BEAUMONT, Texas — A new state law, going into effect on January 1, 2025 will eliminate the safety inspection requirement.
While some are cheering, Southeast Texas shops say this will impact their bottom line.
"Without the inspection, it's gonna leave a lot of people, you know, unaware they have some safety concerns with their vehicles," said Brian Schall, owner of P&M Havoline Express Lube.
Employees at P&M Havoline, located off Dowlen Road in Beaumont, conduct many inspections.
"Here in the last couple of months, we have gone from about 40 to 50 a day to a good 50 to 60 a day," said P&M Havoline assistant manager Paydon Schall.
Paydon says everything they check is to ensure we're safe on the road.
"Making sure your headlights are on, making sure that they're working properly. Same way with your break lights cause we know for sure that we want your break lights to work. And make sure that the wiper blades are up to the state standard," Paydon said.
Over the years those inspections have changed.
"10 years ago they did away with the state inspections stickers," said Brian.
State inspections and registrations were combined on one sticker.
"And they lowered the cost of the inspections," Brian said.
But come January 1, 2025, drivers still have to pay the state a replacement fee of $7.50, when they register their car
"It's just another tax that they throw on us. Yeah it's robbery," said Paul Lee, the founder of P&M Havoline.
Lee believes this law will ultimately harm Southeast Texans.
"And we fail quite a few cars that come through here. And people understand that we're there for their safety. And I don't think it's a good law at all," Lee said.
Looking ahead P&M Havoline plans to turn their inspection bay into an oil bay for high-end cars.
"If anything, it will allow us to get even more business cause were able to do more volumes of higher end vehicles," Paydon said.