Yup, need to get your car inspected in MD to get tags. Also emissions checked. After that, for the time being emissions every two years, no more safety inspections unless you're pulled over for a violation of some kind (lights out, for example)...
In Virginia I believe you also have to pay an annual Personal Property Tax on your car. Folks here can tell you what that might come to. In MD you don't have that tax. That's only because MD hasn't thought of it yet, they will.
Annual safety inspections in VA currently cost $16. Every year I fail on at least one car because of "torn wiper blade(s)" and am offered the option of buying new wipers from the shop for $50 to not fail. That includes the two years that I replaced the wiper blades the day before getting the car inspected. I have now found a trustworthy shop.
Great info thanks ... thats one of the things I was trying to avoid was the outrages "annual registration fee" that is a percentage of your cars value rather than a flat fee ($150, etc.). Wyoming has that and I think parts of Colorado as well.
VA has a flat registration fee but a personal property tax based on the DMV determined "value" of the car. Currently my Elise is valued above the market value and yearly tax is about $1400. My house tax value is currently also above the fair market value and I get over taxed on that as well.
I would assume both states have front plate requirements (so does WY but i have never been hassled) any issues with window tint?
VA requires front plates. I have my front plate secured in the boot. No trouble but that is not what I understand occurs in NoVA/MD/DC. I have read about DC metermaids ticketing parked cars from MD/VA for no front plate.
I believe tint is limited to 50%, perhaps even less.
VA tint law for regular passenger cars:
Windshield: No sun shading. It used to be that non-reflective tint was allowed along the top of the windshield above the manufacturer's AS-1 line. That line is marked on your windshield and in the Elise/Exige is just about where the bottom of the sun visors are when they are pushed against the glass. Currently the DMV says no shading on the windscreen at all (except with a medical waver).
Front Side windows: Must allow more than 50% of light in.
Back Side windows: Must allow more than 35% of light in.
Rear window: Must allow more than 35% of light in.
Front Side windows must not be more than 20% reflective.
Back Side windows must not be more than 20% reflective.
Red, Amber or Yellow tints are not legal.
We have three cop cars here in town with what appears to be 0% VLT on all windows. One is a K-9 unit (which I understand to keep the dog cool) but the other two aren't K-9 units. I've never been ballsy enough to ask them about it.