Texas Drivers: You’ll Never Have to Do This Annoying Task Again Starting 2025!

Owning and driving a car involves a lot of responsibility. It's not just about putting gas in the tank and ensuring there is oil in the engine (which some people don't check).

Get our free mobile app

You must have insurance, ensure your tires are safe, and check that all your lights work properly.  All the while, keeping it clean inside and out, fluids topped off and not running the battery down by leaving the lights on. It's a lot!

However, there is good news, there is one thing you won't have to worry about in 2025.

State Inspection

House Bill 3297 was filed on March 2, 2023, in the Texas House of Representatives.  The bill was passed on May 3, 2023, and sent to the Texas Senate.  The Texas Senate passed the bill on May 28, 2023, and it was signed off by both the Texas House and Senate on May 29, 2023, it was sent to Governor Abbott on May 20, 202,3 and he signed it into law on June 13, 2023.  It would take another year and a half for the law to go into effect.

The Law Will Go Into Effect on January 1, 2025

That means you will no longer have to get a state inspection on your car.  That means that you will be able to get your vehicle registration without having to go and have an inspection done on your car.

Before you get too excited, don't think for a minute you're getting out of paying the $7.50 that you spent on the inspection. The state will roll that into your registration fees.

According to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, the $7.50 fee will now be called the Inspection Program Replacement Fee (creative, right?). This fee will be included in your vehicle registration costs. If you register a new vehicle, you will pay a $16.75 Inspection Program Replacement Fee, which will cover the first two years.

Commercial vehicles and heavy-duty trucks will still require a state inspection.

Residents of Brazoria, Fort Bend, Parker, Collin, Galveston, Rockwall, Dallas, Harris, Tarrant, Denton, Johnson, Travis, El Paso, Kaufman, Williamson, Ellis, and Montgomery counties must still complete an annual emissions test before registering their vehicle.