The following Texas counties require emissions testing: Brazoria, Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, El Paso, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Johnson, Kaufman, Montgomery, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Travis and Williamson. A vehicle registered in an affected county may receive a safety inspection at a vehicle inspection station in a non-affected county if:
(1) The vehicle is not a designated vehicle because it has not and will not be primarily operated in an affected county.
a. Company fleet vehicles owned by business entities registered at a central office located in an affected county but operated from branch offices and locations in non-affected counties on a permanent basis.
b. Hunting and recreational vehicles registered to the owner in an affected area, but permanently maintained on a hunting property or vacation home site in a non-affected county.
(2) The vehicle no longer qualifies as a designated vehicle because it will no longer be primarily operated in an affected county. For example, the vehicle registration indicates it is registered in an affected county, but the owner has moved, does not currently reside in, nor will primarily operate the vehicle in an affected county.
(3) The vehicle is registered in an affected county and is primarily operated in a non-affected county, but will not return to an affected county prior to the expiration of the current registration. Under this exception the vehicle will be re-inspected at a vehicle inspection station certified to do vehicle emissions testing immediately upon return to an affected county. Examples of this exception include vehicles operated by students enrolled at learning institutions, vehicles operated by persons during extended vacations, or vehicles operated by persons on extended out-of-county business.
A motorist must complete the vehicle emissions testing exemption process at the time of the vehicle's designated annual vehicle safety inspection.