Texas vehicle safety inspections going away in 2025. Here’s what you should know

Changes to the state’s Vehicle Safety Inspection Program eliminate most vehicle safety inspections. But some areas, including Houston, will still require emissions testing. Don’t worry, we are spelling out everything you need to know about the new Texas vehicle inspection changes.

What’s changed with Texas vehicle registration?

• Beginning January 1, 2025, non-commercial vehicles will no longer need a vehicle safety inspection before registration.
• House Bill 3297, which was passed by the 88th Legislature and signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott in 2023, abolishes the Vehicle Safety Inspection Program for non-commercial vehicles.
• However, all non-commercial vehicles still need to pay a $7.50 inspection program replacement fee. This fee will be added when you register your vehicle with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.

Drivers in larger Texas counties still need certain testing

While comprehensive vehicle safety inspections will be eliminated for all non-commercial vehicles, you may still need to get emissions testing, depending on where you live. The state’s most populated areas will still require an emissions test to get a vehicle registered.

Emissions tests are required in major metropolitan areas, including Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Montgomery, Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Travis, Williamson and El Paso Counties. Bexar county comes later. The price of vehicle emissions tests varies by vehicle and county. In the Houston area, the maximum price for emissions testing is $18.50.

An emissions test measures the number of pollutants released to meet the legal limit set by the state.

But older vehicles don’t need emissions testing. TxDot shows that vehicles between two and 24 years old require emissions testing (so older vehicles don’t need it).

State urges drivers to keep up with vehicle maintenance

Here’s what the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles has to say about what drivers should still check on vehicles: Even though vehicle safety inspections are being eliminated for most vehicles, the department reminds Texans to regularly service their vehicles to keep themselves and other motorists safe on the road. Regular maintenance ensures the proper operation of your vehicle’s headlights, taillights, horns, mirrors, windshield wipers, tires, and other critical functions. Driving a vehicle without many of these properly working safety features is against the law and puts everyone at risk.

Here are a few helpful links to answer questions you may have about the new Texas inspection law

• Cost of inspection
• Find an inspection station
• Two Steps, One Sticker
• Emissions testing more info

You can download vehicle inspection reports from the Texas Vehicle Inspection History database.