If you’re a Texas resident who owns a gas-powered vehicle that’s been on the road for anywhere from two to 24 years, you’ll need an annual safety inspection. In certain counties, this inspection alone isn’t enough — you’ll also have to get your vehicle’s emissions system checked.
Even if you know when to take care of your Texas state emissions test, you might not understand why this test matters. Read on for our explanation of how these inspections ensure environmental compliance and car safety, the various processes used for emissions testing, and the changes coming to local vehicle testing requirements in the near future.
Why Testing Vehicle Emissions Matters
Your vehicle’s emission control system limits the pollutants it releases into the atmosphere. However, this system isn’t perfect, and your emission control devices can develop problems over time. If that happens, your car could produce excessive atmospheric pollution, exposing you and your passengers to serious health risks.
With that in mind, motorists in several Texas counties need to get annual emissions tests. This process allows knowledgeable mechanics to examine your car’s emission control system and fix any issues it may have.
What To Expect During the Texas State Emissions Test
Your vehicle will need to go through one of two Texas vehicle inspections related to vehicle emissions.
The OBD II Test
If your car was manufactured in 1996 or any year after that, it has an on-board diagnostic second-generation (OBD II) system. This system monitors emissions problems and lets drivers know about them before they worsen.
To complete an OBD II test, technicians use a barcode reader to scan your vehicle identification number before connecting their analyzer to your car’s OBD system. This will provide them with information on your emissions system’s performance.
The ASM/TSI Test
Since cars built in or before 1995 don’t have OBD II systems, these vehicles’ emissions need to be checked with the acceleration simulation mode/two-speed idle test. During this test, mechanics simulate various driving conditions while your vehicle idles. Then, they measure the emissions generated during this process.
If you don’t pass your emissions test, your shop’s mechanics can use your results to complete any emissions-related repairs or maintenance your vehicle needs. When that work is done, you’ll be able to go through the testing process again. If you get a second emissions test within 30 days of the first, you won’t have to pay an additional fee.
How Long Will This Test Take?
While emissions testing can be a minor inconvenience for Texas drivers, this process doesn’t take long. On average, you can expect your emissions test to be finished in roughly 15 to 30 minutes. However, due to the lack of federal standardization for this testing process, different municipalities could have different testing requirements — meaning this process could take more or less time than you’d think.
The Price of Emissions Testing
As a Texas motorist, you’ll need to pay a small fee for your annual inspection. That said, its maximum cost will vary depending on where you live in the state and the type of testing you need.
Currently, Texas’ one-year safety inspection costs seven dollars. If you live in El Paso, Travis, or Williamson counties, you can take care of emissions testing along with your safety test for $18.50. Meanwhile, Houston or Dallas-Fort Worth drivers will need to pay $25.50 for safety and emissions testing.
How WIll Texas Vehicle Inspections Change in 2025?
Currently, drivers in many local counties must take care of Texas vehicle inspections each year. However, the introduction of a law known as HB 3297 will bring significant changes to this process when it goes into effect in 2025. As a result of this law, Texas’s car safety inspection requirements for non-commercial vehicles will effectively be eliminated.
However, HB 3297 will not eliminate Texas state emissions tests. Instead, these tests will continue to be required in the following counties (and Bexar County, which will be added to the list on Nov. 1, 2026):
- Brazoria
- Collin
- Dallas
- Denton
- El Paso
- Ellis
- Fort Bend
- Galveston
- Harris
- Johnson
- Kaufman
- Montgomery
- Parker
- Rockwall
- Tarrant
- Travis
- Williamson
Furthermore, this change will not do away with Texans’ costs for safety inspections. Instead, this expense has been added to drivers’ annual vehicle registration fees. New car owners will not need to deal with that fee, but they will have to pay a one-time fee of $16.75 at registration instead.
Know Where To Get Your Emissions Tested
Finding an auto repair shop offering emissions inspections in Hays County isn’t hard, but picking the right business to handle this task matters. Even though getting information about emission control systems from your OBD II system is easy enough, you might also need help resolving issues with your emission control devices and bringing your vehicle back into environmental compliance.
If you’re ready for your annual Texas state emissions test, Reliable Automotive can help. Our ASE-certified mechanics have the knowledge and experience they need to take care of all aspects of your vehicle — including emission repair. Get started by scheduling an appointment today!
