Non-commercial vehicles will no longer need safety inspections starting in 2025

EL PASO, Texas ( KTSM ) — Starting next year, most non-commercial vehicles will no longer need a vehicle safety inspection prior to registration, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) said in a press release on Monday, July 1.

Texas DPS says upcoming changes to the state’s Vehicle Safety Inspection Program will eliminate most vehicle safety inspections on Jan. 1, 2025. Motorists in El Paso County, however, will still need to get an inspection.

“House Bill 3297, which was passed by the 88th Legislature and signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott in 2023, abolishes the Vehicle Safety Inspection Program for non-commercial vehicles,” Texas DPS said.

Even though most vehicle safety inspections will be eliminated, all non-commercial vehicles in the state will be subject to a $7.50 inspection program replacement fee. The fee will be added to the total after vehicle registration.

“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,” Texas DPS said.

While vehicle safety inspections will be eliminated for all non-commercial vehicles, Texans whose vehicles are registered in emissions counties will still be required to have emissions tests, according to Texas DPS.

Texas DPS says emissions tests are required in major metropolitan areas, including Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, and Montgomery counties; Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, and Tarrant counties; Travis and Williamson counties; and El Paso County. Bexar County will be added to the list of counties requiring emissions tests in 2026.

All commercial vehicles in all counties will still require a passing vehicle safety inspection.

“Because they will be required to pay for that safety inspection, commercial vehicles will be exempt from the inspection program replacement fee,” Texas DPS said.

For more information on the upcoming changes, click here: https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/vehicle-inspection/88th-legislation .

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.