and as long as I yell HONK out the window they're good with the horn.
Texas Inspection
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 459
Likes: 6
From: Fort Worth Texas
Texas Inspection
Apparently in Texas, I can register my 69 as either an antique or classic. There are restrictions on driving with the antique plates, so I was planning on going with the classic registration.
What happens during inspection? Is the smog system required?
What happens during inspection? Is the smog system required?
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
I used to live in Texas. All they should do a a normal inspection for a car that is 25 years old or older. That means they check the lights, wipers, turn signals and such. No emissions inspection required. When I would take my car in, they would be done in about 5-10 minutes.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 15,154
Likes: 477
From: NM
Classic only lets you pay more for a plate that says Classic Car. Other than that it is the same as any other car.
Inspection requires a visual inspection of the smog system.
With Antique plates there is no inspection, plates are good for five years, and only cost about $50.00 ($5/yr). If you have classic insurance then antique plates are a good match.
Inspection requires a visual inspection of the smog system.
With Antique plates there is no inspection, plates are good for five years, and only cost about $50.00 ($5/yr). If you have classic insurance then antique plates are a good match.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 437
Likes: 3
From: Alvin Texas
In TX you can drive to a car show, every time you drive a Vett you are the show and there is a car show somewhere. You can drive them for maintenance, I don't know anyone who isn't always working on their Vette and taking them on a "test" drive. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 896
Likes: 7
I think parts of Tx are under smog restrictions and other parts exempt due to higher air quality. That may be why some say no cursory smog inspection and others say the opposite. My info may be dated. DFW and Houston areas had some smog rules while SAT and the west did not. If Im wrong sorry.
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,361
Likes: 383
From: Plano TX
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)
Last edited by zwede; Jan 13, 2013 at 06:56 PM.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 437
Likes: 3
From: Alvin Texas
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 6,692
Likes: 29
From: Texas
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,361
Likes: 383
From: Plano TX
They're working on it. The link says the bill passed, but the new inspection program is not ready yet, so we don't know what the inspection for a "custom vehicle" will look like.
Cruising
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Aubrey TX
in tx, if you register as antique, no inspection is required. safety or smog. I registered my 85 swb truck as antique, went and had the inspection done, and when i went to register, they told me this. i even got pulled over once for my window tint and the officer verified it for me. BUT if you register as classic then yes a safety inspection is required if its over 25 and if its less then 25 then a smog will be required if your country is under smog laws.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 15,154
Likes: 477
From: NM
Just thought you all may find this of interest. From the Texas environmental folks, TCEQ, and not the transportation dept.....
Texas law prohibits any person from selling, offering for sale, leasing, or offering to lease any vehicle not equipped with all emission control systems or devices in good operable condition. Violators are subject to penalties under the Texas Clean Air Act of up to $25,000 per violation. Buyers are advised to have the vehicle checked for all required emission control devices prior to purchasing a new or used vehicle.
A vehicle may not be legally sold if its original engine has been replaced with another certified engine but without the related emission control components. Tampering includes the failure to install the emission controls associated with an engine configuration.
http://m.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/m...tampering.html
Texas law prohibits any person from selling, offering for sale, leasing, or offering to lease any vehicle not equipped with all emission control systems or devices in good operable condition. Violators are subject to penalties under the Texas Clean Air Act of up to $25,000 per violation. Buyers are advised to have the vehicle checked for all required emission control devices prior to purchasing a new or used vehicle.
A vehicle may not be legally sold if its original engine has been replaced with another certified engine but without the related emission control components. Tampering includes the failure to install the emission controls associated with an engine configuration.
http://m.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/m...tampering.html
Racer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 437
Likes: 3
From: Alvin Texas
All the emission laws hinges on the "life of the vehicle". Check the EPA Mobile sources in the references of the TECQ there is a degradation formula, at some point the emission system become ineffective, at the end of the vehicle life. What is it?. (D) factor. The 25 year is probably the arbitrated agreed on point (a legal decision?) that the vehicle has reached it's life cycle. (Memo 1a to clean air bill 1972.)
