San Antonio, Texas: Bexar County Drivers Face a New Emissions Test for Registration Renewals Starting Sunday

San Antonio drivers face a new step at registration time starting Sunday. From November 1, Bexar County becomes the 18th county in Texas to require emissions testing, and gasoline powered vehicles that are 2 through 24 model years old and registered in the county must pass the test before their registration can be renewed, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

What the test is, and what it costs

The test is an on board diagnostics check. A technician connects equipment to the vehicle's computer to read its emissions systems and trouble codes. It is not the comprehensive safety inspection that Texas ended for most noncommercial vehicles in 2025. The test fee is $18.50, according to DPS, and the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles charges a separate $2.75 state fee at registration. Charissa Barnes, chief executive of Official Inspection Station, estimated that customers should budget about $30 at the shop after possible card or shop fees, and said each test takes about 15 to 20 minutes, though waits can run longer at busy times. Electric vehicles, diesel vehicles, motorcycles and mopeds are exempt, according to DPS.

The deadline drivers can still use

Drivers with a valid registration do not need a test until their renewal comes due, and the test must be completed within the 90 day renewal window. The Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector's office, led by Albert Uresti, said motorists whose registrations renew in October, November or December can renew without the new test if they do so by Saturday, October 31. County tax offices take renewals through Friday, October 30, and participating private title companies take them on Saturday, October 31.

Shops are training staff, and a pause is still possible

Barnes has spent nearly a year preparing her business for the deadline. At her drive through station at 10480 Culebra Road on Wednesday, eight new hires were learning how to greet customers, explain what happens when a vehicle fails, and run the diagnostic equipment, while operations manager Mark Perales ran mock tests. Barnes hosted pre-screening events over the summer, and she said the most common failure causes were catalytic converter or oxygen sensor problems, or a lit check engine light. A failed vehicle gets a report with the failure codes, which a mechanic can use as a starting point. DPS allows one free retest at the original station if the vehicle is repaired and returned within 15 days. Some waivers and extensions exist, including a one year extension for drivers whose annual income is below the national poverty level. 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, so the Sunday start stands.