Summary of New Laws Impacting Vehicle Inspection
HB 198 Effective September 1, 2023
Caption: Relating to vehicle safety inspections of certain travel trailers.
- Exempts travel trailers as defined by Transportation Code, Chapter 501, SS 501.002 from safety inspection if the owner submits an affidavit of self-inspection to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.
- The trailer is still subject to fees that will be collected at time of registration.
HB 2195 Effective September 1, 2023
Caption: Relating to wrong, fictitious, altered, or obscured license plates; increasing a criminal penalty.
- License plates are to be added to the list of vehicle inspection items for a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or mobile home registered in Texas.
- Vehicles that have wrong, fictitious, obscured, or altered license plates may not be issued a passing vehicle inspection report.
HB 3014 Effective September 1, 2023
Caption: Relating to the motor vehicle safety inspection of electric vehicles.
- Exempts electric only vehicles from emission system and exhaust system related inspection items.
HB 3297 Effective January 1, 2025
Caption: Relating to the elimination of regular mandatory vehicle safety inspections for noncommercial vehicles and the imposition of replacement fees.
The Vehicle Safety Inspection Program is eliminated for non-commercial vehicles by amending Transportation and Health and Safety Codes.
- The bill does not eliminate vehicle emissions inspections on non-commercial vehicles. Emissions inspections are still required in these Texas counties:
- Houston-Galveston-Brazoria Program Area: Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, and Montgomery Counties
- Dallas-Fort Worth Program Area: Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, and Tarrant Counties
- Austin Area: Travis and Williamson Counties
- El Paso Area: El Paso County
- The bill does not eliminate safety inspections on commercial vehicles.
SB 2102 Effective September 1, 2023
Caption: Relating to the initial registration and inspection period for certain rental vehicles; authorizing fees.
• Provides for a three-year initial inspection period for passenger car or light truck rental vehicles sold in Texas for the purpose of use in a rental fleet.