, but annual emissions inspections are only required in specific counties. Diesel vehicles and motorcycles are exempt from smog checks in the state of Texas.

If there’s one thing Texans love, it’s driving across the massive state in their Ford F-150s. (Okay, there’s also football and bluebonnets.) But when all of those trucks congregate in city traffic, emissions can become a serious issue. That’s why certain Texas counties have annual smog check requirements for residents looking to renew their vehicle’s registration.

If you’re new to the state of Texas and aren’t sure if you need a smog check, you’ve come to the right place.

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Is a smog check required in Texas?

According to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), emissions tests are a part of required annual vehicle safety inspections for any gasoline vehicle that is between 2 and 24 years old in the following designated counties:

Brazoria

Collin

Dallas

Denton

El Paso

Ellis

Fort Bend

Galveston

Harris

Johnson

Kaufman

Montgomery

Parker

Rockwall

Tarrant

Travis

Williamson

New vehicles receive a two-year initial inspection sticker. When this sticker expires, the vehicle will need an annual smog check.

In order to

renew a vehicle’s registration

, vehicle owners must pass the annual safety inspection (including emissions testing). If the vehicle does not pass the inspection, registration will be denied. If your vehicle is denied registration for this reason, you can visit a recognized Emission Repair Facility.

MORE: How to register a car in Texas

Emissions testing requirements and exemptions

Let’s look into more of the details surrounding smog check requirements. If you have a vehicle that burns gasoline in one of the counties mentioned mentioned above, you’ll probably need an emissions test. However, there are some exceptions based on types of vehicles, the age of your vehicle, and the types of license plates on certain vehicles.

The following vehicles are exempt from Texas’ smog check requirements:

Any vehicle less than two years old

Any vehicle more than twenty-four years old

All-electric vehicles

Motorcycles

Road-building equipment

Farm machinery

Vehicles with slow-moving vehicle emblems

Vehicles with the following types of Texas license plates: Dealer demo/in-transit/converter tags, parade license, former military vehicle, in-transit, machinery, disaster, farm trailer, permit, antique, Charitable Organization tag, All-Terrain Vehicle validation sticker

Vehicles with one of these Texas permits: Factory delivery, pro-rate tabs, one-trip, temporary 24-hour, 72- or 144-Hour permits for oil and gas drilling/servicing equipment

If none of these exceptions apply to you, you’re going to need to get your smog check every year before you can renew your registration. You’ll also need to do this any time you register a vehicle after a

transfer of ownership

How to get out of your Texas smog check: emissions waivers

There are some affidavits, waivers, and extensions that may allow you some leeway when it comes to emissions testing requirements. You can find the full list on the

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s website

For example, if your vehicle is registered in an emissions testing county but you can prove that it won’t be used there for more than 60 calendar days, you can have the safety inspection done in a county where emissions testing is not required.

Alternatively, if you are a

student

or out-of-town worker who will be driving your Texas-registered vehicle in a different county or state, you can get an exemption affidavit.

There’s also a low mileage waiver available for vehicles that were driven less than 5,000 miles during the previous year, so long as this is true for the next inspection cycle. This waiver is only available if the vehicle has failed an initial inspection and a re-inspection after at least $100 was spent on emissions-related repairs.

There are also time extensions available for qualifying

low-income vehicle owners

, waiving inspection requirements for one inspection cycle. A time extension may also be granted if vehicle parts required to pass inspection are not readily available.

If you’ve spent at least $600—or $450 in El Paso county—on emissions repairs and still can't pass inspection or qualify for any other waiver, you might qualify for an individual vehicle waiver.

MORE: Texas gas tax

What is a Texas vehicle emissions test?

Vehicle emissions inspections in designated Texas counties are done as part of annual safety inspections that fall under the jurisdiction of the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).

The primary method used is Second Generation On Board Diagnostics (OBD-II) testing. All vehicles starting in the 1996 model year have this onboard computer system installed to monitor emissions. Testers will use a scan tool to connect to your car’s computer and read its

OBD codes

The first step of the test is a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) check. This checks whether or not there is a problem with your

Check Engine Light

. If the MIL check fails, the vehicle instantly fails the OBD-II test.

Next, the scan tool will check each emissions control system on the vehicle. For vehicles from model year 2001 and newer, no more than one monitor can be listed as “Not Ready” in order to pass the test. For vehicles from model years 1996 to 2000, you can pass with a maximum of two Not Ready monitors.

Finally, the OBD-II system will detect problems by searching for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC). If there is a problem with a vehicle, the MIL will come on and a fault code will be listed on the scan tool. If a fault code is found in any of the emissions control systems, the car will fail the test.

Common reasons for an OBD-II test failure include:

Bad catalytic converter

Faulty gas cap

Problem with ignition timing

Problem with the

fuel injection system

/thermostatic air cleaner

Mis-routed vacuum lines

Failing ventilation/recirculation system (PCV/EGR)

MORE:

Texas electric vehicle incentives

What do I need for a smog check in Texas?

You’ll need to bring your vehicle to the DPS-certified inspection station, along with money to pay the testing fee and

proof of insurance

How much is a smog check in Texas?

Safety inspections cost $18.50 in El Paso, Travis, and Williamson Counties and $25.50 in DFW/Houston. This includes both the basic safety check and emissions testing.

How to save on Texas car insurance costs

When it comes to fees, required emissions repairs, and the cost of gas, owning a car in Texas can add up to some high expenses. But there’s one area where you can free up some budget: car insurance!

By using Jerry, Texas drivers can find out whether or not they’re overpaying for their current auto insurance policy in just 45 seconds.

And if you realize that you are overpaying, you can use Jerry’s

trustworthy insurance comparison app

to switch to a new policy and secure yourself some serious annual savings. Jerry can gather and

compare personalized quotes

for your policy from over 55 companies, showing you the best prices and saving users an average of $800+ per year.

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