Before a vehicle can be registered, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles or county assessor-collector must verify inspection compliance, with limited exceptions.
Sec. 548.256. PROOF OF COMPLIANCE WITH INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS REQUIRED TO REGISTER VEHICLE. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) or (c), before a vehicle may be registered, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles or the county assessor-collector registering the vehicle shall verify that the vehicle complies with the applicable inspection requirements under this chapter and Chapter 382, Health and Safety Code, as indicated in the department's inspection database. If the database information is not available, the owner of the vehicle may present a vehicle inspection report issued for the vehicle. (b) The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles or a county assessor-collector may register a vehicle that is not in compliance with the applicable inspection requirements under this chapter or Chapter 382, Health and Safety Code, if the vehicle is located in another state at the time the applicant applies for registration or registration renewal under Chapter 502 and the applicant certifies that the vehicle is located in another state and the applicant will comply with the applicable inspection requirements under this chapter, Chapter 382, Health and Safety Code, and the department's administrative rules regarding inspection requirements once the vehicle is operated in this state. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles or the county assessor-collector shall add a notation to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles' registration database for law enforcement to verify the inspection status of the vehicle. (c) Subsection (a) does not apply to: (1) a vehicle that is being registered under the International Registration Plan as authorized by Section 502.091; or (2) a token trailer that is being registered under Section 502.255, including a token trailer that is being registered for an extended period under Section 502.0023. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 30.123(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1069, Sec. 19(2), eff. June 19, 1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1423, Sec. 8, 9, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 967, Sec. 9, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1125 (H.B. 2481), Sec. 22, eff. September 1, 2005. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1291 (H.B. 2305), Sec. 29, eff. March 1, 2015. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 752 (H.B. 1888), Sec. 40, eff. January 1, 2016.