Is it just me or do Virginians — by and large — have the most squeaky clean vehicles in the southeast? (inspections, property tax)

[UserNamesake]

I’m a North Carolinian, but I almost never fails, whenever I see a Virginia tag, the vehicle is very, very clean and in good condition. Whether I see it in NC or VA or another southeast state, the Virginia vehicles always look so well taken care of … much more so than other states.

Can someone explain why? I’m thinking it’s cultural but maybe y’all don’t see it the way I see it … seeking feedback from my northern neighbors please…

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by UserNamesake

I’m a North Carolinian, but I almost never fails, whenever I see a Virginia tag, the vehicle is very, very clean and in good condition. Whether I see it in NC or VA or another southeast state, the Virginia vehicles always look so well taken care of … much more so than other states.

Can someone explain why? I’m thinking it’s cultural but maybe y’all don’t see it the way I see it … seeking feedback from my northern neighbors please…

It's one of the perks of living in VA. You get to pay an annual personal property tax for the pleasure of having a car, but they throw in free weekly car washes. The cars are so shiny here, you need to wear sunglasses even on cloudy days.

[BOS2IAD]

Originally Posted by spencgr

It's one of the perks of living in VA. You get to pay an annual personal property tax for the pleasure of having a car, but they throw in free weekly car washes. The cars are so shiny here, you need to wear sunglasses even on cloudy days.

If only...^^^^

My guess is that in the most wealthy spots in VA, people take better care of their expensive vehicles.

I'm sure that in more rural areas where people use their vehicles to work their land, they don't wash the vehicles as much, which is understandable.

[16 Acres]

We do like our cars clean and shiny, but I never knew we stood out for it, lol.

[Serenity2019]

Originally Posted by UserNamesake

I’m a North Carolinian, but I almost never fails, whenever I see a Virginia tag, the vehicle is very, very clean and in good condition. Whether I see it in NC or VA or another southeast state, the Virginia vehicles always look so well taken care of … much more so than other states.

Can someone explain why? I’m thinking it’s cultural but maybe y’all don’t see it the way I see it … seeking feedback from my northern neighbors please…

It's because they still have state inspections! Both a curse and a blessing. Keeps nicer cars around, but makes it hard for those with older cars needing new parts.

[gus2]

Originally Posted by Serenity2019

It's because they still have state inspections! Both a curse and a blessing. Keeps nicer cars around, but makes it hard for those with older cars needing new parts.

NC still has state inspections, too. And the OP wasn't talking about the age of the cars, just the cleanliness.

[UserNamesake]

Thanks for the comments. I’ve been wondering if the vehicle cleanliness I notice has something to do with the preponderance of military bases in Virginia. Virginia is one of the top three states with the highest number of military bases. It’s also the smallest in surface area out of the two additional states. Also wondering if it’s some vestiges of Virginia’s prominent aristocratic class.

[citydweller]

Funny you mention it. I’m from Carolina and lived in Va for many years and noticed the same thing. I kept my car squeaky clean when I lived there.

[badger74]

VA has car washes up the wazoo.

[Flamingo13]

OP obviously hasn't seen my car