Vehicles registered in 17 counties, including Dallas, will still have to pass an annual emissions test.
File photo: Robert Garcia, assistant manager at Adkison Tire & Service, checks the chassis of a car as he performs a Texas vehicle inspection Friday, December 11, 2009 in central Dallas.Texas lawmakers recently passed a bill that would be considered a victory by drivers who dread taking their vehicle in for its annual safety inspection, but those living in areas such as Dallas-Fort Worth will still have to make an annual trip to the mechanic and pay a yearly fee.
The bill, which eliminates the state’s annual vehicle safety inspection requirement, was sent to Gov. Greg Abbott last week. If he signs it into law, it would go into effect Jan. 1, 2025. Those against the change say it could put Texas drivers and others on the roadways in danger while the bill’s supporters argue the inspections are inconvenient and costly.
Texas is one of about a dozen states that require an annual safety inspection. The inspections for passenger vehicles check a myriad of the vehicle’s parts at once, including its exhaust system, lights, tires, brakes and windshield wipers.