Texas
DPS Press Release
The
Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) today launched a public
safety announcement (PSA) video reminding Texans of the upcoming
changes to the state’s Vehicle Safety Inspection Program beginning
on Jan. 1, 2025. These changes—which eliminate many vehicle safety
inspections—are due to House Bill 3297. The bill was passed by the
88th Legislature and signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott in 2023,
abolishing the Vehicle Safety Inspection Program for non-commercial
vehicles.
The
newly created PSA, which reviews the upcoming changes to vehicle
inspections and is available in English and in Spanish, can be found
here.
As
a reminder, starting New Year’s Day, non-commercial vehicles will
no longer need a vehicle safety inspection prior to registration. All
non-commercial vehicles in the state will still be subject to a $7.50
inspection program replacement fee per HB 3297. The inspection
program replacement fee will be paid when you register your vehicle
with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.
New
vehicles (those of the current or preceding model year on the date of
purchase) purchased in Texas that have not been previously registered
in Texas or another state are required to pay an initial inspection
program replacement fee of $16.75 to cover two years.
Please
note the inspection program replacement fee is not an increase in the
cost of your vehicle registration. As its name suggests, this fee
simply replaces the revenue source for state programs and
operations—like the construction and expansion of state
highways—once supported by vehicle safety inspections.
Vehicles
Registered in Emissions Counties
It
is important to note that emissions tests are different than vehicle
safety inspections. While comprehensive vehicle safety inspections
will be eliminated for all non-commercial vehicles, Texans whose
vehicles are registered in emissions counties will still be required
to have emissions tests. The price of vehicle emissions tests varies
by vehicle and county. Vehicles currently exempt from emissions
inspections, including electric-only vehicles, will continue to be
exempt.
Emissions
tests are required in major metropolitan areas, including Brazoria,
Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris and Montgomery counties; Collin, Dallas,
Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall and Tarrant
counties; Travis and Williamson counties; and El Paso County. Bexar
County will be added to the list of counties requiring emissions
tests in 2026.
Commercial
Vehicles
All
commercial vehicles in all counties will still be required to obtain
a passing vehicle safety inspection. Because they will still need to
pay for a safety inspection, commercial vehicles will be exempt from
the inspection program replacement fee.
Remember,
all vehicles will still need to be registered; the registration
process will continue to be managed by the Texas Department of Motor
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, horn, 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.
