Texas Ends State Inspections, Keeps Tests in Select Counties

Starting January 1, 2025, Texas will eliminate state inspections for non-commercial vehicles, but drivers in major metropolitan areas like Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, and El Paso will still need annual emissions tests. This change, enacted by House Bill 3291, will result in a $7.50 increase in vehicle registration fees. Commercial vehicles will continue to require safety inspections statewide. Bexar County, covering San Antonio, will join the emissions test requirement in 2026.