Texas emissions test fee calculator
Enter the county of registration, the model year and the fuel. The calculator says whether an emissions test applies and adds the most a station may charge to the inspection-related state fees on the renewal notice. Every figure it uses is quoted below the calculator.
Calculator
The result appears here. Without JavaScript, use the fee table below.
The fees by area
| Program area | Counties | At the station (max) | At registration (most vehicles) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth | Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall and Tarrant | $18.50 | $2.75 + $7.50 |
| Houston-Galveston-Brazoria | Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris and Montgomery | $18.50 | $2.75 + $7.50 |
| San Antonio area | Bexar | $18.50 | $2.75 + $7.50 |
| Austin area | Travis and Williamson | $11.50 | $2.75 + $7.50 |
| El Paso area | El Paso | $11.50 | $2.75 + $7.50 |
Station maximums: Texas DPS cost table and TCEQ (Bexar: TxDMV and DPS notices). At registration: the $2.75 emissions inspection fee on TxDMV’s sample renewal notice and in its Bexar notice, and the $7.50 inspection program replacement fee that most non-commercial vehicles pay (a new vehicle pays $16.75 once; the law exempts some vehicles, such as those with antique plates). Your renewal notice is the final word.
How the calculator decides
- Test or no test. A test applies to a gasoline vehicle registered in a program county when it is 2 through 24 years old by model year: in 2026, model years 2002 through 2024. Electric vehicles, diesels, motorcycles and mopeds are not tested. In Bexar County the test applies from November 1, 2026.
- Station fee. The maximum a station may charge in the county’s program area. A station may charge less.
- State fees at registration. The $2.75 emissions inspection fee (when a test applies) and, for most vehicles, the $7.50 inspection program replacement fee, or $16.75 once for a new vehicle’s first two-year registration. The law lists vehicles that do not pay the replacement fee: among them commercial vehicles (which keep a safety inspection) and vehicles with antique, custom vehicle or street rod plates. The calculator shows $0 for those plates.
- Not included. The registration fee itself, county fees, and any repair costs.
Emissions-only vehicles (DFW/Houston) $18.50
Emissions-only vehicles (El Paso, Travis & Williamson counties) $11.50
Amounts shown are the maximum charge for each inspection type
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.
Emissions Inspection Fee $2.75
The fee amounts displayed here are for demonstration purposes only. Fee amounts will vary based on your vehicle type, county of registration, and county of inspection.
$2.50 from all emissions inspections for the TCEQ/DPS administration of the I/M program.
at the time of application for initial registration or renewal of registration of a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or mobile home, the applicant shall pay an annual fee of $7.50.
Inspection Replacement Fee $7.50
New vehicles (those of the current or preceding model year on the date of purchase) purchased in Texas that have not been previously registered in Texas or another state are required to pay an initial inspection program replacement fee of $16.75 to cover two years.
Sec. 548.511. VEHICLES NOT SUBJECT TO INSPECTION PROGRAM REPLACEMENT FEE. Section 548.510 does not apply to:
(11) a vehicle that will move under or bear a paper dealer in-transit tag, machinery license, disaster license, parade license, prorate tab, one-trip permit, vehicle temporary transit permit, antique license, custom vehicle license, street rod license, temporary 24-hour permit, or permit license; or
Vehicles registered as “Antiques” are exempt from annual inspection.
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TXDMV) is responsible for issuing certificate of title and creating a safety inspection program for custom vehicles and street rods.
Gasoline vehicles model-year 2 through 24 years old are inspected annually beginning with the vehicle's second anniversary.
On January 1, 2020, all vehicles with model years of 1995 and older became exempt from the vehicle emissions inspection requirements in Texas
Not required to inspect: electric vehicles, diesel vehicles, motorcycles, and mopeds.
Fully electric cars and trucks, with a gross vehicle weight of 10,000 lbs. or less, will be assessed an annual $200 fee at the time of registration renewal starting September 1, 2023.
All commercial vehicles in all counties are still required to obtain a passing vehicle safety inspection. Because they still need to pay for a safety inspection, commercial vehicles are exempt from the inspection program replacement fee.
More in how much is an emissions test in Texas and which vehicles need a test.
Sources
- Texas DPS, Cost of Inspectionpage as published May 19, 2026 (archived copy), read Oct 6, 2026
- TxDMV, Bexar County Emissions (notice dated 2026-09-15)read Oct 6, 2026
- TxDMV, Register Your Vehicleread Oct 6, 2026
- TCEQ, Highlights of the Vehicle I/M Programpage as published Jun 16, 2026 (archived copy), read Oct 6, 2026
- Texas Legislature, H.B. No. 3297 (88th Legislature), enrolled versionpage as published Jun 11, 2026 (archived copy), read Oct 6, 2026
- Texas DPS, Vehicle Safety Inspection Program Changes Now in Effectpage as published Dec 16, 2025 (archived copy), read Oct 6, 2026
- Texas DPS, Unique Vehicles (vehicle inspection)page as published Jul 30, 2026 (archived copy), read Oct 6, 2026
- TCEQ, Vehicle Emissions Inspections in Texaspage as published Sep 23, 2026 (archived copy), read Oct 6, 2026
- TCEQ, 2024 Fee Analysis for AirCheckTexas Vehicle Emissions Inspection Programpage as published Oct 5, 2025 (archived copy), read Oct 6, 2026