What you need to pass Texas vehicle safety inspection

AUSTIN (KXAN) — With Texas being one of several states nationwide requiring annual vehicle safety inspections, those tests are required for vehicle registrations. Here’s a look at all the steps the Texas Department of Public Safety mandates a vehicle needs to pass before owners can renew their registration and legally drive on Texas roadways, by vehicle type.

Bus, except for school buses

The following vehicle parts are checked and must pass in order to renew a bus’ vehicle registration:

A moped’s brake, head lamp, reflector and rear lamp must all pass a safety inspection to authorize a registration renewal.

All the following must pass before a registration is renewed:

Requirements include:

Horn
Windshield wipers
Mirror
Steering wheel
Seat belts
Brake system; parking (beginning with the 1960 models)
Tires
Wheel assembly
Exhaust system
Exhaust emission system (beginning with 1968 models)
Beam indicator (beginning with 1948 models)
Tail lamps (2); only 1 if a 1959 model or older
Stop lamps (3) for models from 1986 or newer; 2 if model is between 1960-1985; 1 if model is from 1959 or earlier
License plate lamp (1)
Rear red reflectors (2)
Turn signal lamps (beginning with 1960 models)
Head lamps (2)
Motor, serial or vehicle identification number
Gas caps on vehicles between 2-24 model years old
Window tint

Horn
Windshield wipers
Mirror
Steering wheel
Seat belts
Brakes system; parking (beginning with 1960 models)
Tires
Wheel assembly
Safety guards or flaps (if four tires or more on rearmost axle)
Exhaust system
Exhaust emission system (beginning with 1968 models)
Beam indicator (beginning with 1948 models)
Tail lamps (2); 1 if a 1959 model or older
Stop lamps (3) if from 1994 model or newer; 2 if from 1960-1993 models; 1 if from 1959 model or older
License plate lamp (1)
Rear red reflectors (2)
Turn signal lamps (beginning with 1960 models; measure if a 1959 model or earlier)
Head lamps (2)
Motor, serial or vehicle identification number
Gas cap on vehicles between 2-24 model years old
Window tint

Horn
Windshield wipers
Mirror
Steering wheel
Seat belts (driver only)
Brakes system parking (beginning with 1960 models)
Tires
Wheel assembly
Exhaust system
Exhaust emission system (beginning with 1968 models)
Beam indicator (beginning with 1948 models)
Tail lamps (2)
Stop lamps (2)
License plate lamp (1)
Rear red reflectors (2)
Turn signal lamps
Clearance lamps
Side marker lamps
Side reflectors
Red warning lamps (2 front; 2 rear; alternately flashing)
Signs (“SCHOOL BUS” 8 inches in height on front or rear of bus)
Fire extinguisher (one quart chemical)
Head lamps (2)
Exterior crossover (Convex) mirror
Motor, serial or vehicle identification number
Gas caps on vehicles between 2-24 model years old
Window tint

Brakes system (if gross weight exceeds 7,500 pounds)
Tires
Wheel assembly
Safety guards or flaps (if four tires or more on rearmost axle; pole trailers exempt)
Tail lamps (2)
Stop lamps (2)
License plate lamp (1)
Rear red reflectors (2)
Turn signal lamps
Clearance lamps
Side marker lamps
Side reflectors
Side marker lamps and reflectors (30 feet or more in overall length)
Serial or vehicle identification number
Window tint

The Texas Department of Public Safety outlines a list of vehicles exempt from safety inspection requirements. Those include:

Equipment: farm machinery, trailers, semitrailers, pole trailers, mobile homes, road-building equipment and “any vehicle required to display a slow-moving vehicle emblem”
Vehicles with the following specialty Texas license plates:
- Paper dealer demonstration/in-transit/converter tag
- Parade license
- Former military vehicle license
- In-transit license
- Machinery license
- Disaster license
- Farm trailer license
- Permit license
- Antique license
- Charitable organization tag
- All-terrain vehicle validation sticket
Vehicles with the following Texas permits:
- Factory delivery permits
- Prorate tabs
- One-trip permits
- Temporary 24-hour permits
- Mobile drilling or servicing equipment used in gas, oil or crude production with a 72-hour or 144-hour permit