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Yes, you will owe the inspection station fee regardless of whether the vehicle passes or fails.

Vehicle Inspection and Registration Notice reminder letters are sent to motorists when a passing inspection record could not be found when the renewal notices were created. This letter is mailed the month before the expiration of vehicle registration and serves as a reminder to get a passing inspection and renew your registration.

Once you have a passing inspection, you do not need a renewal notice to renew online, at your county tax office, or at any county tax office willing to accept the application. Please note that eReminders are sent via email regardless of the inspection status of your vehicle.

No. As long as the passing inspection was obtained no earlier than 90 days before your registration expiration you will be able to renew.

Yes. Applicants must provide proof of a passing Texas Safety Inspection before being issued a 30-Day Permit. The vehicle’s passing inspection must be current for the duration of the timed permit.

Yes. All commercial vehicles registered in Texas are required to have a Texas safety inspection.

Yes. Texas statute requires all commercial vehicles registered in Texas to maintain an annual safety inspection.

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) errors are most common at inspection stations that manually record inspection results. While inspection stations should verify that the correct VIN is printed on a Vehicle Inspection Report (VIR), you are also encouraged to verify your VIN, before leaving the inspection station, in order to avoid any delays at the time of registration renewal. You can confirm the VIN printed on your VIR is correct by comparing it with the VIN listed on your insurance card/insurance policy which is required for inspection purposes, your vehicle Registration Renewal Notice or Vehicle Inspection and Registration Notice reminder letter.

Return to your inspection station and request a corrected VIR.

Please email the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). Be sure to include the inspection station information, such as station name, station ID (if possible), and inspector. All complaints must be submitted in writing.

The registration process for those with Disabled Veteran license plates is the same as for motorists with general issue plates. If you currently pay a $3 annual plate fee, you will continue to pay the $3 plate fee and the state’s portion of the inspection fee if it is due.

No. Exchanging to a new license plate type does not require a new inspection.

If your trailer is required to be inspected, you will need to have it inspected no earlier than 90 days before your registration expiration before you can renew it. You will follow the steps for inspecting and registering passenger vehicles outlined on our Motorists page. Trailers with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) more than 7,500 pounds are required to pass an annual vehicle inspection. The registration sticker design has not changed.

Dealer plates are not assigned to a vehicle; therefore, inspection cannot be verified. Vehicles with dealer plates must still have a passing inspection when operated on public roadways or be subject to citation by law enforcement. As a best practice, dealers should maintain a copy of the Vehicle Inspection Report in a vehicle displaying dealer plates as proof of inspection.

Yes. webDEALER is equipped to help your dealership easily calculate all fees due at the time of registration and title, including the state’s portion of the inspection fee. webDEALER will electronically verify inspection, and also allow for a manual verification of inspection if needed.

It is important to note that although registration is contingent upon inspection, a vehicle’s inspection is not invalidated when a registration sticker is removed.

All county subcontracting locations are able to process registration renewals if the inspection can be verified electronically; however, only some subcontractors are able to verify inspections manually (using the Vehicle Inspection Report).

If you add weight to a truck or trailer/semi-trailer mid-registration period, inspection will not be verified as this is not issuance or renewal of registration.

No. A passing inspection is not required before issuance of a 72-Hour Permit or 144-Hour Permit; however, a vehicle displaying a 72-Hour Permit or 144-Hour Permit must pass a Texas Safety Inspection before being operated on Texas highways. NOTE: A USDOT number is required to obtain either a 72-Hour Permit or 144-Hour Permit.

As of March 1, 2015, vehicle inspection stations no longer collect the state’s portion of the inspection fee. At the time of inspection, you pay only the inspection station’s portion of the fee. The state’s portion of the inspection fee is collected at the time of registration or renewal.

Apportioned and Token Trailers are not affected by the requirements of HB 2305 also known as "Two Steps, One Sticker." These registration types will not participate in the Two Steps One Sticker program; however, they will continue to obtain a Texas Inspection and pay the state's portion of the inspection fee at time of registration. In lieu of the inspection sticker, the Vehicle Inspection Report is required to be in the unit as proof of inspection.