If the car has airbags they need to operational. But if you have an older car with say just a driver side airbag and you completely remove the system and get away with it. I'm about to put a new steering wheel in my car (no airbag) when i do that im removing all the airbag computers and what not. I removed the airbag bulb today actually. My automotive teacher has been a state inspector for at least 20 years, i had a conversation with him about this. Basically he said if there i no possible way of them being deployed and no warning lights in the dash on, it will pass.