FAQs - Items of Inspection

Why don't we aim headlights anymore?
During the late 1980's, the Department proactively responded to vehicle inspection issues within the agency. During this period, legislation had been introduced to do away with the State Inspection Program. Many complaints had been brought to the attention of the agency and the Legislature on excessive charges by inspection stations for headlight aim.


The Department conducted a study and determined that:

  1. Over 50% of the complaints received by the agency on vehicle inspection concerned headlight aim testing.
  2. Each year almost 50% of the citizens were being charged for headlight aim testing as they received their vehicle inspection.
  3. Through review of a substantial number of vehicles, only 3% actually required headlight aim adjustment.
  4. Newer vehicles were being manufactured that did not provide for headlight aim adjustment (or the adjustment required disassembly of the headlights).

By the late 80's most other states had stopped doing headlight aim testing. As a result through an administrative rule proposal that was approved on March 15, 1990, the headlight aim-testing requirement was removed from the inspection procedures chart.

How many license plates am I required to display?
State law requires that you display two (2) license plates, one to the front and one to the rear. Placement or mounting of license plates is not defined.


*This guidance is referenced in TXDOT's requirements to properly display the registration certificate. DPS does not inspect the license plate itself, but instead inspects the license plate lamp.


Will I fail my inspection if my windshield is cracked?
The windshield is NOT an item of inspection. However, the windshield wipers are. Be sure that the crack does not cause the wipers to tear and that the crack has not caused the windshield to become concave or convex so the wipers loose contact with the windshield.


If you need to obtain an inspection sticker, due to a cracked windshield, you will need to have your vehicle re-inspected. However, if your vehicle is registered in an emissions county, a replacement can be obtained through the DPS challenge/waiver station. Contact the waiver station to make an appointment. Fees for the replacement sticker is $14.50. Waiver/Challenge Station Locations

Are seatbelts always a required item of inspection?
Seatbelts are a required item of inspection, on those vehicles in which front seat belt anchorages were a part of the manufacturers original equipment. When conducting a seatbelt check, front belts and anchorages are inspected.

Aftermarket Air Intake Systems (AIS) and Thermostatic Air Cleaners (TAC)
1996 and newer vehicles do not have a Thermostatic Air Cleaner (TAC) system. The TAC system went away on 1996 & newer vehicles, because these vehicles are equipped with OBDII (On-Board Diagnostics – Second Generation) computer systems and these vehicles have more sophisticated fuel injection systems and emissions control systems, so there’s no need for a TAC system. There are several different brands of aftermarket open-type air filter/intake systems by K&N, Airaid, AEM, etc, so these are OK to install on any vehicle that did not come factory equipped with a TAC system and you will pass the visual emissions component inspection.


NOTE: If the air intake system reads "For Racing Purposes Only" or "For Off Road Use Only" then it is not intended for use on public roadways and is not street legal. If the air intake system is CARB approved and 50-state legal, then it is street legal in all 50 states.


1995 and older vehicles that are equipped with a TAC system are required to have all the components in place in order to pass the visual emissions component inspection, which is part of the annual safety inspection. The TAC system consists of the enclosed air cleaner/filter assembly and a heat shroud at the exhaust manifold and then there is also a heat duct hose that connects from the heat shroud to the air cleaner assembly. Also, some of the TAC systems had a fresh air duct hose that attached from the front or side of the air cleaner assembly to either the front or side of the vehicle. The TAC system is a closed-type air cleaner/filter assembly and it was designed to reduce Hydrocarbon (HC) and Carbon Monoxide (CO) emissions during cold engine operation, so if your vehicle came equipped with a TAC system and if it was removed and replaced with an open-type design air filter/intake assembly, the vehicle will fail the visual emissions component inspection.

Thermostatic Air Cleaners (TAC) & Aftermarket Air Intake Systems inforamtion (PDF)

What's the maximum height for my vehicle?
The Texas Transportation Code specifies that the maximum height of a vehicle and its load may not be higher than 14 feet (View code).


However if your vehicle's height has been altered, then be sure to check your lights and reflectors to ensure that they fall within the specified height guidelines for the annual inspection.