A state inspection costs $10 to $50 in 2026, or nothing
Fourteen states do not require a regular safety inspection on a normal car. Texas ended the safety sticker in January 2025 and kept a $7.50 fee plus emissions tests in some counties. Where a sticker is still required, the shop fee is usually $10 to $50.
What goes into the price
| States with no regular safety inspection | Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas (safety ended 2025), Washington and Wyoming. Confirm with your DMV. Rules change. |
|---|---|
| Texas in 2026 | No safety inspection for non-commercial cars. You still pay a $7.50 inspection-program fee at registration. Emissions tests remain in listed metro counties. Bexar County is added in 2026. |
| Typical shop fee where required | Safety-only stickers often run $10 to $50. Emissions-only tests often run $15 to $70 depending on the county program. Combined safety and emissions is the high end of that range. |
| Failed inspection | You fix the item, then come back. Many states give a free or cheap retest inside 10 to 30 days at the same station. A second full fee applies if you wait or change shops. |
| Safety vs emissions | Safety looks at brakes, lights, tires, glass and sometimes the horn. Emissions looks at the tailpipe or the check-engine monitors. California is emissions only. Pennsylvania is both. |
| What the fee does not cover | Repairs. A failed ball joint or a catalytic converter is a separate bill. Ask for the fail sheet in writing. |
The detail a quote hides
The sticker fee is small. The surprise is the repair the inspector writes up, or finding out your state dropped the sticker and you still owe a program fee. Texas drivers learned that in 2025: no lift, no flashlight, still $7.50 at the tax office, and an emissions test if you live in the listed counties.
What will my inspection cost?
State, test type and first visit vs retest. The estimate updates as you change them.
Fees from 2026 DMV and inspection-program notes. Repairs are extra.
Common questions
How much is a state inspection in 2026?
Where one is required, plan on $10 to $50 at the shop. Some emissions programs charge more. Some states charge nothing because they do not inspect.
Which states have no inspection?
A 2026 roundup lists Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas (safety), Washington and Wyoming. Check the DMV. City emissions rules can still apply.
Did Texas end inspections?
The safety inspection for normal cars ended in January 2025. Emissions tests continue in the listed counties. Registration still includes a $7.50 program fee.
What if I fail?
Fix the listed items and go back. Many stations retest free or cheap for a short window. Keep the fail sheet.
Is a dealer inspection the same?
A state sticker follows the state list. A dealer multi-point is a sales and service checklist. It is not the sticker unless the dealer is also a licensed inspection station.