It is simple…if you live in Harris County or surrounding counties, you will still have to have a vehicle emissions test every year in order to renew your vehicle registration.
The state representatives who made this change did so, promoting that you would not need to be bothered by going in for an inspection. However, the most populated counties still need an annual visit for an emissions test – Approximately 11.3 million people.
Guess what? You still get to pay for the safety inspection you are not receiving. When you renew your vehicle registration they are charging you a safety inspection replacement fee.
Further, you now have the privilege of driving next to vehicles with safety hazards, including poor brakes, worn-out tires, and even inoperative lighting.
Hopefully the state will use the revenue from the new fee wisely. Thoughts?
Stay on top of your vehicle’s safety features (lights, tires, brakes, etc.) even if you’re not legally required to have the inspection—it still matters for safety and you could get cited in some situations
Beckwith’s Car Care is always happy to perform a digital vehicle inspection, which includes safety items, at no charge.
What’s new:
- Emissions testing still required in most Texas counties.
- If you live in one of the emissions counties, your vehicle must still pass an emissions test before registration. Texas Department of Public Safety+2Texas DMV+2
- Counties include many of the large metro areas: e.g., Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, Travis, Williamson, etc. Texas DMV+2Texas Department of Public Safety+2
- Bexar County (San Antonio) will be added in 2026. Texas DMV+1
- No more annual safety inspection for non-commercial vehicles.
- That means if your car is just for regular personal use (not commercial), you no longer need to take it in for a safety check every year to renew its registration. Texas Department of Public Safety+1
- Inspection Program Replacement Fee replaces that inspection step.
- Non-commercial vehicle owners will pay $7.50 as a fee when registering/renewing. Texas Department of Public Safety+2Texas DMV+2
- If it’s a new vehicle (one of the current or preceding model years) that hasn’t been registered before, you pay $16.75 to cover the first two years. Texas Department of Public Safety+1
- Important: This fee is not considered a registration fee—it’s replacing the old inspection fee revenue. Texas Department of Public Safety+1
- Commercial vehicles still need safety inspections.
- If your vehicle is commercial, nothing changes—you still have to get the standard safety inspection. Texas Department of Public Safety+1
- Commercial vehicles are exempt from paying the replacement fee because they still have inspections. Texas Department of Public Safety+2TGS Insurance Agency+2
Why the change
- The law (House Bill 3297, passed in 2023) aims to simplify the inspection process for many people. Texas Department of Public Safety+1
- It also keeps funding for state programs (roads, etc.) that formerly came from inspection fees, by replacing the revenue source with that new fee attached to registration.