The state has removed the requirement for an annual safety inspection, only requiring an emissions test in certain North Texas counties.
DALLAS — Starting this year, Texas drivers will no longer need a yearly safety inspection to register their vehicles. The change has left many auto shops, including those in Dallas, scrambling to adjust.
For nearly 20 years, Saady Hussain has run a state inspection shop in Dallas off Mockingbird Lane called Quix State Inspection. They average about 1,250 vehicles a month and only do inspections. But now, the landscape has changed. The state has removed the requirement for an annual safety inspection, only requiring an emissions test in certain North Texas counties — Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall and Tarrant Counties.
Mile, a lead inspector with Quix, is frustrated by the lack of communication from the state or the Department of Public Safety (DPS) regarding the change. He says the software has not been updated to reflect the new changes at the state level.
The law also mandates that auto shops reduce their inspection fees by $7. Shops charged $25.50 for the full inspection but now must charge at most $18.50 for the emissions tests. Despite the uncertainty, Saady, who employs two people, remains optimistic: “We survive as a business. Of course, we are going to lose a lot of revenue, but we’re gonna survive.” With 1,250 cars processed each month, the impact of the loss is significant.
Supporters of the new law argue that the inspections didn’t necessarily make roads safer. They claim the process was often an opportunity for auto shops to upsell unnecessary repairs.
“I always feel like when I go to the auto shop they’re gonna tell me I need more than actually I need done,” shared one driver.
However, others see the benefits of the inspections, which traditionally helped identify issues like bad tires, worn-out brakes and wipers and faulty lights. Without these checks, some worry that critical safety concerns may go unnoticed.
Saady wonders if other auto shops may soon decide to drop their inspection bays entirely due to the reduced fees, he says time will tell. Saady says he’ll give it a few months before he decides to make changes to his business. Over the last dozen or so years, they have relied on a loyal and repeat customer base and will continue to rely on them during these changes.