Edit: I guess I don’t like the idea that ordinary procrastination can, in this case destroy a 50k investment.
In the U.S. we have Jiffy Lube and the "checkup" is just another way for them to squeeze the customer for cash. We are so distrustful of auto mechanics in general that, no, I don't think most of us go looking for a yearly fleecing, ha ha (not funny, really).
I was not aware that Texas was that way.
I haven't lived in Texas in 20+ years but I remember the annual sticker visits at gas stations, they would check that the head lights worked and were pointed at the correct direction for the height of the lamp, that your windshield wasn't cracked in your field of view, the using the brakes turned on the brake lights, and other things, if your vehicle failed any of the checks you were required to fix them and get re-inspected and pass the entire suite of tests before one got the inspection sticker.
At least I got a free transmission rebuild out of it, but walking (or bus :\ ) to work for 2 weeks was not exciting.