Bexar County becomes Texas' 18th county to require emissions testing on Sunday, Nov. 1. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, gasoline-powered vehicles that are 2 through 24 model years old and registered in the county must pass the test before registering or renewing. Vehicles with valid registrations need to be tested only when they renew, within the 90-day renewal window. Electric, diesel, motorcycle and moped vehicles are exempt.
The Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector's office said drivers renewing in October, November or December can renew without the new test if they do so by Saturday, Oct. 31. Renewals are available at county tax offices through Friday, Oct. 30, and at participating private title companies on Saturday, Oct. 31. The test is an on-board diagnostics check that connects to a vehicle's computer. It differs from the safety inspection Texas ended for most noncommercial vehicles in 2025.
City, county and state representatives have asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to pause the inspections in San Antonio. As of Wednesday, no decision had been finalized. Charissa Barnes, CEO of Official Inspection Station, said her business at 10480 Culebra Road has prepared for the new testing. She said the most common failures at area vehicles involved catalytic converters, O2 sensors or an illuminated check-engine light. A failed vehicle receives a report with failure codes, which owners can take to a mechanic.