Out-of-State Motorists

• Are you a Texas registered driver who is currently outside the state?
• Are you an out of state driver, currently in Texas?

Texas residents currently outside the state

Here's some information that may be useful to you while you are outside the state.

• My Texas inspection sticker is/or is about to expire. What can I do?
  Obey the inspection laws of the state you are in.
• If the state has a vehicle inspection program:
  Generally, states honor the laws of other states, and there are even reciprocal agreements, where this state honors other states laws as their own. For example, if a vehicle is registered in Texas and is in another state that requires vehicles to be inspected, then that other state will honor your inspection sticker.
• You may obtain an inspection sticker by presenting your vehicle for inspection at a local inspection station.
  Remember: Depending on the state you are in, your vehicle may not have to be registered in that state to get inspected. If your vehicle doesn't have a valid inspection sticker, you are not immune to the laws of that state.
• Keep your vehicle registration current.
• Upon returning to Texas, have your vehicle inspected within 3 days, unless you have an inspection sticker from one of the states with which we have reciprocity.
• If the state rolls inspections in with vehicle registration:
  If the state does not have an inspection program, BUT performs inspections as part of the annual registration renewal process, then you should contact the local DMV to see what action you should take. In many cases, you may be considered legal to drive if you have a valid Texas registration tag. However, in other states, they may require that you take their version of an inspection in order to be legal. In any case, contact the local DMV to see which route to take. Be sure to inform the DMV that you have a valid Texas registration tag and that Texas does not require that you have a current Texas inspection certificate unless you are driving within the Texas state limits. At this time they should exempt your vehicle from inspection, instruct you to take their inspection, or allow you to drive with a Texas registration tag.
• Keep your vehicle registration current.
• Upon returning to Texas, have your vehicle inspected within 3 days.
• If the state does not have an inspection program:
  Although not many, there are a handful of states that have no inspection program. If the state does not have any type of inspection program and subsequently does not require you to have an inspection sticker, your vehicle is not required to have an inspection certificate.
• Keep your vehicle registration current.
• Upon returning to Texas, have your vehicle inspected within 3 days.
• I am a student/military personnel outside of the state. Are there special inspection exemptions that apply to me?
  Depending on the state, they may/may not have special exemptions for out of state students or military personnel. Your best bet would be to contact the local DMV to ensure that you are in compliance with the inspection laws. Otherwise, you need to follow the inspection laws of that state as listed above.
• I've been out of state for some time. What should I do when I return to Texas?
• Acceptance of Out-of-state Vehicle Inspection Certificates Texas-registered vehicles:
  acceptance of inspection certificates issued outside the State of Texas. A valid certificate of inspection issued in the District of Columbia or in another state of the United States having an inspection law similar to that of the State of Texas is acceptable on a Texas-registered vehicle provided the inspection certificate was obtained while the owner or operator of the vehicle was residing in the other jurisdiction and the vehicle was regularly assigned, garaged, or stationed outside of the State of Texas. This acceptance does not extend to owners and operators who have resided continuously in Texas. Except: New vehicles which are purchased in a state having an inspection law similar to that of the State of Texas which were inspected and issued an inspection certificate before registration are acceptable in Texas until the expiration date of the certificate.
• I'm returning to Texas. How much time do I have to get my car inspected, once I cross over the state line?
  Time allowed to acquire inspection certificate. The Department of Public Safety extends the time within which a certificate of inspection shall be obtained by a resident owner or operator of a Texas-registered vehicle, when the vehicle has no valid inspection certificate. The extension will be granted only on the first occasion of operation in this state during an inspection year and only until the resident owner or operator of the vehicle has arrived at his home, station, or destination in this state and for three days thereafter.
• I have a valid inspection sticker from another state. Do I need to get my vehicle re-inspected once I cross over state lines?
  Texas-registered vehicles with out-of-state inspection certificates. Texas-registered vehicles may operate in Texas on a valid inspection certificate from the District of Columbia or any of the following states provided the certificate was obtained while the owner of the vehicle resided in the other jurisdiction: Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia.

Non-Texas residents currently visiting/traveling in Texas

First things first. Understand that vehicle registration and inspection are separate processes. In Texas, the Department of Transportation oversees the vehicle titling and registration process and the Department of Public Safety supervises the inspection program. Generally, states honor the laws of other states, and there are even reciprocal agreements, where this state honors other states laws as their own.

• What should I do if my out-of-state inspection sticker expires while I'm in Texas?
  You may obtain an inspection sticker by presenting your vehicle for inspection at a local inspection station.
  
  Remember: Your vehicle does not have to be registered in Texas in order to be inspected; you do, however, have to show proof of financial responsibility.
• Texas has both a safety inspection program and an emissions (I/M) program. Counties participating in the emissions (I/M) program include:
  Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Montgomery, Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, El Paso, Travis, and Williamson counties.
• If you present your vehicle for inspection in one of the emissions counties it will receive a safety & emissions test.
• My home state requires that I have an emissions test to renew my registration. Where can I obtain an emissions test in Texas?
  Counties participating in the emissions (I/M) program include:
  Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Montgomery, Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, El Paso, Travis, and Williamson.
• If you require an emissions test, the only places to get an emissions inspection are in one of the emissions counties.
• You will need to show proof of financial responsibility.
• Military Personnel where installation is in an emissions county:
  If your military installation is located in Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Montgomery, Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, El Paso, Travis, or Williamson county, your vehicle is subject to the I/M program testing guidelines.

Background: The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (CAAA) enacted new regulatory requirements for motor vehicles operating in ozone and carbon monoxide non-attainment areas. In the CAA, Congress imposed additional requirements on the Federal government to assure that government and Federal employee vehicles operated on Federal facilities located within a state motor vehicle I/M program area shall be tested, regardless of whether the vehicles are registered in the state or local I/M area. The program applies to government owned/leased vehicles ((CAA Section 118(c)) and employee owned/leased vehicles (CAA Section 118(d)) operated on federal facilities more than 60 days per year, regardless of the state where the vehicle is registered. Military tactical vehicles are exempt.

§ 3.72. Acceptance of Out-of-state Vehicle Inspection Certificates

1. Texas-registered vehicles: acceptance of inspection certificates issued outside the State of Texas. A valid certificate of inspection issued in the District of Columbia or in another state of the United States having an inspection law similar to that of the State of Texas is acceptable on a Texas-registered vehicle provided the inspection certificate was obtained while the owner or operator of the vehicle was residing in the other jurisdiction and the vehicle was regularly assigned, garaged, or stationed outside of the State of Texas. This acceptance does not extend to owners and operators who have resided continuously in Texas. Except: New vehicles which are purchased in a state having an inspection law similar to that of the State of Texas which were inspected and issued an inspection certificate before registration are acceptable in Texas until the expiration date of the certificate.
2. Out-of-state registered vehicles. Vehicles required to be registered in Texas will be required to be inspected at an official vehicle inspection station and obtain a vehicle identification certificate, Form VI-30-A, before the registration process can be completed. Valid out-of-state safety inspection certificates will not be honored on vehicles required to be registered.
3. Time allowed to acquire inspection certificate. The Department of Public Safety extends the time within which a certificate of inspection shall be obtained by a resident owner or operator of a Texas-registered vehicle, when the vehicle has no valid inspection certificate. The extension will be granted only on the first occasion of operation in this state during an inspection year and only until the resident owner or operator of the vehicle has arrived at his home, station, or destination in this state and for three days thereafter.
4. Texas-registered vehicles with out-of-state inspection certificates. Texas-registered vehicles may operate in Texas on a valid inspection certificate from the District of Columbia or any of the following states provided the certificate was obtained while the owner of the vehicle resided in the other jurisdiction: Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia.