San Antonio Emissions Test
To renew registration, gas cars registered in San Antonio's Bexar County need a passing emissions inspection beginning November 1, 2026. At a station, the maximum charge for this OBD plug-in check is $18.50.
- November 1, 2026
- the date when Bexar County emissions inspections begin
- Yearly
- how often a covered gas car gets inspected
- Up to $18.50
- for the OBD test, the most a station can charge
- Bexar County
- the area covered by the San Antonio program
San Antonio emissions test start date
Bexar County is Texas's newest emissions county. The date given by the DPS criteria page and TCEQ overview is November 1, 2026. A Bexar County car must pass the emissions inspection before it can renew its annual registration from that date onward. For Harris County (Houston), the start was 2002; for Travis County (Austin), it was 2005.
Which cars in San Antonio get tested?
The DPS Bexar County FAQ says vehicles in Bexar County that are 2 to 24 years old and powered by gasoline must pass an inspection to register. Vehicles with a model year of 1996 or later get the OBD inspection. The Texas emissions test page says other Texas counties use that age range. In Texas, safety inspections for non-commercial vehicles also ended on January 1, 2025. The emissions inspection is then the only inspection tied to registration for a non-commercial car.
San Antonio emissions test cost and locations
| Item | Bexar County |
|---|---|
| OBD inspection (maximum) | $18.50 |
| State fee collected at registration | $2.50 |
Those numbers are provided by the TCEQ program highlights. According to the DPS station locator, certified Bexar County stations in its listing will offer emissions inspections starting November 1, 2026. A business can become a certified station only if it has a Bexar County address.
If a San Antonio car doesn't pass
The Bexar FAQ says you can get a free re-test at the same station within 15 days after fixing the failed item. You must pay the inspection fee again if you wait past 15 days or visit another station. On the TCEQ waivers page, you can find an individual vehicle waiver after spending at least $600 on emission repairs ($450 in El Paso). Learn the concept from our emissions waiver guide; the emissions test by city page provides the remaining information.
San Antonio emissions test questions
When is an emissions test needed for San Antonio drivers?
In Bexar County, emissions inspections start on November 1, 2026. Covered gas cars need a passing inspection to renew registration from that date onward.
Are San Antonio and Austin's fees the same?
No. In Bexar County, the maximum is $18.50; Travis County's is $11.50.