Some states require vehicle inspections for registration purposes. More often than not, it’s just to ensure safety by keeping inadequately maintained or equipped cars off the road. However, for some, like drivers in Texas, an inspection can be a bit of a pain. Well, that is if you left your windshield wipers at home in your windshieldless car. 

Car registration inspections in Texas require functional windshield wipers, but your windshield is ‘NOT an item of inspection’

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) insists that inspectors check at least 12 things on a vehicle before registration. Understandably, these inspection items run from lights and signals to functional windshield wipers.

That said, the DPS lists windshield wipers as an inspection item, but not the windshield itself. According to the DPS website, a vehicle may fail an inspection if a “damaged windshield creates a significant visibility issue for the driver.” While an argument could be made that a missing windshield creates a “visibility issue,” it’s not a written requirement in the inspections. That said, the DPS sheet does name safety glass as an inspection item.

However, the Lone Star State won’t be continuing with inspections in the near future. So, don’t worry too much about your wiperless, windshieldless car. It’ll be just fine on 80-mph Texas highways and in crosswinds. 

All joking aside, KXAN Austin reports that Texas “will no longer require car owners to complete state vehicle inspections in order to renew a non-commercial vehicle registration.” Drivers can expect one fewer registration task starting in 2025.

It does, however, beg the question of motorway safety in the state. Love it or reject it, the state won’t even require to inspect your windshield wipers next year. Of course, even with inspections off the table, I would hazard a guess that a police officer will likely pull you over if you’re driving the burned-out wreck from Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.