Topic
Cars & Driving
Registering a vehicle in Texas, new-resident deadlines, the counties that still require an emissions test, and the local fees that ride along on your renewal. Here is the help for the paperwork and the rules of driving in Texas.
Local Notes
Cars & Driving notes
Texas-wide · Vehicles
Most Texas cars no longer need the old safety inspection
The registration bill still has inspection-related wrinkles.
Anderson County · Flooding / Road safety
Flooded Roads Are Dangerous, and Driving Around Barriers Is Illegal
Anderson County has low-water crossings on rural roads that can flood rapidly, and Texas law makes it illegal, with fines up to $2,000, to drive around barriers on a flooded road.
Anderson County · Vehicle registration
How to Register Your Vehicle in Anderson County
Most personal cars no longer need a safety check. Renewal still needs the right papers, payment, and a state replacement fee.
Andrews County · Driving / Vehicle registration
Andrews County vehicles no longer need a safety inspection to register
As of January 1, 2025, Texas dropped the annual safety inspection for non-commercial vehicles. Andrews County is not an emissions-testing county, so most drivers just pay a small fee at registration.
Angelina County · Driving / Registration
Where and how to register your vehicle in Angelina County
Angelina County runs four vehicle registration sub-offices across the county and accepts online renewals. Non-commercial vehicles no longer need a separate safety inspection sticker before registering.
Atascosa County · Driving / Registration
Registering your vehicle in Atascosa County
Texas uses a combined inspection and registration system; Atascosa County residents renew at the tax office in Jourdanton or at a substation in Lytle.
Austin County · Vehicle registration
Austin County Is Outside the Vehicle Emissions Program
Vehicle title and registration work starts at the Bellville tax office, and Austin County is not on Texas's current emissions-inspection county list.
Bailey County · Driving / Registration
No Safety Inspection Required for Personal Vehicles in Bailey County
Since January 2025, Texas no longer requires a safety inspection for most personal vehicles. Bailey County is not an emissions-testing county, so you just pay a $7.50 fee at registration.
Bastrop County · Scenic drive
Park Road 1C Is the Slow Lost Pines Drive Between the State Parks
Park Road 1C turns the space between Bastrop and Buescher state parks into a 12-mile drive through recovering and forested Lost Pines country.
Bee County · Driving / Registration
Bee County Registration Changed in 2025
A typical noncommercial car in Bee County no longer needs a safety or emissions inspection before registration. Commercial vehicles still need a safety inspection.
Bell County · Driving / Flood
Low-water crossings and flood safety on Bell County roads
Bell County rain can put water over low crossings fast, especially near creeks and low-lying roads. Barricades mean turn around.
Bell County · New Resident
New to Bell County? You have 30 days to register your vehicle
New Texas residents have 30 days to register a vehicle, and Bell County handles the county tax-office side of that step.
Bell County · Driving
Vehicle registration in Bell County: no safety inspection required since 2025
As of January 1, 2025, most Bell County drivers no longer need a safety inspection to register their vehicle. A small replacement fee is added at registration instead.
Bexar County · Flood safety / Driving
A dry Bexar County crossing can rise fast in heavy rain
Steep ground, shallow soil, and narrow channels can send runoff quickly into Bexar County's low water crossings.
Bexar County · Vehicle Title
Bexar County Lets Some Vehicle Work Go Through Title Companies
Bexar County posts full-service title company locations that can handle many vehicle transactions for a convenience fee.
Bexar County · Vehicle registration
Bexar's emissions step starts November 1, 2026
Most noncommercial vehicles no longer need a safety inspection, but covered Bexar gasoline vehicles will need an emissions test for registration beginning November 1, 2026.
Bexar County · Flood safety
Follow the low water crossings that matter to your route
BexarFlood.org shares the regional HALT network's live crossing colors and lets residents subscribe to selected roads by text or email.
Bowie County · Driving
Texas dropped the mandatory safety inspection for most personal vehicles in 2025
As of January 1, 2025, most personal vehicles in Texas no longer need a safety inspection before registration. Bowie County is not one of the counties that still requires an emissions inspection.
Brazoria County · Beach Driving
Beach Driving on Follett's Island Still Requires a Street-Legal Vehicle
You can drive and park free on Brazoria County's Follett's Island beach, but every vehicle on the sand must be street legal.
Brazoria County · Registration
Some Brazoria County Registration Renewals Can Be Done at Local Stores
Brazoria County lets you renew a vehicle registration at participating local stores if your renewal meets a short list of conditions.
Brazoria County · Driving
Vehicles Registered in Brazoria County Still Need Emissions Testing
Qualifying gasoline vehicles registered in Brazoria County must pass an emissions test before registration, even though most noncommercial vehicles no longer receive a safety inspection.
Brazos County · Vehicle titles
Transfer a vehicle title through the Brazos County Tax Office
When you buy or sell a vehicle in Brazos County, the title work goes through the county tax office, which handles it as an agent for TxDMV.
Brazos County · Driving / Vehicle
Vehicle registration in Brazos County: no emissions test required
Most personal vehicles in Brazos County skip safety and emissions tests, but registration still renews each year.
Burleson County · Vehicle registration / Inspection
Burleson County vehicles skip the emissions test — safety inspection also ended in 2025
Vehicles registered in Burleson County do not need an emissions test. As of January 2025, the annual safety inspection for non-commercial vehicles also ended statewide.
Burleson County · Flood / Road safety
Low-water crossings and flash floods are a real driving hazard in Burleson County
Burleson County's rural FM roads include low-water crossings that can turn impassable and dangerous during the fast-rising flash floods common across Central Texas.
Burnet County · Flood Safety
A familiar Burnet County road can disappear under fast water
The county plans improvements at low-water crossings, while TxDOT warns that six inches of fast water can take control from a driver.
Caldwell County · Vehicle Registration
Vehicle registration goes through the county tax office
Caldwell County handles vehicle titles and registration at the Tax Assessor-Collector's Lockhart office, while many renewals can be completed online.
Cameron County · Bridge Driving
Cameron County Runs Three Bridges Into Mexico
Cameron County operates the Veterans, Gateway, and Free Trade international bridges between Brownsville and Matamoros.
Cameron County · Vehicle Registration
How to Register Your Vehicle in Cameron County
Texas eliminated the annual safety inspection requirement for non-commercial vehicles on January 1, 2025. In Cameron County, which is outside the emissions-inspection counties, you simply renew your registration without any inspection step.
Cameron County · Hurricane Preparedness
Know Your Hurricane Evacuation Zone Before Storm Season
Cameron County has defined evacuation zones for hurricanes, and knowing yours before a storm arrives can save your life.
Cass County · Vehicle registration
Cass County cars skip inspections, not registration
Ordinary noncommercial cars and light trucks in Cass County need no safety or emissions test, but title and registration paperwork remains.
Chambers County · Vehicle registration
No Emissions Test Required in Chambers County
Vehicles registered in Chambers County only need a safety inspection to renew registration — the county is not in the Texas emissions testing program.
Collin County · Toll Roads
Collin County Toll Roads Often Mean an NTTA TollTag
NTTA toll roads in and around Collin County include the Sam Rayburn Tollway, Dallas North Tollway, and President George Bush Turnpike.
Collin County · Vehicle Registration
Qualifying Gasoline Vehicles in Collin County Need an Emissions Test
Texas dropped most non-commercial safety inspections in January 2025. Gasoline vehicles 2 through 24 model years old that are registered in Collin County generally still need an emissions test.
Collin County · Registration Renewal
Renew Your Registration at a Collin County Grocery Counter
A clean Collin County registration renewal can go through a grocery counter, but a notation on the renewal notice sends you back to the Tax Office.
Comal County · Road Safety
Low-Water Crossings Close Fast During Heavy Rain
A dry dip in a Comal County road can become a flooded crossing after rain falls upstream.
Comal County · Vehicle Registration
Texas Vehicle Registration and Inspection in Comal County
As of January 1, 2025, standard non-commercial vehicles in Comal County do not need a safety inspection or emissions test before registration.
Coryell County · Flood & Road Safety
Low-Water Crossings Turn Dangerous Fast
The Leon River and Cowhouse Creek can rise quickly, making rural road crossings deadly during storms.
Coryell County · Vehicle Registration
No Emissions Test Required for Most Coryell Vehicles
Coryell County is not an emissions county, so most passenger vehicles skip the emissions test when registering.
Coryell County · Vehicle titles
Transferring a Vehicle Title in Coryell County
Private-sale title transfers in Coryell County go through the county tax office, with TxDMV paperwork.
Cottle County · Roads & County Seat
Paducah Is Where Two Major US Highways Cross in Cottle County
Paducah, the only incorporated city in Cottle County, sits at the intersection of US Highway 70 and US Highway 83.
Dallas County · Roads
An FM Number Points to TxDOT, Not the County
Farm-to-Market is a state highway designation, while an unnumbered road can belong to several different local systems.
Dallas County · Road Conditions
Check DriveTexas before traveling during storms
TxDOT points drivers to DriveTexas and its travel line for road-condition information before storms, ice, or flooding in Dallas County.
Dallas County · Vehicle Registration
Dallas County Cars Need an Emissions Test, Not Just Safety
Under Texas's Two Steps One Sticker program, most Dallas County vehicles must pass an emissions inspection before renewing registration.
Dallas County · Placards
Disabled parking placards go through the county tax office
Dallas County residents use TxDMV Form VTR-214 and submit the application to the county tax office.
Dallas County · Title Transfer
Finish a private-sale title transfer at the tax office
TxDMV says a vehicle bought in a private sale should be titled in the buyer's name within 30 days.
Dallas County · Vehicle Registration
How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in Dallas County
Dallas County residents renew registration through the Texas DMV after completing a required emissions inspection.
Dallas County · VIN Inspection
Some title problems need a VTR-68-A inspection
Dallas County's title page points certain assigned-VIN cases to the Sheriff's North Texas Auto Theft Task Force.
Denton County · Vehicle Emissions
Denton County still tests certain gasoline vehicles for emissions
Texas ended safety inspections for noncommercial vehicles in 2025, but certain gasoline vehicles registered in Denton County still need an annual emissions test.
Denton County · Tax Office Timing
Denton County stops new-resident and title work at 4 p.m.
Denton County processes new-resident services and title transfers only until 4 p.m. daily, even when offices stay open later.
Denton County · Managed Lanes
The I-35E TEXpress lanes run from Denton County toward Dallas
The tolled I-35E TEXpress lanes span 18 miles from Denton County to Dallas, with reversible lanes whose price rises and falls with traffic.
Ector County · Vehicle Registration
Ector County Personal-Vehicle Renewals No Longer Need a Safety Inspection
Personal vehicles in Ector County register without a safety inspection, though the state still charges the replacement fee.
Ector County · New Resident
New Texans Must Register Their Vehicle Within 30 Days
If you move to Ector County from another state, you have 30 days to register your vehicle and get a Texas driver's license.
El Paso County · Bridge Tolls
E-Fast Pass Helps Frequent Bridge Drivers Pay Tolls
The City of El Paso offers E-Fast Pass for prepaid toll payment at the Stanton and Ysleta-Zaragoza international bridges.
El Paso County · Vehicle Registration
El Paso Is an Emissions-Test County, Beyond a Safety Inspection
Vehicles registered in El Paso County must pass an emissions inspection every year — skipping it means you cannot renew your registration.
El Paso County · Tax Office
Vehicle Paperwork Has County Offices and Full-Service Deputies
El Paso County lists tax office locations and contracted full-service deputy offices for many registration and title tasks.
Ellis County · Vehicle Registration
Ellis County vehicles need an emissions test every year
Ellis County gasoline vehicles usually need an emissions test before registration renewal.
Ellis County · Roads & Commuting
I-35E is the main artery through Ellis County — and it can get congested
Interstate 35E runs north-south through Ellis County and is the primary route for commuters traveling to and from the Dallas area.
Erath County · Vehicle Registration
No Emissions Test Required to Register Your Car Here
Erath County is not in the Texas emissions-testing zone. You do not need a smog check to register your car here.
Fannin County · Road Conditions
DriveTexas Gives a Storm-Day Reality Check
TxDOT's DriveTexas map shows verified closures, construction, road damage, traffic, weather effects, and cameras before a trip through Fannin County.