Texas vehicle safety inspections going away, but you’ll still have to pay

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, most Texas vehicles will no longer be required to have an annual safety inspection, but drivers should expect to still be charged.

A new law, which was signed by Gov. Greg Abbott in June 2023, abolished the Vehicle Safety Inspection Program for non-commercial vehicles.

However, vehicles excluded from the inspection are required to pay a $7.50 inspection program replacement fee, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). Prior to the new law, an annual vehicle safety inspection cost $7.50.

DPS said the fee would be paid during the vehicle’s annual, required registration with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.

New, previously registered vehicles purchased in Texas or another state would be required to pay an initial inspection program replacement fee of $16.75 to cover two years, according to DPS.

“The inspection program replacement fee is not an increase in the cost of your vehicle registration,” DPS said. “As its name suggests, this fee simply replaces the revenue source for state programs and operations—like the construction and expansion of state highways—once supported by vehicle safety inspections.”

According to DPS, commercial vehicles are exempt from the inspection program replacement fee due to those vehicles still being required to have an annual safety inspection.

Even though the mandatory inspections have been eliminated, Texans with vehicles registered in emissions counties are required to have emissions tests.