Texas Vehicle Registration Changes
Texans can expect changes to vehicle registration laws starting January 1st, but some folks are already running into issues when they try to renew online. Fortunately, renewals are still allowed prior to the new law, according to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, as long as the vehicle passes inspection.
Problems are popping up during online registration due to the vehicle inspection requirement that persists until the end of the year. Some people are seeing a message that says, “Your vehicle inspection cannot be verified at this time.”
So, what’s changing?
House Bill 3297, passed in 2023, does away with vehicle safety inspections for non-commercial vehicles starting January 1, 2025. This means you won’t need a safety inspection to renew your registration. However, you can still renew now if you obtain a passing vehicle inspection.
But here’s the kicker: seventeen Texas counties will still require emissions inspections. So even with the new law, your car might need a checkup.
Here’s the list of those counties:
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Harris County
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Montgomery County
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Fort Bend County
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Galveston County
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Brazoria County
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Dallas County
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Rockwall County
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Denton County
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Tarrant County
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Johnson County
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El Paso County
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Travis County
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Kaufman County
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Ellis County
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Williamson County
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Collin County
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Parker County
