AUSTIN — The Texas Department of Public Safety reminds Texans of upcoming changes to the state’s Vehicle Safety Inspection Program that will eliminate most vehicle safety inspections.
House Bill 3297, passed by the 88th Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2023, abolishes the Vehicle Safety Inspection Program for non-commercial vehicles.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, non-commercial vehicles will no longer need a vehicle safety inspection prior to registration. However, all non-commercial vehicles in the state will be subject to a $7.50 inspection program replacement fee.
This fee will be added to your total 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.
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.
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.
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