Newport News
Virginia Beach
Huff Law Blogs
Where can I get a speedometer calibration done?
Where can I get a speedometer calibration done?
03 March 2019

Should I obtain a speedometer calibration report to fight my Speeding or Reckless Driving by Speed ticket in Virginia?

Absolutely.

Immediately after (or as soon as possible) you receive a ticket from the officer for Speeding or Reckless Driving by Speed you should obtain a notarized speedometer calibration report. A “speedometer calibration” is a test to determine the accuracy of your speedometer. A “speedometer calibration report” is the document that shows whether or not the speedometer in your car was reading your true and accurate speed. You will be surprised how many vehicles - even brand new, luxury vehicles - have a speedometer that is not displaying its true and accurate speed. Therefore, I recommend that everyone who is charged with a Speeding or Reckless Driving by Speed ticket obtain a notarized speedometer calibration report. A speedometer calibration report that shows your speedometer is displaying a slower speed than your actual speed will mitigate and lessen your punishment in court.

In fact, Virginia Code §46.2-942 allows for you to offer a notarized speedometer calibration report in court at your trial. That law states:

Virginia Code §46.2-942. Admissibility of results of speedometer test in prosecution for exceeding speed limit.

In the trial of any person charged with exceeding any maximum speed limit in the Commonwealth, the court shall receive as evidence a sworn report of the results of a calibration test of the accuracy of the speedometer in the motor vehicle operated by the defendant or the arresting officer at the time of the alleged offense. The report shall be considered by the court or jury in both determining guilt or innocence and in fixing punishment.

A speedometer calibration may cost you anywhere from $50.00 to $150.00 dollars depending on where you go. And just to be clear, the mechanic that performs your speedometer calibration only needs to perform a diagnostic of your speedometer’s accuracy; the mechanic does NOT need to fix, repair or replace any parts in your vehicle.

If you were driving a rental car, it would behoove you to get this done before you return it.

Moreover, according to Virginia Code §46.2-942, your speedometer calibration report must be the original version (not a photocopy) and it must be a “sworn report,” which means it must notarized by the mechanic who performed the speedometer calibration (not notarized by you). If it is not the original version and/or it is not notarized by the mechanic who performed the speedometer calibration, it is meaningless and has no evidentiary value in court. 

The difficulty in obtaining a notarized speedometer calibration report is that it is very rare to find a mechanic that has the correct tools to perform a speedometer calibration. Dealerships and 99% of vehicle mechanics can NOT do this service because they do NOT have the correct tools. Therefore, I have listed below a few tried-and-tested reputable mechanics that will perform a speedometer calibration and provide you with a proper notarized report that is admissible in a Virginia court (FYI - I have no personal, business or monetary relationship with these mechanics whatsoever):

In Virginia:

(i) Beach Calibration located at 5312 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Suite D-1, Virginia Beach, VA 23462; P: (757) 490-0775.

(ii) Chesapeake Auto Center, Inc. located at 119H Tilden Avenue, Chesapeake, VA 23320; P: (757) 436-2537.

(iii) SpeedRight Speedometer Calibration located at 290 Beasley Road, Lynchburg, VA 24501; P: (434) 845-3376.

(iv) Auto Air of Virginia, Inc. located at 2707 Willard Road, Richmond, VA 23294; P: (804) 672-3189.

(v) Bill’s Auto Service & Discount Tire Center located at 98 Hardees Drive, Manassas Park, VA 20111; P: (703) 368-2200.

(vi) Ron’s Mobile Services Cars And Trucks, Inc. located at 1412 S. 28th Street, #5, Arlington, VA 22206; P: (703) 980-3911.

(vii) Drake Auto Shop located at 23571 Pebble Run Place, Suite 150, Sterling, VA 20166; P: (571) 244-6963.

(viii) Southern Electronics, Inc. located at 730-A Research Road, Richmond, VA 23236; P: (804) 423-1100.

(ix) M&M Collision, Inc. located at 3165 Campbell Drive, Fairfax, VA 22031; P: (703) 291-8509.

(x) Woodbridge Auto Service Center located at 13858 Dawson Beach Road, Woodbridge, VA 22191; P: (703) 494-6390.

(xi) Falls Run Car Care Center located at 1314 Princess Anne Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401; P: (540) 899-6800.

Outside Virginia:

(i) Robbie's Truck & Auto Service located at 502 S. West Street, Raleigh, NC 27601; P: (919) 833-2966.

(ii) O'Neal's Speedometer Service located at 1890 Allen Road, Greenville, NC 27601; P: (919) 833-2966.

(iii) Caton Radio located at 6328 Baltimore National Pike, Catonsville, MD 21228; P: (410) 747-8667.

(iv) Leo's Speedometer located at 8191 N.W. 91st Terrace, Unit A-7, Medley, FL 33166; P: (305) 888-2385.

(v) Z Brothers Services Center, Inc. located at 9853 Bustleton Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19115; P: (215) 969-7355.

(vi) Tune Time Performance located at 575 Summer Ave., Lakewood, NJ 08701; P: (732)-349-7800.

(vii) Lee Gulian, Inc. located at 639 New York Avenue, Huntington, NY 11743; P: (631) 427-0142.

Call me today if you need help with a Speeding or Reckless Driving by Speed ticket in Virginia. I can guarantee that you would be in great hands with me.

By Michael Huff, Esq.