As of next month, Austin drivers will only need one sticker on their car, instead of separate ones for vehicle registration and inspection.
For the first time in over 60 years, Texas drivers will no longer have to keep track of the two stickers, and the state will no longer be issuing inspection stickers after this month. Vehicle registration stickers, with their familiar blue borders, will soon be doing double duty as both proof of registration as well as inspection.
‘Two Steps, One Sticker’, as it has been labeled, has the goal of reducing fraud, boosting compliance, and thereby improving safety. It is anticipated that although it will be popular with drivers, there will likely by a transition period during which Texans may experience confusion about the new system.
To familiarize the public with the change, and smooth the transition, officials on both the state and county levels will use a variety of methods. In addition to hosting a website dedicated to explaining ‘Two Steps, One Sticker’, there will likely be radio ads in addition to mail inserts provided by brochure printers.
The two sticker system was plagued by inspection sticker counterfeiters, and Texans would often inadvertently let their inspection stickers lapse. The one sticker system, which requires Texas drivers to obtain proof of inspection and supply it when renewing the vehicle registration, will address both of these issues.
