Exciting news for Texas drivers! Starting on January 1, 2025, Texans will no longer need state inspections on non-commercial vehicles to renew their registrations. This comes as part of House Bill 3291 signed into law in 2023.
While state inspections are no longer required, there will be a slight increase of $7.50 on your registration fee. However, drivers will still need to ensure their vehicles pass an emissions test, depending on the county of registration.
Emissions tests will be mandatory in major metropolitan areas like Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, and El Paso. San Antonio will follow suit in 2026.
Drivers in counties such as Harris, Fort Bend, Galveston, Montgomery, Brazoria, and others will still need to undergo an emissions test annually. Commercial vehicles, however, will still require safety inspections in all counties.
Your questions
If you have any questions about the new law, including the additional registration fee for emission testing, reporter Troy Kless has the answers to help clarify any doubts.
For more information on the changes coming to Texas vehicle inspections, check out the official Texas DPS website.