Texas Abolishes Vehicle Safety Inspections, Introduces Replacement Fee
Get ready, Texas drivers! Come January 1, 2025, the yearly vehicle safety inspection is mostly going the way of the dodo. This comes courtesy of a new law Governor Greg Abbott signed back in June 2023. But before you start celebrating, there’s a catch.
Even though the safety check is gone for most vehicles, you’re still going to feel it in your wallet.
Instead of the inspection, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) says you’ll be slapped with a $7.50 inspection program replacement fee. This will be paid when you register your vehicle with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, just like before.
If your vehicle is brand new, or was recently registered in another state, the first fee will be $16.75. This covers you for two years.
The DPS is keen to point out the fee isn’t simply a hike in registration costs. Instead, it covers the revenue streams lost from the now-defunct inspection process. This cash flow is critical for running state programs and operations, such as highway construction and expansion.
Commercial vehicles are exempt from this new fee. Why? Because they still need to undergo annual safety inspections.
Just remember, if you live in a county that requires emissions testing, nothing is changing there. You will still need to get your car tested for emissions.
