Louisiana ends brake-tag safety inspections for most passenger vehicles

Act 701 of 2026 (HB 1085) drops the periodic safety-inspection certificate requirement for noncommercial vehicles, effective January 1, 2027 in parishes outside the federal I/M program. In the I/M parishes the change waits for EPA approval of the state's SIP amendment. From June 30, 2026 to January 1, 2027, officers may not cite vehicles for missing inspection certificates. Commercial vehicles, covered farm vehicles and student-transportation vehicles still need inspections; the commercial inspection fee stays $30 with $23.75 kept by the station. The act also adds windshield-condition standards.