Since it's nearly certain we will be moving there next year, I need to know the car laws regarding "enthusiast" type modifications.
OK is basically a free for all. No inspections, no emissions testing, no nothing. You can basically do as you please.
I suspect Texas isn't the same? Can anyone enlighten me?
I know of a safety inspection. My area (Temple)doesn't do emission testing but I'm not sure about other areas.
If new enough you can get a OBDII test. they will plug in and make sure your computer throws a code and reads right. Even with a tuner you can pass.
Some places will put the car on a dyno, but not all.
Well....What county are you looking at? There is different laws depending on if it's an emissions county or a non emissions county.
The general safety inspection is pretty straight forward. You need to have the following:
05.01 Inspect Every Passenger Car For: (Listed in suggested order of inspection)
Check for evidence of Financial Responsibility
Horn
If you live in an emissions county then you have to pass the ODB2 test or the sniffer test on cars up to 24 years old.
Not sure exactly which county yet, but if I had to guess, I'd say Dallas county.
Dallas county and all of the counties that touch it are emissions counties so anything 1990 and newer currently do need to pass emissions testing.
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/rsd/vi/inspection/inspectionCriteria.aspx
That link may help you a little bit.
Thank you very much for the link!
Makes me wonder if a BRZ with one aftermarket cat would pass the sniffer test.
There is a rolling 25 year exemption from emissions testing. Also, at 25 years you can get antique tags and be inspection exempt. 96 and newer are basically a plug in. At cooperative stations if you have no CEL you'll pass. Pre 96 but newer than 25 years go on the dyno with a sniffer in the tailpipe, but that window, in a few months, will only be 5 years.
In reply to z31maniac:
BRZ wouldnt get a sniffer test. They only do that on pre-OBDII cars <25 years. The BRZ would get the OBD test for emissions and the safety inspection.
Ojala wrote: In reply to z31maniac: BRZ wouldnt get a sniffer test. They only do that on pre-OBDII cars <25 years. The BRZ would get the OBD test for emissions and the safety inspection.
Excellent, thanks for the info!
z31maniac wrote: Thank you very much for the link! Makes me wonder if a BRZ with one aftermarket cat would pass the sniffer test.
if it's like other places, you won't be offered the option … '97 and newer are all hooked up to the OBDII port
edit: Ojala beat me to it 
If you want to title a rebuilt or a project car let me know and I can give you the low down. Dallas is a pain to work with. Fortunately I am friends with the guy, Pete, that is THE official inspector in tarrant County.
I'm in Houston, but I'm subject to the same basic rules. It's actually getting easier as time goes on because of the rolling exemption. With an OBDI car on the rollers you never quite know what's going to happen. This sucks. With OBDII cars you can plug in a scanner before you go and it it reads clean and ready you know you will pass. Right now the window for roller cars is only 90-97. Next year it's 91-97. You can modify the ever loving E36 M3 out of an OBDII car as long as it reads ready and passes the safety checks.
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