Required in some areasSources checked Oct 7, 2026
Texas: a short summary of the state overview
Texas requires an annual emissions inspection for gasoline vehicles 2 through 24 years old registered in the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria and Dallas-Fort Worth areas, Travis, Williamson and El Paso counties, and Bexar County (San Antonio) joins on November 1, 2026. This page is a short summary of the state agency's overview, quoted below.
Program changes
Bexar County joins the program on November 1, 2026.
“Enhanced inspections will begin in Bexar County on November 1, 2026.”
Where testing is required
Vehicles registered in Brazoria, Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, El Paso, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Johnson, Kaufman, Montgomery, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Travis and Williamson counties must pass the annual emissions inspection to renew their registration.
“Motorists with vehicles registered in Brazoria, Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, El Paso, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Johnson, Kaufman, Montgomery, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Travis, and Williamson Counties will not be eligible to renew their vehicle's annual registration if the vehicle has not passed its annual emissions inspection”
Which vehicles are tested
Gasoline vehicles are inspected every year from their second anniversary until they are 24 years old; electric vehicles, diesels, motorcycles and mopeds are not.
“Gasoline vehicles model-year 2 through 24 years old are inspected annually beginning with the vehicle's second anniversary.”
- “Not required to inspect: electric vehicles, diesel vehicles, motorcycles, and mopeds.”
Registration and enforcement
Under Two Steps, One Sticker (since March 1, 2015) you pass the inspection first, then renew the registration; there is no separate inspection sticker.
“On March 1, 2015, the State of Texas stopped issuing vehicle inspection stickers and transitioned to a “Two Steps, One Sticker” vehicle inspection and registration program. Vehicles owners must pass the annual emissions inspection before going to register the vehicle.”
Texas emissions testing questions
Does Texas require emissions testing?
Yes. Required in some areas. Vehicles registered in Brazoria, Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, El Paso, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Johnson, Kaufman, Montgomery, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Travis and Williamson counties must pass the annual emissions inspection to renew their registration.
Which vehicles need an emissions test in Texas?
Gasoline vehicles are inspected every year from their second anniversary until they are 24 years old; electric vehicles, diesels, motorcycles and mopeds are not.
Sources
Every quotation above is checked word for word against our saved copy of the page, on the date shown. Rules change; if a page has moved or says something different, tell us at the corrections page.
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality: Vehicle emissions inspections in Texas · checked Oct 7, 2026