Passing annual safety inspections is a requirement for any vehicle registered in the state of Texas in order to legally operate on the public roadways. In several counties, passing yearly emissions testing is required in addition to the standard safety inspection. If you own your first vehicle or have recently relocated to Texas, there are a few steps you must go through in order to become a legal Texas driver. First and foremost, you will not be able to obtain or renew a Texas driver's license, obtain or renew your vehicle registration or get the required state inspection without showing a proof of at least liability insurance (unless you do not own a vehicle). A safety inspection will be required before you can register your vehicle if you have moved to Texas from out of state. Vehicle safety testing is required annually, and is performed by numerous certified auto repair establishments, car dealerships and service stations.

All Texas vehicles must pass an annual safety inspection, and many must additionally undergo emissions testing. The standard safety inspection checks for proper functionality of specified vehicle components such as the windshield wipers, brakes, horn, tires, wheels, seatbelts, turn signals and most lights, as well as others. Certain exemptions apply, for instance vehicles manufactured before seatbelts were installed in vehicles are exempt from that portion of the safety inspection.

In addition to the safety inspection, gasoline powered vehicles in designated counties must also have their emissions tested yearly for compliance. The method used to test emissions will vary depending on the county in which the car is registered and the model year of the vehicle. In Austin, for example, vehicles between two and twenty-four years old must be tested for emission compliance. Model years 1996 and newer undergo On Board Diagnostics-Second Generation (OBDII) testing, while model years 1995 and before are subject to what is known as Two Speed Idle (TSI) testing. All model year 1996 and newer vehicles are equipped with an OBDII system, which monitors the performance of various emissions related components of the vehicle. During state emissions testing, a scanning device is connected to the vehicle's computer to retrieve stored data and detect problems. Older vehicles which are not equipped with OBDII technology typically undergo testing of the emissions directly from the tailpipe.

Variations exist in the vehicle safety and emissions testing requirements throughout the state, so it is important to comply with the policies set forth by your county of residence.