Shamil Wippy, general manager of Kwik Kar on Murphy Road, works on a computer during a car inspection at his shop, Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, in Sachse.
Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News
Texas drivers were told annual vehicle inspections were going away. So why are motorists in Dallas-Fort Worth still required to get one?
Although the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 3297, which eliminated annual safety inspections for most non-commercial vehicles in 2025, emissions testing is still required in parts of the state, including several North Texas counties.
Now, whether or not a driver needs an inspection is based on the make, model and age of a vehicle.
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Do you still need to get your car inspected? Here’s what we found out.
What is an emissions test?
An onboard diagnostics system (OBD-II) is used to test if the car’s emissions control system is working properly and if the vehicle meets the state’s air quality standards, said Shamil Wippy, general manager for the Kwik Kar Oil Change and Auto Care in Sachse.
The inspector connects the testing equipment to the vehicle’s diagnostic port and checks the electronic control unit, which Wippy referred to as the brain of the car. Unlike the old test which also checked the car’s brakes, engine and transmission, this inspection is focused on pollution and emissions-control equipment.
IMclean, a data acquisition device, is hooked up to a car during a car inspection at Kwik Kar on Murphy Road, Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, in Sachse.
Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News
Wippy said the most common reason people fail emissions tests nowadays is battery changes. When a car battery is changed, it wipes the control system’s short-term memory, making it harder for the inspector to get an accurate read on the vehicle’s emissions performance.
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“Whenever you do any kind of maintenance that wipes all the data off the ECU, you have to drive it for a few driving cycles to make sure the system is testing itself and everything is working perfectly fine,” Wippy said.
Who still needs an inspection?
Out of the 17 counties required to participate in emissions testing, nine are in North Texas. For drivers in Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall and Tarrant counties, an annual inspection can still stand in the way of registration renewal.
Gasoline-powered vehicles two to 24 years old are subject to emissions testing, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Emissions tests can be conducted at any state-authorized inspection center, such as registered auto repair shops like Kwik Kar.
Wippy said the number of customers coming in for vehicle inspections has declined, attributing it to the rise of electric vehicles, more new vehicle owners and confusion about the new inspection requirements.
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What do I bring to the inspection?
Drivers who fit the requirements for an emissions test need to bring proof of insurance to the inspection, according to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. An electronic or paper copy of the insurance will be accepted.
The maximum amount registered inspectors can charge for an emissions test is $18.50.
Inspectors will provide passed vehicles with a paper stating the vehicle’s registration can be renewed. If a motorist loses the paper, DMV employees can pull the vehicle’s information using the license plate number. The inspection must be completed within 90 days before the registration expires, according to the DPS.
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Related: Your guide to renewing your vehicle’s registration in Texas