Texas Inspection
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 15,132
Likes: 477
From: NM
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,217
Likes: 299
From: Cleburne Texas
Lets' try this again:
Even if you don't need a smog inspection, you still need a safety inspection. A visual emissions check is part of the standard TX safety inspection. This is true anywhere in TX.
Like I said earlier: most of the time you get away with a hot rod, but there are no guarantees. They are supposed to check for any smog equipment that is listed on your underhood emissions sticker. If the sticker is missing, they have books.The visual inspection covers all 1968 and later cars.
Here it is on the dps site:
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/rsd/vi/...nCriteria.aspx
Select "passenger car" on the dropdown and notice item 10:
10. Exhaust Emission System (beginning with 1968 models)
Even if you don't need a smog inspection, you still need a safety inspection. A visual emissions check is part of the standard TX safety inspection. This is true anywhere in TX.
Like I said earlier: most of the time you get away with a hot rod, but there are no guarantees. They are supposed to check for any smog equipment that is listed on your underhood emissions sticker. If the sticker is missing, they have books.The visual inspection covers all 1968 and later cars.
Here it is on the dps site:
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/rsd/vi/...nCriteria.aspx
Select "passenger car" on the dropdown and notice item 10:
10. Exhaust Emission System (beginning with 1968 models)
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 459
Likes: 6
From: Fort Worth Texas
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,474
Likes: 16
From: Houston Texas
St. Jude Donor '10-'12-'13
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,995
Likes: 110
From: Garland Texas
Having been a state inspector for many years, everything Zwede is saying is correct. The emission laws go back to 1966. Your car may not have to be sniffed but the visual emission inspection is part of the safety inspection. The inspector is the person that gets fined. Most shops lose money on inspections. They do them for customer service and to find more repair work. So they usually have a young person doing the inspection that has no idea what a carb or dist looks like. They must go by what the emissions decal says. If you have a 67 Cali vette that had an A.I.R. pump then it must have one to pass Texas safety inspection. But it takes a smart inspector to know this. Very few and far in between. Another advantage is a failed inspection requires 3 times the paperwork versus a car that gets passed.
Classic tags do nothing for you. All the same laws apply, just costs more money. Antique tags do not require state inspection and although there are limitations on driving I do not know of a single person that has been ticketed driving with them.
Another important fact about inspections. The person inspecting your car does not have to be the driver for the brake test. He can be the passenger while you drive. This is plainly written in section C of the inspectors manual if they want to argue about it.
And for something funny, ask Zwede about his vette failing inspection for no windshield wipers.
Mike
Classic tags do nothing for you. All the same laws apply, just costs more money. Antique tags do not require state inspection and although there are limitations on driving I do not know of a single person that has been ticketed driving with them.
Another important fact about inspections. The person inspecting your car does not have to be the driver for the brake test. He can be the passenger while you drive. This is plainly written in section C of the inspectors manual if they want to argue about it.
And for something funny, ask Zwede about his vette failing inspection for no windshield wipers.
Mike
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Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,714
Likes: 42
From: Austin Texas
Once the car stops, it is always on exhibition.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,417
Likes: 336
From: Texas
wipers probably hidden under the door and inspector didnt see them. just like when i had mine inspected a couple of years ago, young inspector said i failed because i didnt have any mufflers when he looked underneath the car. i told him look in the back. they're there. last time i checked, i now register Antique. easy. i believe most antique tags are coming due next month 3/13
Pro
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 620
Likes: 18
From: Travelers Rest, SC
I registered my '69 this past week as a classic auto, not antique because I was told that as an antique, the car is to be driven to and from parades, car shows, etc. Heck I drive mine every day it's not raining so I didn't want to get in a pinch should something happen when I was clearly driving to work, or what not. Anyone had this bite them in the butt with a vehicle registered as an antique?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,358
Likes: 379
From: Plano TX
Nothing you wouldn't expect. Guy said he would have to fail it since I'd removed the wipers. I asked him if he'd tried the switch. You know, the one that says "Wipers" on it. He was very impressed and wanted to know what custom shop had done the work.
Same guy looked at my EFI and proudly proclaimed it was a 4 barrel carb.
Same guy looked at my EFI and proudly proclaimed it was a 4 barrel carb.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,126
Likes: 15
Nothing you wouldn't expect. Guy said he would have to fail it since I'd removed the wipers. I asked him if he'd tried the switch. You know, the one that says "Wipers" on it. He was very impressed and wanted to know what custom shop had done the work.
Same guy looked at my EFI and proudly proclaimed it was a 4 barrel carb.
Same guy looked at my EFI and proudly proclaimed it was a 4 barrel carb.
mike...
Pro
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 620
Likes: 18
From: Travelers Rest, SC
the vehicle is a collector’s item that will be used solely for exhibition, club activities, parades, and other functions of public
interest (replicas do not qualify for Antique plates). The vehicle will not be used for regular transportation except when routine
maintenance is needed. The vehicle will not carry advertising.
Contrary to what many want to believe, the world she aint black and white...
This is not a 1973 cargo van we are talking about, its a restored Corvette, a piece of history that is in a constant state of restoration and always needs maintenance. Wherever the car is, becomes a place to show the car. People look at it, they come and talk to you about it and comment on it.
interest (replicas do not qualify for Antique plates). The vehicle will not be used for regular transportation except when routine
maintenance is needed. The vehicle will not carry advertising.
Contrary to what many want to believe, the world she aint black and white...
This is not a 1973 cargo van we are talking about, its a restored Corvette, a piece of history that is in a constant state of restoration and always needs maintenance. Wherever the car is, becomes a place to show the car. People look at it, they come and talk to you about it and comment on it.