What is an emissions test and which Texans need them?

In less than six months' time, Texans will no longer need to undergo mandatory vehicle inspections each year.

AUSTIN (KXAN) — In less than six months' time, Texans will no longer need to undergo mandatory vehicle inspections each year.

Last year, the state legislature ended the requirement for the annual inspection. The new state law will take effect Jan. 1, 2025, with the onus now on personal drivers to ensure their vehicles are safe to use; commercial vehicles will still be required to undergo the inspection requirement as per usual.

Despite the removal of the previous safety inspection requirement, vehicle owners will still be responsible for a $7.50 “inspection replacement fee.” Newer vehicles not yet registered will receive a $16.75 fee to cover two years of registration.

But not every vehicle owner will get to skip out on an annual safety visit. Seventeen counties — primarily in areas surrounding major metro areas and more highly populated communities — require emissions inspections. Those counties include:

• Brazoria
• Collin
• Dallas
• Denton
• El Paso
• Ellis
• Fort Bend
• Galveston
• Harris
• Johnson
• Kaufman
• Montgomery
• Parker
• Rockwall
• Tarrant
• Travis
• Williamson

Come 2026, Bexar County will also begin requiring those emissions inspections. These apply to gasoline-powered vehicles between two and 24 model years old. If a brand new vehicle hasn't expired past the initial two-year inspection sticker, they're exempt.

Likewise, hybrid vehicles aren't exempt from passing an emissions test. Diesel-powered vehicles and motorcycles aren't required to undergo emissions testing, per the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Vehicles required to undergo an emissions test will receive an on-board diagnostic (OBDII) test. A closer look at available testing sites is available online.