Vehicle registration expires in December? You'll still need an inspection

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Most Texas vehicles won't require a safety inspection in 2025. But if your registration expires in December, you'll still need one.

Texas law grants a five-day grace period for drivers to renew their vehicle's registration. During that time, a Texas law enforcement officer can issue a fine (up to $200) for expired registration.

Still, some drivers may choose to wait, hoping to avoid the hassle of one last inspection. This won't save money -- the inspection cost is getting rolled into the registration renewal cost. As for saving time, some counties may still require a trip to the mechanic for an emissions test.

Also, a registration's expiration date doesn't change to its renewal date. So, a December registration that gets renewed in January will expire in 11 months. At the same cost of doing it on time.