INSPECTION STICKERS SET TO EXPIRE

Senator Royce West of Dallas describes the new law regarding vehicle inspection and registration stickers at a Tuesday press conference.

(AUSTIN) — The two-sticker system for vehicle inspection and registration will soon be a thing of the past. Beginning March 1, Texas drivers will only have to display a single registration sticker in the bottom driver's side corner of their windshields. Vehicles will still have to pass the same safety and emissions standards at licensed inspection stations as they do today, but those results will now be kept electronically by the state. Dallas Senator Royce West, who carried the Senate bill which created the new law, said this program is good for the state, for the environment and for drivers. "[This law] will help to reduce fraud, promote cleaner air and increase safety and convenience for Texas vehicle owners," he said at a press conference Tuesday.

Cars will need to pass inspection before drivers can renew vehicle registration. For the first year, if registration expires before inspection, that car won't have to be inspected until it needs to be renewed again in 2016. If the inspection expires before the registration, the driver will have to have the car inspected before renewing its registration. After this year, the two expiration dates will be in sync, and a car only has to have the inspection done before registration is renewed.

Inspection stations will send inspection results to the state, which will verify the current inspection status of a vehicle when the owner applies for registration renewal. The costs of registration and inspection will not change; a person will only be responsible for the $7 plus emissions testing cost when they have their car inspected. The $7.50 the state charges for inspections will be added to the registration renewal fee.

Tuesday's press conference is part of a statewide education initiative to let all Texans know about the impending change. Department of Motor Vehicles Director Whitney Brewster outlined a number of sources that drivers can use to navigate the new law. A website, twostepsonesticker.com, has been set up that will allow drivers to calculate when they need to have an inspection by entering the expiration date of their two stickers. It also contains information on registration and inspection requirements, procedures and costs. County tax assessor collector offices have also been given materials to educate citizens. DPS Deputy Director RenEarl Bowie said that drivers will have until March 1, 2016 to get acquainted with the inspection side of the law, but they can still be ticketed for out of date registration.

The Senate will reconvene Wednesday, February 4 at 11 a.m.

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