Tesla inspection fee changes in Texas?

[roddie]

I have a 2018 M3 and am just doing my second sticker renewal.

I had to do my first last year because of the two-year new car thing that Tesla buyers don't qualify for, so fine. I did my inspection at Kwik Kar ($7 and 10 minutes), and renewed.

Yesterday I did my inspection for this year, same deal, but now when I go to renew the sticker online, I'm seeing this:

"INSPECTION FEE-2YR $16.75"

The renewal is for a 12 month term per the site, but for some reason I'm getting charged a 2 year inspection fee. What's interesting is that the form that I got in the mail only shows $7.50 for the inspection fee.

At the bottom of the page I see this in red, with no other explanation: "Vehicle Inspection fee recalculated due to update inspection information"

I figure I'll wait a couple of days and try again, but I was just wondering if anyone else has noticed a difference recently.

 

[Mrcarcrazy]

That's highly unusual...I just did mine a few weeks ago, it was the same as last years 7.50.

 

[roddie]

Yeah, it's certainly goofy - I haven't checked yet today, but my guess is maybe I get two years from this one since I didn't get it when the vehicle was new. I wouldn't expect them to be that clever, though.

 

[roddie]

So... We called TxDOT this morning and they said to verify the inspection at mytxcar.org (that just sounds fishy) to see if Kwik Kar put me in for a two year sticker, which would explain the different fee during renewal.

Sure enough:

They also said that I won't require an inspection or renewal next year. I can't find any other information about this, so I'm not sure what changed and when. Maybe due to the recent moves?

 

[Mrcarcrazy]

I wish I knew that was an option. I’ll have to research more into that.

 

[roddie]

I wish I knew that was an option. I’ll have to research more into that.

Let me know if you can find anything - I didn't ask for it, so I don't know how optional it was, and there's nothing I could find about it anywhere else.