San Antonio program area
Emissions testing in Bexar County, Texas
Required for registration from November 1, 2026
Bexar County is part of the San Antonio program area. A gasoline vehicle from 2 through 24 years old registered here needs a passing on-board diagnostics (OBD) emissions test before its registration can be renewed (for renewals from November 1, 2026), and stations may charge up to $18.50. TxDMV counted 1,773,138 vehicles registered in Bexar County in its fiscal year 2025 (September 2024 through August 2025). Our search of public map listings found 6 businesses in the county that list vehicle inspections; none can be confirmed as a Bexar emissions station before the program starts.
Key facts
- OBD testing from
- Nov 1, 2026
- Station fee (max)
- $18.50
- State fees at registration (most vehicles)
- $2.75 + $7.50
- Waiver repair minimum
- $600
- Vehicles registered (FY 2025)
- 1,773,138
- Stations counted by TCEQ
- Not yet (new area)
- Listings on this page
- 6
- Tax office
- San Antonio
- Neighbors without testing
- 7
Who must test in Bexar County
TCEQ lists Bexar County in the San Antonio program area. Enhanced (OBD) testing applies here from November 1, 2026. The test applies by fuel and age, and only to vehicles registered in the county.
San Antonio Area: Bexar County (beginning on November 1, 2026)
Enhanced inspections will begin in Bexar County on November 1, 2026.
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.
Beginning November 1, 2026, motorists with vehicles registered in Bexar County 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.
What the test costs in Bexar County
The station may charge at most $18.50 for the OBD test. The state’s share comes with the registration renewal: TxDMV’s sample notice lists the $2.75 emissions inspection fee, and most non-commercial vehicles also pay the $7.50 inspection program replacement fee there (the law exempts some, such as vehicles with antique plates; see the replacement fee). The fee calculator adds it up for your model year.
The emissions test fee in Bexar County will be $18.50, paid to the inspection station at the time of the test, plus $2.75 paid to the state at the time of registration renewal.
The price of vehicle emissions tests in Bexar Co. will be $18.50.
Inspection Fees: Not to exceed $18.50 for an OBD inspection.
Emissions Inspection Fee $2.75
Inspection Replacement Fee $7.50
Businesses that list vehicle inspections (Bexar emissions certification not yet confirmed)
6 business listings in 2 towns of Bexar County name vehicle inspections. DPS says all safety-only licenses expired on December 31, 2024, that stations must apply for a new license, and that only businesses with a Bexar County address can be certified as emissions stations, so check that a business is certified before you go. The official list of certified stations is the DPS inspection station locator.
all safety only licenses expired on December 31, 2024, and are no longer valid.
Both stations and inspectors must apply and be approved for a new license in order to conduct vehicle inspections.
These are businesses whose public map listing (Apple Maps or Yelp data, found through DuckDuckGo) names inspections, emissions testing or smog checks. A listing is not proof that the business is certified by the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the list is not complete: confirm with the station or the DPS inspection station locator before you go.
San Antonio
5 listings
- John's Inspection Station3103 S Flores St, San Antonio, 78204(210) 534-2165
- Official Inspection Station10480 Culebra Rd, San Antonio, 78251(210) 680-3856officialinspectionstation.com
- Official Inspection Station14092 Nacogdoches, San Antonio, 78247(210) 698-1000officialinspectionstation.com
- Official Inspection Station9000 Huebner Rd, San Antonio, 78240(210) 558-4558officialinspectionstation.com
- Official Inspection Station #28339 Culebra Rd, San Antonio, 78251(210) 523-1834officialinspectionstation.com
Universal City
1 listing
- Official Inspection Station2960 Pat Booker Rd, Universal City, 78148(210) 659-6640officialinspectionstation.com
Renewing a registration in Bexar County
After the vehicle passes, renew online, by mail or at the Bexar County tax assessor-collector’s office. TxDMV’s directory lists the office in San Antonio.
Physical Address: 233 N Pecos La Trinidad San Antonio, TX 78207
Telephone: (210) 335-2251
Website: https://www.bexar.org/
Drivers with unexpired vehicle registration are not required to obtain a passing emissions test until it is time to renew their registration.
Vehicle registration renewals can be completed up to 90 days in advance of expiration; a passing emissions test can be obtained within that period.
If the vehicle fails
Repair it and go back to the same station within 15 days for a free re-test. If it still fails after at least $600 of emissions-related repairs, DPS may grant an Individual Vehicle Waiver; see waivers and time extensions.
You do not have to pay to get your vehicle re-inspected if it fails inspection. If your vehicle fails the inspection, have the item(s) repaired and take it back to the inspection station that originally performed the inspection within 15 days for a free re-test.
This waiver is available to a vehicle owner that has spent at least $600 ($450 in El Paso) on emission-related repairs and is still unable to pass an emissions inspection or unable to qualify for another type of waiver.
New stations in Bexar County
Only businesses with a Bexar County address can be certified as Bexar emissions stations, so a shop just over the county line cannot test Bexar vehicles as a Bexar station. The full launch guide is Bexar County emissions testing.
Only businesses with a Bexar County address are eligible to become a certified emissions station.
Cities on the Bexar County line
Census boundaries put these cities partly in Bexar County and partly in a county outside the program, with residents on both sides (2020 Census). A vehicle’s test depends on the county it is registered in, not the city.
- Fair Oaks RanchOutside the program: Comal County (about 1,306 residents) and Kendall County (about 2,134 residents)
- SchertzOutside the program: Comal County (about 1,700 residents) and Guadalupe County (about 34,637 residents)
- SelmaOutside the program: Comal County (about 290 residents) and Guadalupe County (about 3,515 residents)
Counties next to Bexar County
| County | Emissions test |
|---|---|
| Atascosa County | No |
| Bandera County | No |
| Comal County | No |
| Guadalupe County | No |
| Kendall County | No |
| Medina County | No |
| Wilson County | No |
Counties touching Bexar County: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb (January 1, 2026 vintage).
Bexar County questions
Does Bexar County require an emissions test?
Yes, from November 1, 2026. After that date a gasoline vehicle 2 through 24 years old registered in Bexar County needs a passing emissions test to renew its registration.
Beginning November 1, 2026, motorists with vehicles registered in Bexar County 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.
How much is an emissions test in Bexar County?
Up to $18.50 at the station. The state’s share is paid at registration: TxDMV lists a $2.75 emissions inspection fee, and most non-commercial vehicles also pay the $7.50 inspection program replacement fee ($16.75 once for a new vehicle).
Where is the Bexar County tax office?
The TxDMV directory lists 233 N Pecos La Trinidad, San Antonio, TX 78207, telephone (210) 335-2251. Check the county’s website for other locations and hours before you go.
Which counties next to Bexar County do not test?
Atascosa County, Bandera County, Comal County, Guadalupe County, Kendall County, Medina County and Wilson County are not in the emissions program (U.S. Census county boundaries; TCEQ program list). What counts is the county where the vehicle is registered.
Sources
- TCEQ, Vehicle Emissions Inspections in Texaspage as published Sep 23, 2026 (archived copy), read Oct 6, 2026
- TxDMV, Bexar County Emissions (notice dated 2026-09-15)read Oct 6, 2026
- Texas DPS, DPS news release (Bexar County emissions inspections)page as published Jan 6, 2026 (archived copy), read Oct 6, 2026
- TCEQ, Highlights of the Vehicle I/M Programpage as published Jun 16, 2026 (archived copy), read Oct 6, 2026
- TxDMV, Register Your Vehicleread Oct 6, 2026
- TxDMV, FY 2025 Vehicles Registered and License Fees by County and Regional Officeread Oct 6, 2026
- TxDMV, Bexar County Tax Office (TxDMV county tax office directory)read Oct 6, 2026
- TCEQ, Affidavit, Waivers and Extensions, and the Vehicle Inspection Reportpage as published Jun 24, 2026 (archived copy), read Oct 6, 2026
- Texas DPS, General Inspection (FAQ)page as published May 19, 2026 (archived copy), read Oct 7, 2026
- Texas DPS, Bexar County Emission Inspections (FAQ)page as published Aug 22, 2026 (archived copy), read Oct 6, 2026
- U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, Texas county boundaries