Did you know that starting in January, your car will no longer have to pass an annual safety inspection?

A new state law is abolishing the state’s Vehicle Safety Inspection Program for non-commercial vehicles.

However, residents of 17 counties will still be required to pass – and pay for – an annual emissions test. Here’s everything you need to know about what this law means for you.

Texas’ Inspection Law Changes on Jan. 1

House Bill 3297, which was signed into law in 2023, eliminated the requirement that all Texas vehicles must pass an annual safety inspection.

This means that unless you live in one of the 17 counties that will require an emissions inspection, you will no longer have to have your vehicle physically inspected in order to renew your registration. 

However, if your car registration needs to be renewed between now and January 1, 2025, you aren’t in the clear quite yet. Your vehicle must still pass the safety inspection one last time. And that might be more inconvenient than ever, as we’ll explain later.

You’ll Still Have to Pay the Inspection Fee

While skipping the safety inspection might save you some time, it won’t save you much money. The $7.50 state inspection fee will be transferred to the total cost of registration. 

Here’s where that money will go:

• $3.50 to the Texas Mobility Fund
• $2 to the state General Fund
• $2 to the Clean Air Account

Drivers in counties that won’t require an emissions test will likely be able to shave that expense off their total cost. Emissions inspections range from $11.50 to $18.50, depending on where you live.

If no testing is required, you can renew your registration (and pay the fee) online at txdmv.gov or at one of these approved substations.

New car buyers will pay a one-time fee of $16.75 to cover registration at the time of purchase.

Counties Where Emissions Testing is Still Required

These Texas counties will continue to require a physical emissions inspection: Brazoria, Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, El Paso, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Johnson, Kaufman, Montgomery, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Travis, and Williamson counties. (Bexar County will be added on Nov. 1, 2026).

If you live in one of these counties, the registration process will remain unchanged from 2024.

Once your car has passed the emissions inspection, you will automatically be eligible to renew your registration online or in person at a substation.

You will need to present a photo ID and proof of insurance at the time of inspection. 

Many inspection stations will only accept in-state insurance documents, so if you’ve recently relocated, make sure your policy has been updated. 

Exemptions and Special Cases

Regardless of where you live, there are a few exemptions from emissions testing. They include:

• Vehicles manufactured within the last two years
• Vehicles manufactured at least 24 years ago
• Diesel-powered vehicles
• Vehicles registered as “antiques” or “classics” 
• Motorcycles 

Laws for Commercial Vehicles Do Not Change

All commercial vehicles in all counties must pass a safety inspection. Because of this, commercial vehicles will be exempt from the $7.50 inspection program replacement fee.

New Law’s Unintended Consequences

The new law is already causing some unintended consequences.

For one, it can be difficult to find fully operational inspection stations. Many station owners say that if the equipment breaks, it isn’t worth paying the repair costs for equipment that will only be in use for a few months. And those with functioning equipment tend to have an inspection backlog – so be prepared to wait, particularly if it’s the end of the month.

Out of six different inspection stations in Dallas County, four had to turn away customers because their inspection equipment was broken.

The fifth station only has a safety inspector onsite a few days a week.

The sixth station was still completing inspections – and an employee said business is brisk – but the owner isn’t sure he’ll be able to stay open in January.

And for residents of the counties that will still require emissions testing, fewer inspection stations will mean longer wait times, so you may need to plan ahead.