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Virginia state inspection sticker getting a new location on Jan. 1

In Car Safety, News by HomeTowne Auto Repair & Tire

Starting on January 1, things are going to change a bit with your Virginia state inspection sticker.

At the beginning of 2018, inspection stickers will no longer be placed in the bottom center of your windshield. Now they’ll be located on the bottom left-hand corner.

“The reason they’re doing this is because new cars these days have a crash avoidance system that utilizes the center of the windshield,” said HomeTowne Auto Repair & Tire General Manager Rich Campbell.

While you won’t be required to move or remove the existing sticker to be in compliance until your normal state inspection due date, if your windshield is tinted, you may need to have that addressed sooner rather than later.

“The important thing is to let your inspection station know in January, if you have prescription window tint – communicate with your inspection station, your inspector, as well as maybe the company that does your window tinting for you, because the center of the windshield is no long going to be utilized by the state inspection,” said Campbell.

If you’re in the military service, we can also assist with moving military stickers to another appropriate location on your windshield, so they’re not blocked by the Virginia state inspection sticker.

Learn more about the Virginia State Safety Inspection program.

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HomeTowne Auto Repair & Tire becomes Virginia Certified Emissions Repair Facility

In News, Vehicle Maintenance by HomeTowne Auto Repair & Tire

HomeTowne Auto Repair & Tire is a now a Virginia Certified Emissions Repair Facility.

Are you having problem with your vehicle’s emission system? Did you fail your most recent emissions test? Now HomeTowne can help.

“What that means for you is if you have an emissions test and your car fails, you must return to an emissions certified repair facility, and any of the work that is documented can go towards a waiver. This year, the waiver is $815,” said HomeTowne General Manager Rich Campbell.

The emissions system controls how much air is being released from your vehicle back out into the atmosphere. An emission test is required every two years by those parking their vehicles in certain areas, including Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park.

Per Virginia guidelines, drivers whose vehicle fails an emissions test must spend at least $815 in repairs before being given a two-year emissions waiver. The only catch? The work must be done by a Certified Emissions Repair Facility.

“It’s designed to have people make a good faith effort to keep their cars running as cleanly and efficiently as possible,” said Campbell.

Only a handful of shops in the Northern Virginia area are certified for emissions repair.

“It’s beyond just being an emissions shop, where you can have an emissions test done. You actually have to go to an emissions repair facility to have the repairs certified by a qualified technician, which we now have on staff. You have to go through the process of being certified by the state in order to do that,” said Campbell.

Emissions components in a vehicle that can cause failure vary, and can include a vacuum line, exhaust, etc.

“If you go to have an emissions inspection with a ‘Check Engine’ light, generally you will fail,” said Campbell.

For more information about Certified Emissions Repair Facilities, visit the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) website.

HomeTowne Auto Repair & Tire employees enjoy fun in the sun, and some BBQ

In Auto Shop Talk, News by HomeTowne Auto Repair & Tire

Automotive Technician using a smoker.

Automotive Technician using a smoker

HomeTowne Auto Repair & Tire employees enjoy fun in the sun, and some BBQ

HomeTowne Auto Repair & Tire employees enjoy fun in the sun, and some BBQ

HomeTowne Auto Repair & Tire employees enjoyed some time out in the summer sun at a BBQ cookout this week.

Automotive Technician Keith Clausson was the day’s chef, using a smoker he made himself, to cook ribs, pulled pork, meatloaf, bacon-covered meatballs and much more for the shop.

We love when our employees share their many talents – especially when that means there’s a nice, steaming plate of BBQ.

HomeTowne Auto Repair & Tire is an authorized Michelin and BFGoodrich tire dealer located in Woodbridge, Virginia. Automotive repair services are performed on all makes and models, including oil changes, brakes, alignments, inspections, and computer engine diagnostics.

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Check out our new and improved customer waiting room

In Auto Shop Talk, News by HomeTowne Auto Repair & Tire

Have you been in our waiting room lately? We’ve made some upgrades, to make it an inviting and relaxing space for our customers.

We’ve added to our children’s area, installing a chalkboard, and adding new sets of coloring books and crayons, to make it a fun space for your children to play while visiting with us. We’ve also added a new children’s table and chairs to the waiting room kid’s corner.

We have also made some updates to our family friendly bathroom. We’ve added a baby changing station in the bathroom, to make it easier for moms and dads when they come in for service with us.

And if you’re thirsty while you’re here, we’ve got you covered. At HomeTowne Auto Repair & Tire we have a fully stocked customer convenience snack bar, full of coffee, tea, soda, water, and chips.

Why do we offer all of these amenities? Because it helps us to stand out, and we care about our customers.

“It makes us a little different from your normal shop. We offer this to all of our customers, whether you’re here for a free flat repair, or major work,” said HomeTowne’s shop manager Rich Campbell.

Need service done on your vehicle, but have a busy life that won’t stop for car repairs? We’ve got you covered. We provide a free shuttle service to all of our customers when waiting isn’t convenient, and we can get you to where you need to go, while our technicians are working on your vehicle.

HomeTowne Auto Repair & Tire is an authorized Michelin and BFGoodrich tire dealer located in Woodbridge, Virginia. Automotive repair services are performed on all makes and models, including oil changes, brakes, alignments, inspections, and computer engine diagnostics.

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HomeTowne Auto Repair and Tire has opened for business

In News by HomeTowne Auto Repair & Tire

Woodbridge native S.T. Billingsley wanted to bring a tire and auto repair shop with a “hometown feeling” to the community. He felt that the area was missing a local tire store, which the community could trust for tires and repair service. HomeTowne Auto Repair and Tire of Woodbridge answers this need.

HomeTowne Auto Repair and Tire of Woodbridge has officially opened for business with a ribbon cutting planned next month. What was once a historic location where the first gas pumps went up for vehicles traveling on the dirt road and chicken dinners were sold for 5 cents is now a modern-day tire and auto store.

An entrepreneurial spirit, combined with hard work and dedication, propelled Billingsley to become a successful business owner with a sense of social responsibility to his community. Billingsley sums up his business philosophy this way: “We want to be known as the honest place you can send your wife and your mom, and to give back to the community what the community has given to us.” He instills this philosophy into anyone who works with him.

When he is not in the office, Billingsley can be found working as an active board member with organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club of Prince William County, the Salvation Army of Prince William, and the Woodbridge Rotary Club. Billingsley said, “I wanted to have a local business that supported local organizations that made a difference in our community”.

Next spring, the Woodbridge auto repair shop plans to offer women’s car care clinics, teaching women everyday care maintenance to empower them while behind the wheel and taking the intimidation factor out of repair. Continuing the long history of automotive services serving the Woodbridge, Lake Ridge, Dumfries, Dale City, and Montclair communities, HomeTowne Auto Repair and Tire of Woodbridge offers other services to include, but are not limited to, tires, oil changes, alignments, and brakes.

HomeTowne Auto Repair and Tire of Woodbridge is located at 15698 Richmond Highway, Woodbridge, VA 22191.