New: Bexar County emissions testing starts November 1, 2026. San Antonio-area drivers renewing after that date need a passing test ($18.50). What to know
Texas at a glance
| Safety inspection (personal vehicles) | Ended January 1, 2025 (HB 3297). Texas DPS news release (Jan 5, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Safety inspection (commercial) | Still required annually; up to $40 at the station. Texas DPS: Cost of Inspection |
| Emissions test | Gasoline vehicles 2–24 years old in 18 counties, annually, before registration. TCEQ: Vehicle Emissions Inspections in Texas |
| Exempt from emissions | Electric, diesel, motorcycles, mopeds. TCEQ: Vehicle Emissions Inspections in Texas |
| Test type | On-board diagnostics (OBD). TCEQ: Emissions Inspection Type |
| Waivers & extensions | Low mileage ($100+ repairs, under 5,000 miles), parts availability, low-income time extension, individual vehicle waiver ($600+ repairs; $450 in El Paso). TCEQ: Affidavit, Waivers and Extensions |
| Find a station | Texas DPS Vehicle Inspection Locator |
Fees
| Houston-Galveston-Brazoria | $18.50 max at the station Source: Texas DPS: Cost of Inspection |
|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth | $18.50 max at the station Source: Texas DPS: Cost of Inspection |
| El Paso | $11.50 max at the station Source: Texas DPS: Cost of Inspection |
| Austin-Round Rock (Travis & Williamson) | $11.50 max at the station Source: Texas DPS: Cost of Inspection |
| San Antonio (Bexar County) from Nov 1, 2026 | $18.50 max at the station Source: Texas DPS news release (Jan 5, 2026) |
| State emissions inspection fee, paid at registration (emissions counties only) | $2.75 Source: TxDMV Registration & Title Bulletin 003-26 |
| Inspection program replacement fee, paid at registration (all non-commercial vehicles) | $7.50 Source: Texas DPS news release (Jan 5, 2026) |
| Initial replacement fee for a new vehicle (covers two years) | $16.75 Source: Texas DPS news release (Jan 5, 2026) |
| Commercial vehicle safety inspection (maximum at station) | $40 Source: Texas DPS: Cost of Inspection |
Houston-Galveston-Brazoria
Dallas-Fort Worth
El Paso
Austin-Round Rock (Travis & Williamson)
San Antonio (Bexar County)
No emissions test required (236 counties)
Personal vehicles in these counties need no inspection; the $7.50 replacement fee is paid at registration.
Anderson, Andrews, Angelina, Aransas, Archer, Armstrong, Atascosa, Austin, Bailey, Bandera, Bastrop, Baylor, Bee, Bell, Blanco, Borden, Bosque, Bowie, Brazos, Brewster, Briscoe, Brooks, Brown, Burleson, Burnet, Caldwell, Calhoun, Callahan, Cameron, Camp, Carson, Cass, Castro, Chambers, Cherokee, Childress, Clay, Cochran, Coke, Coleman, Collingsworth, Colorado, Comal, Comanche, Concho, Cooke, Coryell, Cottle, Crane, Crockett, Crosby, Culberson, Dallam, Dawson, DeWitt, Deaf Smith, Delta, Dickens, Dimmit, Donley, Duval, Eastland, Ector, Edwards, Erath, Falls, Fannin, Fayette, Fisher, Floyd, Foard, Franklin, Freestone, Frio, Gaines, Garza, Gillespie, Glasscock, Goliad, Gonzales, Gray, Grayson, Gregg, Grimes, Guadalupe, Hale, Hall, Hamilton, Hansford, Hardeman, Hardin, Harrison, Hartley, Haskell, Hays, Hemphill, Henderson, Hidalgo, Hill, Hockley, Hood, Hopkins, Houston, Howard, Hudspeth, Hunt, Hutchinson, Irion, Jack, Jackson, Jasper, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Jones, Karnes, Kendall, Kenedy, Kent, Kerr, Kimble, King, Kinney, Kleberg, Knox, La Salle, Lamar, Lamb, Lampasas, Lavaca, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Limestone, Lipscomb, Live Oak, Llano, Loving, Lubbock, Lynn, Madison, Marion, Martin, Mason, Matagorda, Maverick, McCulloch, McLennan, McMullen, Medina, Menard, Midland, Milam, Mills, Mitchell, Montague, Moore, Morris, Motley, Nacogdoches, Navarro, Newton, Nolan, Nueces, Ochiltree, Oldham, Orange, Palo Pinto, Panola, Parmer, Pecos, Polk, Potter, Presidio, Rains, Randall, Reagan, Real, Red River, Reeves, Refugio, Roberts, Robertson, Runnels, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, San Patricio, San Saba, Schleicher, Scurry, Shackelford, Shelby, Sherman, Smith, Somervell, Starr, Stephens, Sterling, Stonewall, Sutton, Swisher, Taylor, Terrell, Terry, Throckmorton, Titus, Tom Green, Trinity, Tyler, Upshur, Upton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Van Zandt, Victoria, Walker, Waller, Ward, Washington, Webb, Wharton, Wheeler, Wichita, Wilbarger, Willacy, Wilson, Winkler, Wise, Wood, Yoakum, Young, Zapata, Zavala.
Frequently asked
Does Texas still require vehicle safety inspections?
Not for non-commercial vehicles. Safety inspections ended January 1, 2025 under HB 3297. Commercial vehicles still need an annual safety inspection (up to $40).
Which Texas counties require emissions testing?
Bexar County, Brazoria County, Collin County, Dallas County, Denton County, El Paso County, Ellis County, Fort Bend County, Galveston County, Harris County, Johnson County, Kaufman County, Montgomery County, Parker County, Rockwall County, Tarrant County, Travis County, Williamson County. Bexar County starts November 1, 2026.
Which vehicles are exempt from Texas emissions testing?
Electric vehicles, diesel vehicles, motorcycles and mopeds are not required to be inspected, per TCEQ. Gasoline vehicles are tested from 2 through 24 years old.
How much is an emissions test in Texas?
Up to $18.50 at the station in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston areas and Bexar County, and up to $11.50 in El Paso, Travis and Williamson counties, plus a $2.75 state emissions fee and the $7.50 inspection replacement fee at registration.