Kerr County vehicle owners no longer need vehicle inspections beginning Jan. 1, 2025

Starting January 1, 2025, Kerr County vehicle owners will no longer need to obtain a vehicle inspection before getting their registration renewed, according to Kerr County Tax Assessor-Collector Bob Reeves, whose office handles vehicle registrations and other Texas Department of Motor Vehicle transactions.  “House Bill 3297 that was passed during the 88th Legislative Session in 2023 eliminates the vehicle safety inspection program for non-commercial vehicles,” said Reeves.

Currently, motorists pay $7 at the inspection station and a $7.50 state fee at the tax office.  With the new law, there will be a $7.50 “Inspection Program Replacement Fee” in lieu of the $7.50 state fee at the time the vehicle registration is renewed.  The motorist will no longer pay the $7 fee to get their vehicle evaluated at an inspection station.  Owners registering a new vehicle will pay a $16.75 fee, which will cover the vehicle’s registration for the first two years, according to Reeves.

The new law dictates that vehicle owners living in the most populated counties of Texas are still responsible for getting emissions inspections, but Kerr County is not among the 17 areas where this will be required.  During deliberations over the bill, it was pointed out that the majority of states in America do not require vehicle safety inspections of any kind.  After HB3297 passed, state officials said that roughly half of all Texas drivers will still be required to get regular emissions inspections.

For more information on the Texas Dept. of Motor Vehicles registration, visit:  https://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/register-your-vehicle.