAQ (frequently asked questions), inspection checklists and the links to online calendars.

With the new program, the WSP expects phone calls to drop dramatically and wait-time for inspections to decrease significantly over time. For ore information or to make comments or give feedback, go to vinschedule@wsp.wa.gov.