Highlights of the Vehicle I/M Program
Brief description of the inspection and maintenance (I/M) program by area in Texas
Austin-Round Rock Program Area
- Subject Vehicles: Gasoline vehicles model-year 2-24 years old are required to have an annual emissions inspection beginning with the vehicle's second anniversary.
- Inspection Method: Model-year 1996 and newer vehicles are subject to on-board diagnostics (OBD) inspections and model-year 1995 and older vehicles are subject to two speed idle (TSI) inspections.
- Inspection Fees: Not to exceed $11.50 for a TSI or OBD inspection, plus $7.00 for the safety inspection, total not to exceed $18.50.
- State Administration Fees (collected at registration): $2.50 from all emissions inspections for the TCEQ/DPS administration of the I/M program.
- Timing: OBD/TSI inspections began on September 1, 2005, in Travis and Williamson Counties.
- Testing Network: All inspection stations are required to offer TSI and OBD inspections.
- Waivers: Waivers and time extensions are available for eligible vehicle owners.
Houston-Galveston-Brazoria and Dallas-Fort Worth Program Areas
- Subject Vehicles: Gasoline vehicles model-year 2-24 years old are required to have an annual emissions inspection beginning with the vehicle's second anniversary.
- Inspection Method: Model-year 1996 and newer vehicles are subject to OBD inspections and model-year 1995 and older vehicles are subject to acceleration simulation mode (ASM) inspections.
- Inspection Fees:
- Not to exceed $18.50 for an OBD inspection, plus $7.00 for the safety inspection, total not to exceed $25.50 for an OBD inspection; or
- Not to exceed $24.50 for an ASM inspection, plus $7.00 for the safety inspection, total not to exceed $31.50 for an ASM inspection.
- State Administration Fees (collected at registration): $2.50 from all emissions inspections for the TCEQ/DPS administration of the I/M program.
- Timing:
- May 1, 2002: ASM/OBD inspections began in Collin, Dallas, Denton, Harris, and Tarrant Counties.
- May 1, 2003: ASM/OBD inspections began in Brazoria, Ellis, Fort Bend, Galveston, Johnson, Kaufman, Montgomery, Parker, and Rockwall Counties.
- Testing Network: All inspection stations offer ASM and OBD inspections, unless the station is approved to be a low volume OBD-only station by the DPS.
- Waivers: Waivers and time extensions are available for eligible vehicle owners.
El Paso Program Area
- Subject Vehicles: Gasoline vehicles model-year 2-24 years old are subject to annual emissions inspection beginning with the vehicle's second anniversary.
- Inspection Method: Model-year 1996 and newer vehicles are subject to OBD inspections and model-year 1995 and older vehicles are subject to TSI inspections.
- Inspection Fees: Not to exceed $11.50 for a TSI or OBD emission inspection, plus $7.00 for a safety test, total not to exceed $18.50.
- State Administration Fee (collected at registration): $2.50 from all emissions inspections for the TCEQ/DPS administration of the I/M program.
- Timing: OBD/TSI began on January 1, 2007, in El Paso County.
- Testing Network: All inspection stations are required to offer TSI and OBD inspections.
- Waivers: Waivers and time extensions are available for eligible vehicle owners.