I need to get my car inspected as soon as possible.  My inspection
sticker expired in November of 2002.  I still have Louisiana license
plates.  I moved from Louisiana to Texas in January of 2002.  My car
insurance policy is in Houston, Texas (and up-to-date).  I am a Texas resident.
 I have valid Texas and Louisiana driver licenses (which I probably
shouldn't).  I know I can only get my car inspected in Louisiana. 
Where can I get my car inspected (please give me an address, perhaps in Lake
Charles), and how (or where) do I order new license plates?

I know, I know, I should have taken care of this earlier...

Hi there,

Two of the documents I link to below are .pdf files which require
Acrobat Reader. If you don't have Acrobat Reader, you can download it
here:
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html


LOUISIANA
=========

You can get your car inspected at:

Mac's Quick Lube
2001 Country Club Road
Lake Charles, LA
318-474-9918

Map of the location:
http://www.infospace.com/mapredir.htm?&otmpl=ypv3/map.htm&QA=2001+Country+Club+Road&QC=Lake+Charles&QS=LA&QZ=70605

This page states that Mac's are an Official Louisiana Motor Vehicle
Inspection Station:
http://www.nationalmailit.com/private/all_specad/Auto&Boat/quicklube.lori.pdf

A list of other Auto Repair Shops in Lake Charles
http://www.qaaa.com/automech/Louisiana/Lake_Charles.html

NOTE: One web site states:

If your vehicle is registered in one of the cities listed below, your
vehicle cannot be inspected by the State. The cities are Kenner, New
Orleans, and Westwego. These areas have their own inspection programs
and are not regulated by the State.
http://www.jeffersontitle.com/DPSMVbrochures.html#LOUISIANAS_MOTOR_VEHICLE_INSPECTIONS


TEXAS
=====

Texas also has annual inspections.

SAFETY & VIN INSPECTION REQUIRED
Before registering your vehicle in Texas, the vehicle must pass a
safety inspection and a vehicle identification number inspection. The
inspection must be performed by a state-certified inspection station.

Everything you need to know, including fees and locations, is detailed
in this brochure:

Vehicle Requirements for New Residents
ftp://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/vtr/misc/vtr450forms.pdf


Nothing in the brochure mentions requiring a current registration from
elsewhere. If I were you I would skip the Lake Charles inspection, and
just register afresh in Texas. You could check with the Texas DOT at
(512) 465-7611 to see if that is acceptable.


Search strategy: "lake charles" "vehicle inspection"
Resource: Texas DOT http://www.dot.state.tx.us/vtr/vtrreginfo.htm


If you need any more information related to this question, please
don't hesitate to ask for a clarification.

Best wishes,
robertskelton-ga

IF YOU GO TO LAKE CHARLES, YOU MIGHT RUN INTO TROUBLE WITH YOUR
INSURANCE CARD IF IT BEARS YOUR TEXAS ADDRESS....... DON'T WORRY......
YOU MAY RUN IT THROUGH
A COPY MACHINE LEAVING OFF THE LAST LINE THAT STATES ______, TEXAS,
AND ZIP CODE.

OR KEEP TRYING AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND CATCH A PERSON THAT DOES'T
CATCH IT
OR DOES'T CARE.

REMEMBER GO WHEN IT IS NOT RAINING, THEY DO NOT INSPECT IN THE RAIN.

A LA. RESIDENT