Important Vehicle Inspection Reminder from Texas DPS

It's the moment that probably a lot of us have been waiting for. Beginning on January 1st, 2025, Texas DPS will no longer require your vehicle to pass a safety inspection test. Why? Because there won't even BE any safety inspection tests to speak of!

Now, Texas DPS recently sent out a press release that mainly served as a reminder, since the decision to abolish safety inspections was singed into law over a year ago.

Beginning on January 1st, 2025...

Nearly all non-commercial vehicles will no longer be required by law to pass a vehicle inspections test before registering their vehicle.

There are some caveats to this decision. First, there will now be a $7.50 inspection fee automatically applied to your registration payment in lieu of an inspection test.

Second, new vehicles that have not been registered already in Texas or any other state are required to pay $16.75 in addition to their car registration payment to account for two years.

And last, but not least, Texas counties that require emissions tests (cleverly called "emissions counties"...) include Harris, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant counties. The full list of emissions counties can be found on the Texas DPS website.

Non-commercial vs. commercial vehicles

Basically, your personal car you use to drive to work every day would classify as non-commercial under the law of Texas. If, however, you are driving an 18-wheeler to transport Peter Piper's peck of pickled peppers to his bodega downtown, that's a commercial vehicle.

Vehicle registration

It's important to remember that vehicles in Texas will still be required to be registered with all fees applied, whether you decide to do so online or in person.