Texas vehicle emissions inspection
Texas emissions testing: counties, costs and rules
Seventeen Texas counties, plus Bexar County from November 1, 2026, require a passing emissions test before a vehicle’s registration can be renewed. Everywhere else, most vehicles need no inspection at all since 2025. Every rule on this site is shown in the official source’s own words.
Bexar County: testing from November 1, 2026
San Antonio-area drivers: vehicles registered in Bexar County need a passing test to renew from November 1, 2026, at up to $18.50 at the station plus $2.75 at registration. What changes in Bexar County.
The 18 emissions counties
Each county page has its fee cap, start date, vehicles registered, tax office, neighboring counties and the station listings we found (132 in all).
| County | Program area | OBD testing since | Station fee (max) | Station listings found |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bexar County | San Antonio area | Nov 1, 2026 (starts) | $18.50 | 6 |
| Brazoria County | Houston-Galveston-Brazoria | May 1, 2003 | $18.50 | 2 |
| Collin County | Dallas-Fort Worth | May 1, 2002 | $18.50 | 8 |
| Dallas County | Dallas-Fort Worth | May 1, 2002 | $18.50 | 10 |
| Denton County | Dallas-Fort Worth | May 1, 2002 | $18.50 | 2 |
| El Paso County | El Paso area | Jan 1, 2007 | $11.50 | 8 |
| Ellis County | Dallas-Fort Worth | May 1, 2003 | $18.50 | 2 |
| Fort Bend County | Houston-Galveston-Brazoria | May 1, 2003 | $18.50 | 3 |
| Galveston County | Houston-Galveston-Brazoria | May 1, 2003 | $18.50 | 5 |
| Harris County | Houston-Galveston-Brazoria | May 1, 2002 | $18.50 | 39 |
| Johnson County | Dallas-Fort Worth | May 1, 2003 | $18.50 | 5 |
| Kaufman County | Dallas-Fort Worth | May 1, 2003 | $18.50 | 0 |
| Montgomery County | Houston-Galveston-Brazoria | May 1, 2003 | $18.50 | 8 |
| Parker County | Dallas-Fort Worth | May 1, 2003 | $18.50 | 2 |
| Rockwall County | Dallas-Fort Worth | May 1, 2003 | $18.50 | 1 |
| Tarrant County | Dallas-Fort Worth | May 1, 2002 | $18.50 | 15 |
| Travis County | Austin area | Sep 1, 2005 | $11.50 | 13 |
| Williamson County | Austin area | Sep 1, 2005 | $11.50 | 3 |
Fees and dates: TCEQ and Texas DPS (quoted on each county page). Station listings: businesses found in map listings for “emissions testing” and “state inspection station” whose listing names inspections or emissions testing; not proof of DPS certification.
Start here
- Which Texas counties require an emissions test?
Seventeen counties require a passing emissions test before you can renew a registration: nine around Dallas-Fort Worth, five around Houston, Travis and Williamson around Austin, and El Paso.
- How much is an emissions test in Texas?
At the station you pay at most $18.50 in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and (from November 1, 2026) Bexar County areas, and at most $11.50 in Travis, Williamson and El Paso counties.
- Bexar County emissions testing: what changes on November 1, 2026
From November 1, 2026, gasoline vehicles 2 through 24 years old that are registered in Bexar County need a passing emissions test before the registration can be renewed.
- Texas ended most vehicle safety inspections on January 1, 2025
Since January 1, 2025, non-commercial vehicles in Texas no longer need a safety inspection before registration (House Bill 3297).
- Which vehicles need an emissions test in Texas?
In the 18 program counties, gasoline vehicles from 2 through 24 years old are tested every year, starting at the vehicle’s second anniversary.
- Readiness monitors and “not ready” results
A 2001 or newer vehicle may have one non-continuous monitor “not ready” and still pass; two or more fail.
- Failed a Texas emissions test? What to do next
Have the failed items repaired and go back to the same station within 15 days: the re-test is free.
- New to Texas: the emissions test and registering your vehicle
You have 30 days after moving to Texas to register your vehicle.
- Texas emissions waivers and time extensions
DPS issues four kinds of relief for a vehicle that failed: an Individual Vehicle Waiver after at least $600 of emissions repairs ($450 in El Paso), a Low Mileage Waiver after $100 of repairs for a vehicle driven under 5,000 miles a year, a Low-Income Time Extension, and a Parts Availability Time Extension.
The rules in their own words
Motorists with vehicles registered in Brazoria, Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, El Paso, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Johnson, Kaufman, Montgomery, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Travis, and Williamson Counties will not be eligible to renew their vehicle's annual registration if the vehicle has not passed its annual emissions inspection or complied with the vehicle emissions inspection program requirements.
Gasoline vehicles model-year 2 through 24 years old are inspected annually beginning with the vehicle's second anniversary.
Not required to inspect: electric vehicles, diesel vehicles, motorcycles, and mopeds.
Emissions-only vehicles (DFW/Houston) $18.50
Emissions-only vehicles (El Paso, Travis & Williamson counties) $11.50
Enhanced inspections will begin in Bexar County on November 1, 2026.
As of January 1, 2025, non-commercial vehicles are no longer required to obtain a safety inspection prior to vehicle registration
Sources
- TCEQ, Vehicle Emissions Inspections in Texaspage as published Sep 23, 2026 (archived copy), read Oct 6, 2026
- Texas DPS, Cost of Inspectionpage as published May 19, 2026 (archived copy), read Oct 6, 2026
- TxDMV, Register Your Vehicleread Oct 6, 2026