Official Vehicle Inspection Station

How “Two Steps, One Sticker” Works

The State of Texas has transitioned to “Two Steps, One Sticker” and the registration sticker serves as proof of inspection and registration. In order to keep the dates aligned, beginning March 1, 2016, motorists will have 90 days to complete the Two Steps.

There are two general steps for dealers under “Two Steps, One Sticker,” which are not a significant departure from established practices. The first step is inspection. Dealers are required to ensure vehicles have a valid inspection. Once a vehicle has been inspected, the results are entered into the state’s inspection database. The second step is registration. When a dealer submits the buyer’s title and registration documentation to the county, the vehicle’s inspection status is electronically verified and the buyer is issued a registration sticker to serve as proof of inspection and registration. The date on the registration sticker is the expiration date for both inspection and registration.

Extra Time on Used Vehicle Sales

Used vehicles are also required to have a passing inspection for purposes of registration. However, unlike new vehicles, starting March 1, 2016 it matters when that inspection occurred. Under “Two Steps, One Sticker” used cars which have a passing inspection may be sold without obtaining a new inspection if the inspection occurred within 180 days of the date of sale. If, on the date of sale, it has been more than 180 days since the vehicle was last inspected, the vehicle must be inspected before registration and title paperwork is submitted to the county tax office.

If the vehicle does not have a passing inspection at the time of registration, the transaction will be rejected. You can also visit www.mytxcar.org to find the date of the vehicle’s most recent passing inspection.