Safety inspection
A state-required check of brakes, lights, tires and other safety equipment, required in some states.
A safety inspection is a state-mandated check of a vehicle’s safety equipment, such as brakes, lights, tires, horn and windshield. Some states require one every year or two to keep a car registered; others require it only for rebuilt salvage vehicles or on transfer; many require none.
When a car needs expensive repairs to pass, owners often weigh repair against junking. A failed inspection does not stop you from selling a car to a junkyard.
Rules change. Texas says that as of January 1, 2025, non-commercial vehicles are no longer required to pass a safety inspection before registration, though commercial vehicles still are, and some counties still require emissions testing.1
References
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Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, “Register Your Vehicle”, https://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/register-your-vehicle ↩