Texas Vehicle Inspection

[Dr G]

Hello - I may be moving to Texas next year. I have a 1956 Pro-Touring style Ford F100 which I would want to register in TX. I just read there is a rule about minimum headlight height of 24 inches. To my surprise my headlights are already just a bit lower than that, and the truck is not even as low as I would like it to be. How do other folks deal with this law when registering lowered cars and or trucks?

Thanks - Dr G

[Firckn]

You can register the Truck as an antique.

[dhutton]

First I have heard of it but apparently it is true:

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/rsd/vi/height.htm

Don

[wedgehead]

If it is registered as an antique you do not have to get it inspected. With the antique registration you are only supposed to drive to and from events of public interest or vehicle maintenance. I have driven several cars with just the antique registration with no hassles driving it everywhere i go. the headlight measurement is to the center of the headlight.

[Dr G]

Thanks for the responses. Registering my truck as an antique is not really what I had in mind. I drive it all the time all over the place. But it may be worth considering.

But maybe I can rephrase my question:

Is TX vehicle inspection an annual part of the registration process? Or just a one time deal when you first register in state.

Do the places performing the inspection typically bother with measuring headlight height? For that matter what types of things "do" they check?

I have coil overs up front and jacking screws in the rear, so I could just raise up the truck for the inspection I suppose. But the folks who've responded seem to live in TX, and the avatars show cars which are probably also in my situation with having headlights at or below the 24 in rule, so I was wondering how others make due.

I think CA has or had a bumper height requirement, but I've never heard of it being enforced. All we have is the good old smog test, which had become pretty strict.

Dr G

[dhutton]

Thanks for the responses. Registering my truck as an antique is not really what I had in mind. I drive it all the time all over the place. But it may be worth considering.

But maybe I can rephrase my question:

Is TX vehicle inspection an annual part of the registration process? Or just a one time deal when you first register in state.

Do the places performing the inspection typically bother with measuring headlight height? For that matter what types of things "do" they check?

I have coil overs up front and jacking screws in the rear, so I could just raise up the truck for the inspection I suppose. But the folks who've responded seem to live in TX, and the avatars show cars which are probably also in my situation with having headlights at or below the 24 in rule, so I was wondering how others make due.

I think CA has or had a bumper height requirement, but I've never heard of it being enforced. All we have is the good old smog test, which had become pretty strict.

Dr G

I don't think it is strictly enforced. Inspections are every year.

Don

[cwylie]

If you headlights, turn signals and brake lights work, and there is something on the car that resembles an exhaust I really doubt you would have a problem passing inspection. Where in Texas will you be?

[Dr G]

If you headlights, turn signals and brake lights work, and there is something on the car that resembles an exhaust I really doubt you would have a problem passing inspection. Where in Texas will you be?

Austin. My wife and I are in the architecture / home building business and there are very exciting things going on in Austin compared with LA.

[M.Rad.]

Dr G, I can't remember anyone ever checking my headlight height. They don't even check headlight aim, although I wish they would. In Austin, the main thing is emissions testing. I live in an outlying county, so I only have to pass the visual.

Welcome to Texas. Just remember, you came here because of what it is, don't try and change it to where you left from...

Regards,
M.R.

[Dr G]

Welcome to Texas. Just remember, you came here because of what it is, don't try and change it to where you left from...

Regards,
M.R.

No worries there. I would move to Texas exactly because of what it is. I am hoping it does not change.

[TomMLS1]

You have to get a mandatory inspection if your vehicle is titled out of state. You need to present the certificate of inspection to get the title transferred to Texas and registered in the state. Once this is done, you can register the vehicle as you please, antique classic or regular vehicle, either way. If you register as an antique classic, you don't ever need to do an inspection again, and your registration is good for 5 years. If you register as a regular vehicle (daily driver) your inspection is due every calendar year from date of inspection, and you have to get it inspected every year there after in that month.

Generally, most inspection stations are pretty lenient with the requirements. In addition, most law enforcements divisions usually do not stop antique vehicles unless they want to check it out, (Texas is full of car guys) or you are flagrantly violating the law, burnouts, racing etc....at least this has been my experience with all my classics. While I don't drive them everyday, I do drive them, and it's not always to car shows or parades......

T,

[rickpaw]

You have to get a mandatory inspection if your vehicle is titled out of state. You need to present the certificate of inspection to get the title transferred to Texas and registered in the state. Once this is done, you can register the vehicle as you please, antique classic or regular vehicle, either way. If you register as an antique classic, you don't ever need to do an inspection again, and your registration is good for 5 years. If you register as a regular vehicle (daily driver) your inspection is due every calendar year from date of inspection, and you have to get it inspected every year there after in that month.

Generally, most inspection stations are pretty lenient with the requirements. In addition, most law enforcements divisions usually do not stop antique vehicles unless they want to check it out, (Texas is full of car guys) or you are flagrantly violating the law, burnouts, racing etc....at least this has been my experience with all my classics. While I don't drive them everyday, I do drive them, and it's not always to car shows or parades......

T,

This. Also, make sure you have working parking brakes as well. When I moved to Houston from WA, they checked everything on my 67 Firebird. My parking brakes were barely worked, but they passed it anyway.

Welcome to Texas.

[cwylie]

I really doubt you will have a problem and there are a few shops around here that just pay less attention to the "details" than others. Are you all going to be practicing architecture in Austin or focused more on the building side? The construction industry is going absolutely nuts here right now. My fiance is an Architect as well.