Register your vehicle
There are several steps to register your vehicle with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.
1. Have your vehicle inspected at a certified inspection station.
- Texas requires state-registered vehicles to pass an annual inspection to ensure compliance with safety standards. Learn about the Vehicle Inspection Program on the Texas Department of Public Safety website.
- Find an inspection station.
2. Show insurance coverage for the required minimums per person, per accident, and for property damage.
3. Get your vehicle registration and sticker at your local county Tax Assessor Collector office.
Renew your vehicle registration
There are several ways to renew your vehicle registration. Remember, you must have a passing vehicle inspection before you can renew.
- Online. You can renew your vehicle registration online 90 days before the expiration date or up to six months after the expiration date, if you have not received a citation for expired registration. If you renew online, you’ll receive $1.00 discount. There are two online renewal options:
- Renew with Texas by Texas (TxT). TxT is an official, account-based digital government assistant that provides an even easier, faster, and more secure way for Texans to take care of government services – like vehicle registration renewal. To learn more about TxT and create an account, visit the Texas by Texas page on Texas.gov.
- Complete the Vehicle Registration Renewal application. If you don’t want to create a TxT account, you can still use this online option to renew.
- Mail. Send the renewal notice, a copy of your Vehicle Inspection Report (VIR), proof of current liability insurance, and all fees to your county Tax Assessor- Collector office.
- In-person. Take your registration renewal notice and proof of current liability insurance to your county’s Tax Assessor-Collector office or an approved substation.
Vehicle registration fees
Vehicle registration fees vary based on the type and weight of the vehicle you’re registering.
New to Texas?
If you’re a new Texas resident, you have 30 days to register your vehicle.
County Tax Assessor-Collectors
County Tax Assessor-Collector offices handle most vehicle title and registration services on behalf of TxDMV. These services include:
- Registration renewals (license plates and registration stickers).
- Vehicle title transfers.
- Change of address on motor vehicle records.
- Non-fee license plates such as Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans license plates.
- Disabled parking placards.
- Copies of registration receipts.
- Temporary registration.
A vehicle title is an official document which proves that an individual owns a particular vehicle. The ownership of the car changes when you transfer the car title. This means that as long as the car title is in your name, you will be held responsible for the parking tickets issued and the toll violation fines levied against the vehicle.
When you buy a new car, the documentation process is handled by the automobile dealership you buy it from. However, when you buy a second hand car or sell the one you already own, you need to refer to your state’s laws regarding vehicle title transfer.
You also need a car title transfer if you are considering a vehicle donation, transfer or gift or inherit a vehicle from someone. The ownership of the car does not officially change simply by possessing it; a title transfer has to take place. You even need a title transfer if you decide to change your name.
In Texas, vehicle title transfer is done according to the state’s rules and regulation. First off, it needs to be done within thirty days of buying a car. Failure to do so may lead to the buyer being heavily fined. If you are buying a used car, make sure there are no former liens. In case there are any, ask the seller to pay them off before you gain its possession. The next step should be filling out the title document. For this you will need the bill of sale (after paying the agreed price), the Vehicle Identification Number and the current odometer reading.
Keep a record of all the financial transactions. To be on the safe side, you should accompany the seller to the county tax office before submitting the vehicle title application to make sure that the vehicle in question does not have any objectionable issues. The application should be duly signed by the buyer and should mention the date of sale and selling price. This application must be sent to your local DMV. You will then be required to pay the vehicle sales tax which amounts to 6.25% of the purchase price or the standard presumptive value, whichever is higher. The DMV office will then issue a new title with the buyer’s name on it.
Can you give me some information about dmv Texas contact change title name process?
If you want to change your name on your car registration, you will need to submit certified documents such as a marriage certificate or a divorce decree, and a copy of your current car registration to the county tax office. You will also have to pay a fee of $28 for renewing your name or correcting your name of the papers.
After completing the Texas dmv car title transfer process, will I be held responsible for the unpaid parking tickets?
It is not possible to sell or transfer a car to another person without clearing the unpaid fines and tickets. The DMV office will not accept any form if the car has pending traffic violation tickets and fines. So make sure you pay all the tickets in order to successfully transfer the vehicle to the new owner.
I was reading an article about vehicle title transfer Texas gift, and I found out that the title transfer procedures still apply in this case. Is this true?
When you gift a car to someone, it is important that the new owner gets the car registered in his or her name. This process is completed by filling out a title transfer form. The DMV office in Texas will issue this form and will make sure all legal requirements have been fulfilled.