The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs and engages with Texans on public policy, politics, government, and statewide issues, recently reported that starting from January 1, cars registered in Texas will no longer be required to undergo a safety inspection.
However, owners will still be responsible for paying the associated fee.
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Texas drivers will no longer have to adhere to the previous requirement of having their cars undergo an annual safety exam, as state lawmakers have recently eliminated this rule from the Texas code.
Starting from January 1, annual inspections for noncommercial cars will no longer be mandatory in Texas. This change comes as a result of the approval of House Bill 3297 by the Texas Legislature in 2023. Prior to this, Texas was one of the 15 states that required these inspections.
Supporters argue that the safety inspections are both time-consuming and inconvenient. On the other hand, opponents of the bill express concerns that eliminating these inspections could potentially endanger Texas drivers, as well as future Texans.
Charissa Barnes, the owner of the Official Inspection Station in San Antonio, emphasized the importance of prioritizing vehicle safety while addressing lawmakers. She highlighted the need to ensure the safety of cars and individuals in Texas. According to Barnes, their primary focus is to guarantee the safety of people’s vehicles and the individuals traveling within the state.
What did the Legislature change?
The state Legislature has removed the requirement for annual vehicle inspections from state law. However, they have decided to keep the $7.50 fee, which will now be called the inspection program replacement fee.
This fee will still need to be paid when registering a vehicle with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.
The bill becoming law will not change the requirement for annual emissions tests in the 17 Texas counties. These counties include Brazoria, Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, El Paso, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Johnson, Kaufman, Montgomery, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Travis, and Williamson.
Who is affected?
All noncommercial drivers in Texas, excluding exempted counties, will be impacted by this legislation. As stated by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, the state has a total of 26 million registered cars.
These annual inspections serve as a means to assess the safety of various aspects of a vehicle, including tires, seat belts, and brakes, ensuring they are suitable for driving.
According to a study commissioned by the Texas Legislature in 2017, cars that had defects like bald tires or faulty brakes were found to be on average three years older than the typical registered vehicle, which has an average age of nine years.
According to a study, around 25% of the participants reported being approached by a mechanic to address slippery or faulty tires during an inspection.
This proactive approach by mechanics can potentially help prevent accidents. Furthermore, a separate report revealed that in Texas, cars with defects were over three times more likely to be involved in fatal crashes.
Texas roadways have gained a notorious reputation for their high level of danger. Shockingly, there is an average of one fatality per day on these roads.
The latest data from the state reveals that a staggering 4,283 individuals lost their lives in car accidents throughout Texas in 2023.
These statistics highlight the alarming fact that, on average, one person was tragically killed on a Texas roadway every two hours during that year.
Who influenced the bill’s outcome?
Republican Rep. Cody Harris from Palestine, along with Senators Mayes Middleton from Galveston and Bob Hall from Edgewood, have sponsored a bill that aims to eliminate the requirement for annual vehicle inspections.
In a statement to ABC 13 in Houston, Harris expressed her belief that these inspections are unproductive for Texas citizens and serve as a profit-driven scheme utilized by certain unscrupulous dealerships to push unnecessary repairs onto consumers.
She further emphasized that Texans are responsible and self-reliant individuals who can ensure the safety of their vehicles while on the road.
The bill received support from various groups and businesses, including the Liberty Foundation led by former Texas Sen. Don Huffines, Continental Automotive Group, Texas Public Policy Foundation, Texas Conservative Coalition, and Tesla. Don Huffines, whose family owns a car dealership empire in North Texas, has been particularly outspoken in favor of the bill.
The bill received opposition from various organizations, including the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas, the Dallas Police Association, the Houston Police Officers’ Union, the Texas State Inspection Association, and Toyota Motor North America.
How much will it cost Texans?
Drivers will continue to be required to pay the yearly $7.50 fee when registering their vehicles. The funds collected from this fee will be allocated to the Texas Mobility Fund, General Revenue Fund, and Clean Air Account.
Drivers who own new cars, whether they are the current model or the previous year’s model that has not been registered in Texas or any other state before, will now be required to pay an initial fee of $16.75 to cover a two-year period.
All commercial vehicles in every county of the state, including its 254 counties, must still undergo an annual vehicle safety inspection and pay the corresponding safety inspection fee.
Car crashes in Texas caused a staggering economic loss of $51.4 billion in 2021, according to estimates from the Texas transportation department.
What alternatives were considered?
There were no alternative options taken into account for the bill, although some opposition was expressed by other lawmakers. Senator Nathan Johnson, a Democrat from Dallas, voiced his concerns about the bill on the Senate floor prior to its approval.
Johnson expressed his belief that getting a windshield wiper installed would not take much time and if the opportunity arose, he wouldn’t mind purchasing one. He further stated that he would not support the bill until someone presented a study proving that windshield wipers are ineffective, as the evidence he has seen suggests otherwise.
Johnson passionately implored his fellow members to reject the bill, emphasizing the critical importance of the matter as it directly affects people’s lives.
The bill received overwhelming support, passing with a vote of 109-32 in the House chamber and 20-11 in the Senate. Governor Greg Abbott wasted no time and signed it into law in June 2023.
