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Inspections for non-commercial vehicles will no longer be required in Texas starting in 2025, following the passage of HB 32970 last year. Archive photo
Starting in 2025, non-commercial vehicles in Texas will no longer require a vehicle safety inspection prior to registration.
The move comes following the passing of House Bill 3297 by the 88th Legislature which was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2023. The bill abolished the Vehicle Safety Inspection Program All non-commercial vehicles in the state will be subject to a $7.50 inspection program replacement fee which will be added to the total when registering a vehicle with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV).
“New vehicles (those of the current or preceding model year on the date of purchase) purchased in Texas that have not been previously registered in Texas or another state are required to pay an initial inspection program replacement fee of $16.75 to cover two years,” the Texas Department of Public Safety stated in a release.
Though not applicable to Stephens County, there are several counties in the state where emission tests are required.
State residents who live in these counties will still be required to have emission tests.
Emissions tests are required in the counties of Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Montgomery, Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Travis, Williamson and El Paso.
Bexar County will also be added to the list of counties requiring emissions tests in 2026.
Commer cial vehicles in all counties will still be required to obtain a passing vehicle safety inspection.
Because they will be required to pay for that inspection, commercial vehicles will be exempt from the inspection program replacement fee.
All vehicles will be required to be registered which is managed by TxDMV.
