Texas Two-Step Stumble

For years, windshields in Texas have sported two stickers – one for license renewal (registration) and one for a safety inspection.  Now, as a result of House Bill 2305 passed during the 83rd legislative session, the State of Texas will stop issuing inspection stickers and transition to a “Two Steps, One Sticker” vehicle inspection and registration program. Beginning March 1, 2015, vehicles will no longer be issued an inspection sticker. Your registration sticker will serve as a combined proof of registration and inspection.

The big plus of this program is that Texans will no longer be able to buy license plates (or renewal stickers) without proof of insurance and a valid safety inspection in the state’s computer system. 

The big minus is that the conversion year is already causing major confusion, even among the people whose job it is to understand the system. 

I pulled the following from the State Website set up to explain the new law:

From March 1, 2015 through February 29, 2016. You may renew your registration if your vehicle has a current, passing inspection. However, if your inspection and registration stickers both expire in the same month, your vehicle will need to pass inspection prior to registration renewal.  At the time of registration, your inspection status will be verified electronically. A current, passing inspection is required for registration renewal. Starting March 1, 2016, you will have a convenient 90-day window to complete both your inspection and registration.

That seems pretty straightforward to me, but when I took my truck (current safety inspection expires this month) to be inspected yesterday, I was told not to do it now.  The shop manager said that, as of next week, they would no longer issue, and law enforcement officers would no longer be checking inspection stickers.  I was told I would be better off waiting until just before my license plates were due for renewal next November- sometime within that 90 day window that goes into effect next year.

I’m pretty sure that’s wrong, but I decided to go along with it for now.