Emissions Testing Requirement

J

JackBeQuick

Member
Joined
May 29, 2025
First Name
Jack
Last Name
Leathers
City
Coppell
Hi TCC members. I have a LSC Cobra which I titled and registered in 2016 as an ASVE here in Dallas County. To-date I have only been required to do safety inspections for my renewals. This year, they are now requiring an emissions test. I have both emailed and spoken to the county and each time they say that because it is titled as a 2016 gas engine vehicle, emissions testing is required. ASVE does not matter. Is this the case for others here? Will these kit cars even pass an emissions test? Not sure what to do here and hoping someone can share guidance.
 
I"m not sure how I can help you. I registered my build in 2019 as ASVE "Custom Vehicle" and I've never had to have a safety or emissions test since then. I just pay registration. I will found out this month if I have any issues.
 
As of 2025 if you are now required to have an emissions inspection you must re-register your car as a 'Custom
Vehicle'. Go to WWW.TXDMV.GOV and under FORMS select VTR-852. Fill this out and you will also have to get an ASE certified safety inspection. Then take these forms to your normal registration office.
 
Thanks Spyder. I guess an Assembled Vehicle is not the same thing as a Custom?
I am curious as to how you figured this out. I spoke to half dozen representatives and no one offered up this solution. They all stuck to their script that it was titled in 2016, takes gas and therefore requires emissions. No interest in how the car is classified when registered
 
This won't be of any help with your registration process but here in the Republic of California they make a distinction between a custom vehicle and one that you build. A custom vehicle is one made by one of the big manufacturers that has been modified or altered in any way. A Cobra or any other vehicle that a person builds has to be registered under SB-100 which classifies them as a special construction vehicle. The SB-100 takes them out of any emission tests after they are registered. They do have to go to a smog referee when registering for them to look them over and I think they do a test and then just ignore the results for the most part. Unless you go to this jerk here in Redding. He is anti car period and will jerk people around until they spend thousands of dollars for nothing.
 
I just got back form TXDMV in Ft Worth. I had requested vehicle information from the 2014 ASE Safety inspection. After much discussion between the clerk and her supervisor it was decided that the requirement is only half correct. You must re-register as a Custom Vehicle but will only need a new inspection if you are a new owner. They said that you may have to have the tax office call TXDMV to get this approved. If you do have to go to TXDMV be sure to schedule an appointment online and fill out any forms (VTR-852) needed online. The VTR-852 will be needed by the tax office but hopefully you won't need to go to the DMV.
 
Great information Spyder. I sure hope this is a one time only hassle. Thanks again!
 
I registered my Factory Five last year as a 2023 ASVE RD Replica 1965 Shelby Cobra in Denton County. Did the ASE inspection but no emissions test. My plates are Custom Vehicle.

Just renewed my registration last week and no mention of any kind of inspection. Sounds to me like the part you're missing are the Custom Vehicle plates.

BTW, in Texas when you register an ASVE car for the first time like these kit cars there's no sales tax due so don't let them trick you. The DMV is only responsible for collecting tax on the sale of a motor vehicle. Since it's never been a motor vehicle until you finished it there has not been a sale of a (complete) motor vehicle, only a collection of parts.
 
I registered my Hurricane Cobra as an ASVE "Custom Vehicle" in 2019. I've never had to have an annual inspection, only the initial ASA Certified Master Mechanic inspection in 2019. I just returned from the Ellis County Tax Office, renewed my registration for 2025 with no questions, no emissions test.
 
Yes, fortunately for you both, your counties are now exempt form emissions. Unfortunately for me, Dallas is not. For 9 years, I never had to get an emissions inspection, only safety. Now they are making me get an emissions test, even though I have ASVE inspection.

In Texas, 17 counties still require vehicle emissions testing as part of the registration process, despite the state's elimination of mandatory safety inspections. These counties include Brazoria, Collin, Dallas, Denton, El Paso, Ellis, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Johnson, Kaufman, Montgomery, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Travis, and Williamson. Additionally, Bexar County will be added to this list in 2026.
 
I'm in Denton County as I said and didn't have to have emissions testing for initial registration or for renewal last week.
 
JackBeQuick said:
Yes, fortunately for you both, your counties are now exempt form emissions. Unfortunately for me, Dallas is not. For 9 years, I never had to get an emissions inspection, only safety. Now they are making me get an emissions test, even though I have ASVE inspection.

In Texas, 17 counties still require vehicle emissions testing as part of the registration process, despite the state's elimination of mandatory safety inspections. These counties include Brazoria, Collin, Dallas, Denton, El Paso, Ellis, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Johnson, Kaufman, Montgomery, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Travis, and Williamson. Additionally, Bexar County will be added to this list in 2026.
Click to expand...

I am in Ellis county, which IS an emissions county. I just got an emissions test done on my 2019 Ford F150 today, before renewing both registrations.
 
Yall, I just registered my Cobra replica in LLano last week as an ASVE, Custom Vehicle, Replica.
Here’s a link to the Assembled vehicle manual on the DMV website, the process since 10/2022:
Section 1.5 describes the inspection requirements.

Bottom Line(s)-
a)Replicas are a subset of Custom Vehicles which are a subset of Assembled vehicles (ASVE)
b)All assembled vehicles require an inspection by an ASE master to be registered/titled the first time (VTR-64 for most ASVE or VTR-852 for Custom Vehicles)
c) Custom Vehicles are exempt from the Texas Safety and Emissions Inspection (Transportation Code Chapter 548) which is only required in high population/emmision counties now.

Now that I’m registered I hope to see you out on the road-my car is still in red gelcoat while I put a few miles on it before body and paint.

Cheers,
BUDFIVE
Kempner Shop, Horseshoe Bay Home
 
Just got my Cobra re-registered in an emission county as a Custom Vehicle (not custom plates) without needing a new inspection. The instructions DMV gave me have two options, one for lost or damaged plates which doesn't require an inspection (I'm guessing this is how they get around the inspection requirement for Custom Vehicle plates) and the other for vehicles that are sold. This one has a couple of ugly requirements. If sold the owner must remove the Custom Vehicle plates and the window sticker. Now a new inspection IS required.
 
Thanks Budfive, Bwcobra15, Spyder and Mike. Sounds like I need to reregister my Cobra and add the VTR-852 as the VTR-64 was originally submitted when I filed for ASVE back in 2016. The ASE inspection was done back then, but I am guessing I will have to get a current one to file the VTR-852. Not sure when I will have an opportunity to go to the DMV in the next few weeks, but I'll report back when I do. You guys have been a big help.
 
I got my registration sticker for my 2013 ASVE titled Cobra, with my GUMBALL Plates, without the need to progress a VTR-64 or VTR-852. The DMV is still trying to figure this out themselves. I am in Williamson and the Taylor office told me I needed to progress these forms. Went back to the Georgetown office, showed them I have passed 12 safety inspections to date, a title that includes a note showing it's a 65 replica, and they just push a button indicating no emission required and I left with my new sticker.

You just need to find someone in the DMV office who has some common sense. Why would you now need to get an ASE Safety Inspection when you have already passed numerous safety inspection at DMV licensed stations just so you can get your vehicle set up in their system so you no longer need safety inspections?
 
Its the counties that still have emissions testing requirements that now have issues with cobra replicas.
 
The ASVE certified inspection goes way beyond the annual safety inspection. They are checking to make sure the assembly is done correctly. They verify that frame welds are solid, suspension is correct, steering gear is good, fuel system is safe, brake system is safe etc. I never had an annual inspection where they looked under the car or put it on a lift. A simple test drive and checked all the lights was about it.
 
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