andrei | September 20, 2025 | Car Accidents
Texas Ends Vehicle Safety Inspections: What Motorists Should Know
Texas motorists saw a major rules change beginning January 1, 2025. The state no longer requires annual safety inspections for most non-commercial vehicles at the time of registration, and instead collects a modest “inspection program replacement fee.” For busy families and small-business owners, this was pitched as a time-saver that streamlines registration without changing the duty to keep a roadworthy vehicle.
The change matters after a crash. If worn brakes, bald tires, or inoperable lights contribute to a collision, the lack of an inspection sticker will not shield a driver from responsibility. Equipment laws still apply, and law enforcement can cite unsafe conditions. Understanding what changed, what didn’t, and how liability works under Texas laws can help you protect yourself on the road and safeguard your legal rights if a car accident occurs.
Changes Brought by House Bill 3297
Below is a quick look at what HB 3297 changed, and what Texans still need to do to comply.
- As of January 1, 2025, most non-commercial vehicles in Texas do not need a safety inspection to register or renew registration.
- All non-commercial vehicles pay a $7.50 “inspection program replacement fee” when registering each year. This replaces prior safety-inspection revenue but does not increase overall registration cost.
- New vehicles of the current or prior model year pay a $16.75 initial replacement fee that covers the first two years of registration.
- Commercial vehicles still require annual safety inspections statewide and are exempt from the replacement fee because they continue paying for the inspection itself.
- Emissions testing remains mandatory in 17 counties, including Brazoria, Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, El Paso, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Johnson, Kaufman, Montgomery, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Travis, and Williamson. Costs vary by county and vehicle.
- Bexar County is scheduled to join the emissions-testing program in 2026. Check your county’s status when renewing.
In short, inspections mostly ended, fees shifted, and emissions rules still apply by county. Keep your vehicle maintained and verify your local requirements at renewal.
Safety Concerns Raised by House Bill 3297
Some cheer the convenience. Others worry that removing routine checks may let more unsafe vehicles slip through. Researchers and agencies have studied inspection programs for years, with mixed findings.
- Some analyses find only small or uncertain crash reductions from inspection programs, suggesting other factors often drive crash risk more than inspection status.
- Other studies, including work examining Pennsylvania’s program, conclude inspections prevent fatal crashes by catching critical defects on older vehicles.
- Texas safety officials have cautioned that vehicle defects become more dangerous on high-speed roadways, where Texas leads the nation in speed limits.
- Data limitations complicate firm conclusions, since crash reports often undercount mechanical defects, and confounders blur comparisons across states.
- Regardless of inspections, Texas law still prohibits operating vehicles with defective equipment, and officers may ticket for lights, tires, wipers, and more.
Bottom line for drivers in Texas and Sugar Land, TX: maintenance matters. Skipping inspections does not eliminate the responsibility to keep your car, truck, or motorcycle safe.
Accident Victims’ Legal Rights After Accidents Involving Unsafe Motor Vehicles
If you are injured in a car accident and suspect a mechanical defect contributed, you have options. Claims involving defective equipment can involve more parties and evidence than a typical rear-end crash. The key is documenting what failed and why.
Victims in Texas can pursue compensation for harms caused by drivers who neglect vehicle upkeep. After truck accidents or motorcycle accidents, component failures can be catastrophic. The right legal strategy focuses on both the human factors and the machine that failed at a critical moment.
- Right to investigate the vehicle and preserve evidence. You may seek a court-ordered inspection, spoliation letter, and data downloads to secure tires, brake parts, lighting modules, and event data recorder information before repairs erase proof.
- Right to pursue negligence for violating equipment laws. Operating with unsafe tires, failed brakes, or non-functioning lights can be strong evidence of negligence under Texas laws, particularly when the defect contributed to visibility or stopping distance.
- Right to claim full damages. Medical bills, lost income, future care, pain and suffering, and property loss may be recovered in motor vehicle accidents when a defect in someone’s car caused or worsened your injuries.
- Right to explore additional defendants. Depending on the facts, claims may extend to maintenance contractors, parts retailers, or manufacturers when improper repair or product defects intersect with driver negligence in motor vehicle accidents.
- Right to independent experts. Accident reconstructionists, biomechanical experts, and automotive engineers can help link a component failure to the crash mechanism and injury outcomes, especially in complex truck accidents.
- Right to bilingual legal support and clear communication. Injured Texans deserve counsel that explains each step in plain English or Spanish and handles the insurer’s tactics while you focus on treatment.
These rights help level the field after car accidents when mechanics and machine data matter. A prompt legal consult ensures critical evidence is preserved before it disappears.
Liability in Accidents Involving Unsafe Vehicles
Responsibility typically starts with the at-fault driver. If a driver knew or should have known a vehicle had unsafe tires, defective brakes, or non-functioning headlights, that failure can support a negligence claim. Ending annual inspections does not change the duty to operate a safe vehicle on Texas roads.
Commercial vehicles remain under safety-inspection requirements. If a company fails those duties and a cargo truck’s equipment defect contributes to a collision, corporate liability can follow. Company policies, maintenance logs, and inspection histories become crucial in proving fault in truck accidents and broader motor vehicle accidents.
Third-party liability can also apply. A repair shop that improperly serviced a braking system, or a parts distributor that sold a known defective component, can share responsibility. In some cases, product liability against a manufacturer may be appropriate if a design or manufacturing defect helped cause the car accident. A seasoned personal injury lawyer can map the chain of fault and insurance coverage.
Practical Takeaways for Texas Drivers
- No annual safety inspection for most non-commercial vehicles starting January 1, 2025, but a $7.50 replacement fee is due at registration. New vehicles owe $16.75 initially for two years.
- Commercial vehicles still require safety inspections and do not pay the replacement fee.
- Emissions testing still applies in 17 counties and will expand to include Bexar County in 2026. Check county rules before renewing.
- Equipment violations remain ticketable and can support civil liability after a crash. Regular maintenance protects you legally and physically.
When a mechanical issue contributes to a collision, especially in car accidents, truck accidents, or motorcycle accidents, the absence of a safety inspection requirement does not excuse unsafe operation. If you or a loved one were injured in Texas, reach out to The Crash Team for a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer who knows how to build evidence-heavy cases and hold all responsible parties accountable.
Have You Been in an Accident Caused by an Unsafe Vehicle? The Crash Team Would Like to Hear From You!
If a careless driver’s poorly maintained car contributed to your injuries, you deserve straightforward counsel and rigorous investigation. The Crash Team is a personal injury law firm based in Sugar Land, TX, serving clients across Texas. Our lead attorneys, Aaron and Breanne Galvan, lead a client-first practice that blends courtroom skill with practical guidance. We handle car crashes, 18-wheeler and company vehicle cases, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, and more.
Clients choose us for focused advocacy and results. Our settlements and verdicts consistently rank among the higher outcomes in Texas, and we offer a no-win, no-fee structure so you can prioritize recovery. We provide bilingual service in English and Spanish. When insurers lowball or stall, our car accident attorneys press for the value your injuries warrant under Texas laws. If you need a car accident lawyer who treats you like a person, not a file, call The Crash Team today.