The Lone Star state is axing its requirement for drivers who register a car there to pass a safety inspection beginning in 2025 after the Texas Legislature gave final approval to House Bill 3297. It’s a controversial move that aims to fix issues with the current system. Not all Texans will end up exempt from the safety inspection system though.
Vehicles registered in Texas today must pass a safety inspection that checks on features like tire condition, seat belts, brakes, and more. Twelve other states across the country also require safety inspections for motor vehicles but in a little under two years, Texas will end the program. The $7.50 fee isn’t going anywhere though. It’ll now be called the “Inspection Program Replacement Fee.”
Initially, the law was put in place to promote safety. Data showed that cars with defects to the above-mentioned components presented a larger safety risk on the road. Compared to other states, Texas roads see more vehicle-related fatalities on average. So removing the safety inspection isn’t something that everyone supports.
Read: Texas EV Owners To Pay $200 Annual Registration Fee From Sep 1
While removing safety inspections altogether might sound counterintuitive, it’s an attempt to rid the state of a questionable system. Investigators believe that millions of cars on Texas roads are driving around with bogus safety inspection documentation.
We’ve told you in the past about how many state inspection sites appear to be passing a number of vehicles despite evidence that no vehicles are actually at the location. Rather than sort through the numerous issues with a system that would allow so many fake passes, the state is simply abolishing the program.
It’s not a total state-wide pass though. Seventeen counties have their own laws requiring an inspection. These include Brazoria, Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, El Paso, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Johnson, Kaufman, Montgomery, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Travis, and Williamson counties. Those who register a vehicle in one of these counties will still need a safety inspection.
The legislation goes into effect on January 1st, 2025 according to Keranews.