Texas emissions waivers and time extensions

The following waivers and extensions are issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).

The local DPS waiver/challenge stations are responsible for issuing waivers/time extensions.

The motorist may apply once each annual testing cycle for the Low Mileage Waiver, Individual Vehicle Waiver, and Parts Availability Time Extension.

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.

The waiver may be granted based upon the belief that granting the waiver will not cause a significant impact on air quality.

Vehicles will be visually inspected by a Texas Department of Public Safety representative to insure that emission repairs being claimed have been performed.

This waiver is available to a vehicle owner whose vehicle has failed both its initial emissions inspection and re-inspection and in which at least $100 in emissions related repairs have been performed.

Fail both the initial test and free retest Incur $100 of emissions related repairs Drive less than 5,000 miles/year

can verify is driven an average of less than 5,000 miles each year

If your vehicle failed the emissions test and your annual income is below the national poverty level, you may be granted a one-year extension.

The Low-Income Time Extension is valid for one inspection cycle, but may be granted more than once during the life of a vehicle.

Motorists may apply for the Low-Income Time Extension every other testing cycle.

This extension is available to owners of vehicles experiencing emission inspection failures due to a vehicle part not being readily available.

The Low-Income Time Extension is valid for one inspection cycle, but may be granted more than once during the life of a vehicle.

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.

If your vehicle fails the re-test and you choose to apply for a waiver, where you have the repairs performed will have a bearing on how much of the emissions-related repairs can be applied toward the waiver.

If you choose a Recognized Emissions Repair Facility of Texas to repair your vehicle, all diagnostic, parts and labor costs associated with the emissions-related repairs go toward the waiver requirements.

if you choose an independent, non-recognized facility or perform the emissions repairs yourself, only the cost of certain emissions-related parts involved in the emissions-related repairs apply to the waiver requirements.

All receipts related to the repairs must be retained and presented to a Department representative when applying for a waiver.

The VIE-7 (Vehicle Repair Form) must be completed for a customer to receive a re-inspection or to apply for a waiver.

Transmission DTC repairs can range from $1500 to $3000, although some types may be cheaper (e.g., a transmission speed sensor problem). A waiver may be issued if the diagnosis shows the extent and cost of repair to be unreasonable.