Registration is $60 or so per vehicle. Inspection is about $15 for emissions exempt (like Diesels or 25 year old cars) or in emissions exempt counties and about $45 for cars/counties requiring smog testing.
Texas doesn't have "personal Property tax" so there aren't any other real taxes on cars we own (other than toll roads). It's not as cheap as say South Dakota to have a car, but it's still cheaper than most states.
As for the inspections, I've failed twice for Autocross tires on a couple of my race cars. They told me that the tread wasn't deep enough though the tires were DOT approved and new. I maybe drove those cars 100 miles/year on the street on sunny days, but scrounged up a mixed set of wheels and tires to pass inspection, then put the racing tires back on five minutes after I got my sticker.
but scrounged up a mixed set of wheels and tires to pass inspection, then put the racing tires back on five minutes after I got my sticker.
*****
LOL... Maybe the local rent a tire place could have done the job for you.