Fort Worth Emissions Test
To renew its registration, a gas car registered in Tarrant County, where Fort Worth drivers register, must pass an emissions inspection every year. A station may charge up to $18.50, and the inspection checks the car's onboard computer.
- Once a year
- the testing frequency for a gas car in Tarrant County
- Up to $18.50
- the highest fee a station may charge
- Plug-in OBD
- the check used on gas cars from 1996 onward
- Tarrant County
- withwithwithin the Dallas-Fort Worth program area
Emissions inspection in Tarrant County
The DPS county list for emissions inspections names Tarrant County. The TCEQ program summary lists the dates when Dallas-Fort Worth counties joined:
| Start date | Counties |
|---|---|
| May 1, 2002 | Collin, Dallas, Denton, Harris, Tarrant |
| May 1, 2003 | Johnson, Kaufman, and Ellis, Parker, Rockwall (plus Houston-area counties) |
Dallas and Fort Worth have a shared program area and fee cap. For you, the only difference is the county listed on your registration.
What happens during the Fort Worth test
A scan tool gets plugged into the car's computer by the inspector. The testing guidance from DPS requires the check engine light to turn on when the ignition is on, then switch off once the engine starts. A car fails if this light stays on and a trouble code is stored. In 2001 and newer models, a single monitor may be Not Ready, but two or more cause the vehicle to fail. After resetting the battery recently, read not-ready monitor guidance before you go.
Fort Worth emissions test cost and locations
The DPS cost page lists $18.50 as the DFW maximum, so plan to spend no more than that on the inspection. Registration also includes a state charge of $2.50. Find a station through the DPS station finder. Search its County field for Tarrant, or look up a ZIP code or city.
Texas stopped most safety inspections on January 1, 2025. For non-commercial vehicles, you first pass the emissions test and then renew. For the rest of the state, see the Texas emissions test page. You can also find Houston and Austin in the emissions test by city list.
In case a Fort Worth car fails
A free challenge retest through DPS is available within 15 days under the EPA-filed Texas rule. On TCEQ's waiver page, an individual vehicle waiver comes after at least $600 spent on emissions repairs. A low mileage waiver comes after at least $100 in repairs when a car traveled under 5,000 miles during the last cycle.
Fort Worth emissions test questions
Is a Fort Worth address important, or does only the county count?
Your registration's county determines the requirement. Cars in Tarrant County are tested.
Can I receive my inspection report once more?
Yes. TCEQ says you can get the vehicle inspection report from any inspection station within 13 months after your last inspection.