RICHMOND — Effective Jan. 1, Virginia state inspection stickers will no longer be affixed to the bottom center of a vehicle’s windshield. Due to new innovations in the automotive industry, the state inspection stickers will be placed in the bottom left corner of the windshield, when viewed from inside the vehicle. According to a press release, this change in location will also apply to the placement of any other authorized stickers.

“There have been no changes made to the size or appearance of the existing vehicle inspection sticker,” officials said in the release. “The relocation stems from the fact that automobile manufacturers now offer crash avoidance technology in many of their vehicles. In such vehicles, the new technology utilizes the center of the windshield. Therefore the placement of items in that area, including stickers, could prevent crash avoidance systems from operating properly.”

The release cited that existing Virginia vehicle inspection stickers are to remain in their current position — in the bottom center of the windshield.