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NEW
TO TEXAS
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Q:
I just moved to Texas. How do I register my vehicle?
A: Your vehicle must first pass a vehicle safety inspection
and an inspection of the vehicle identification number. These
services are available at a state-approved Safety Inspection
Station.LOCATE
AN INSPECTION STATION BY CITY OR ZIP CODE The
inspection station will provide you with a green or white Verification
Form that must be submitted to our office. Before leaving the
inspection station, please proof read your vehicle identification
number against the Verification Form for errors. You will also
need to bring in your out-of-state registration receipt or your
out-of-state title and proof of liability insurance on the vehicle
your are registering. Title and registration fees are due at
the time application for title is made.
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Q:
What does "Registration Purposes Only" mean? What
are the circumstances for this type of transaction?
A: "Registration Purposes Only" means that the
vehicle is registered but not titled in Texas. This type of
registration may be requested when a vehicle that was last registered
or titled in another state is registered in Texas but the owner
cannot or does not wish to surrender the negotiable out-of-state
Title to obtain a negotiable Texas Title.
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GENERAL
REGISTRATION
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Q:
I sold my vehicle several months ago, but the registration and
title have not been changed to reflect the new owner's name
and address. I'm getting notices about parking tickets involving
that vehicle -- and the registration renewal notice has also
come to me. What can I do?
A: It is likely that the new owner has not transferred the
title to their name. Fill out the Motor Vehicle Transfer Notification
(Form VTR-346)
or write a letter to: Texas Department of Transportation, Vehicle
Titles and Registration Division, Attention: Vehicle Data Management
Branch, Austin, TX 78779-0001. The letter must provide the vehicle
description (year, make, VIN), date of sale, and purchaser's
name and address. Upon receipt of the fee and the form or letter,
TxDot will place a notation on the motor vehicle record indicating
that the vehicle has been transferred. The fee for this service
is $5. Checks or money orders should be made payable to the
Texas Department of Transportation.
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Q:
I am disabled and would like to obtain license plates with the
international symbol of access. What should I do?
A: Texas law allows disabled residents to obtain one set
of plates with the international symbol of access and one placard;
or, you can get two placards. The placard may be displayed in
any vehicle used to transport the disabled person. The placard
is required to be displayed on the rear view mirror when parked
in a disabled person parking space if the vehicle does not have
disabled person license plates. Fill out Form VTR
214. This form must be completed and notarized by the applicant's
physician. The Placard must be renewed every 4 years. Additional
sets of disabled person plates may be obtained for vehicles
specially-equipped for operation by a person who has lost the
use of one or both legs. We have both the disabled plates &
placards at our office.
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Q:
What should I do if my license plates are damaged or stolen,
or I need to replace a windshield validation sticker?
A: You can come to our office and obtain replacement license
plates or replacement validation stickers.
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Q:
I registered my vehicle in August. So why does the registration
expire in July?
A: A vehicle registration period is for 12 consecutive months
and any portion thereof. Vehicles registered in August would
expire on July 31.
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Q:How
do I sell a vehicle that is registered and titled in my ex/late
spouse's name?
A: 1) If the divorce decree awards the vehicle to you, bring
a certified copy of the decree to our office. If the decree
does not award the vehicle to you, a properly assigned title
will be required. 2) In the case of a deceased spouse, the ownership
will be determined as to whether there is a will, trust, etc.
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Q:
Why does it cost less to register my new pick up truck than
it does my older car?
A: State law makes the fee structure for passenger vehicles
different from that of trucks. Passenger vehicle registration
is determined by the manufacturer's model year.
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Q:
What does "Registration Purposes Only" mean? What
are the circumstances for this type of transaction?
A: "Registration Purposes Only" means that the
vehicle is registered but not titled in Texas. This type of
registration may have been requested when a vehicle that was
last registered or titled in another state is registered in
Texas and the owner could not or did not wish to surrender the
negotiable out-of-state Title to obtain a negotiable Texas Title.
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Q:
How do I obtain personalized license plates or other special
plates?
A: You may obtain an application from this website or by
coming into our office. There will be a charge in addition to
the regular registration fee. The amount charged for personalized
and special plates will vary according to the type ordered.
In some cases, the applicant must meet eligibility requirements
before applying for special plates. Follow the instructions
on the forms.
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Q:
Why do I pay extra $1 fees to register my vehicle?
A: House Bill 3588, 78th Texas Legislature, Regular Session,
provided for the collection of a $1 fee, in addition to other
registration fees, for all vehicle owners who are required to
show proof of financial responsibility. All counties in Texas
must collect this fee. The Texas Department of Public Safety
(DPS) and the Department of Insurance (DOI) will jointly complete
a study on the feasibility, affordability and practicability
of creating an insurance database system to verify that motor
vehicle owners have established financial responsibility. The
DPS and DOI will jointly issue an order before July 1, 2004,
stating a determination of whether the system should be implemented.
If the study determines an insurance database is feasible, revenue
from the $1 insurance fee may be used by the DPS, the DOI and
TxDOT to jointly implement the insurance verification database
program before January 1, 2005. In addition, prior to August
31, 2005, the DPS may use the monies collected to reengineer
the Texas driver license system and to establish a system to
support the driver responsibility program House Bill 3014, 76th
Texas Legislature, Regular Session, provided for the collection
of a $1 fee, in addition to other registration fees for a license
plate or set of license plates or other device used as registration
insignia in counties with 50,000 or more registered motor vehicles.
There are currently 51 counties in Texas that meet this requirement.
This fee is used for upgrading the automated Registration and
Title System (RTS).
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GENERAL
TITLING
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Q:
I lost my title. How do I get a duplicate?
LOST TITLES Can
Be Picked Up At This Location Only!
TEXAS
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
1001 East Parmer Lane Austin, TX 78753
512-837-4416
In order to apply for a Lost Texas Title, you must be the owner
of record, lienholder, or verifiable agent of either. Whether
the application is submitted by mail or walk-in, all applicants
must provide to the Department of Transportation.
If
the Form VTR-34 is signed by a Owner
of Record (Mail-in or Walk-in)
- A properly
completed Application for Certified Copy of Title (Form
VTR-34)*,
- Photo
ID (government-issued photo ID, such as Texas or other state
driver's license, government identification card, U.S. Passport,
or military identification) of the person signing the Form
VTR-34*. (In cases of joint ownership, government-issued
photo ID for each individual owner of record is required.)
If
the Form VTR-34 is signed by a Verifiable Agent
of Owner or Lienholder (Mail-in or Walk-in)
- In
addition to the requirements above, a verified agent of
the owner or lienholder must also provide a letter of signature
authority on original letterhead, a business card, or copy
of the agent's employee ID.
If
the Form VTR-34 is signed by a Power of Attorney (POA),
the transaction must have, in addition to the requirements above:
- Copy
of a government-issued photo ID such as Texas or other state
driver's license of recorded owner/lienholder signing the
POA.
- Copy
of a government-issued photo ID such as Texas or other state
driver's license of the individual signing the Form VTR-34*.
NOTE:
Businesses given POA will also be required to provide a letter
of signature authority on original letterhead, or a business
card, or a copy of employee ID.
In cases of joint ownership, each owner must sign the POA and
provide a copy of each owner's government-issued
photo ID.
The appropriate fee - $2.00 for
mail-in applications and $5.45 for walk-in applications. (If
mailed, the fee should be in the form of a check, cashier’s
check, or money order made payable to the Texas Department of
Transportation.) Please do not mail cash.
If mailing by overnight or express
mail through a mail service which requires a physical address,
mail to the VTR Regional Office nearest you, using the
appropriate street address on the back of the Form VTR-34
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Q:
I just bought/sold a car. How do I transfer the title?
A: If the buyer and seller are available, both parties
can come to our office and we can complete all of the necessary
forms. The buyer will have to show proof of insurance on the
vehicle he is purchasing or if the title transfer is occuring
within 30 days of purchase, the buyer can show us proof of
insurance on any vehicle he currently owns. It is recommended
the seller accompany the buyer to our office to ensure the
title is transferred into the buyer's name. This will protect
the seller from liability for certain acts by the purchaser.
If, however, both parties are not available to come to our
office together, then the the seller should write the purchaser's
name, address, and odometer reading on the title assignment
and then sign both the back of title and the title application
(Form 130-U)*.
(Be sure and sign the back of the title EXACTLY how
the front of the title reads.) The title & Form
130U should be given to the purchaser. The purchaser can come
to our office and file the title application with his proof
of insurance.
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Q:
I financed my car and the lien was recorded, but I have not
received a title yet.
A: When a lien is recorded on a title, the Texas Certificate
of Title is mailed to the 1st lienholder. The Title Application
Receipt you received after the title was applied for serves
as your proof of registration and as proof that a title was
applied for to record you as the owner of the vehicle.
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Q:
Why does the state show a lien on my car if I paid it off?
A: This occurs if you have not applied for a new title after
paying the lien off. To remove the lien information from the
title record and receive a clear negotiable Texas Title, come
into our office. After you have paid off your lien, the lienholder
should mail you a Texas Title that they have signed on the front
releasing the lien or you may have received the title along
with a separate form releasing the lien. Either one is fine.
This form will take the place of the lienholder signing the
front of the Title. Even though your lien is paid off, until
you apply for a "clear" title, the lien remains on
TxDot's title record database. The only time this can create
a problem, is if you loose the title that the lienholder has
signed. You will need to go back to your previous leinholder
to get another form signed and then you will have to apply for
a lost title through TxDot. This process can be a major headache
especially if the lienholder has gone out of business! For this
reason, we always recommend filing for a "clear" title
after your lien has been satisfied and you have received the
title from your lienholder.
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Q:
I sold my vehicle several months ago, but the registration
and title have not been changed to reflect the new owner's name
and address. I'm getting notices about parking tickets involving
that vehicle -- and the registration renewal notice has also
come to me. What can I do?
A: It is probable the new owner has not transferred title to
their name. Fill out the Motor Vehicle Transfer Notification
(Form VTR-346)*.
Or write a letter to: Texas Department of Transportation, Vehicle
Titles and Registration Division, Attention: Vehicle Data Management
Branch, Austin, TX 78779-0001. The letter must provide the vehicle
description (year, make, VIN), date of sale, and purchaser's
name and address. Upon receipt of the fee and the form or letter,
we will place a notation on the motor vehicle record indicating
that the vehicle has been transferred. The fee for this service
is $5. Checks or money orders should be made payable to the
Texas Department of Transportation.
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Q:
How do I sell a vehicle that is registered and titled in my
ex/late spouse's name?
A: 1) If the divorce decree awards the vehicle to you bring
a certified copy of the decree to our office and you can apply
for title. If the decree does not award the vehicle to you,
a properly assigned title will be required. 2) In the case of
a deceased spouse, the ownership will be determined as to whether
there is a will, trust, etc.
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Q:
Why can it be difficult to change a vehicle title to my name?
A: The title law protects ownership rights for more than
15 million vehicles in Texas. Therefore, the statutes require
transfer of ownership by proper execution of certain ownership
documents. When these specific documents are incomplete or unavailable,
Texas statutes provide for the applicant to apply for a tax
collector's hearing or bonded title in most situations.
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Q:
What is a bonded title and what is it used for?
A: A bonded title is a notation reflected on a title document
and the motor vehicle record which indicates that a Certificate
of Title Surety Bond was surrendered in support of the application
for title. The bond is issued in the title applicant's name
for a 3-year period. The notation is carried forward upon subsequent
issuance for the 3-year period. The bond is required by statute,
when proper ownership documents are unavailable, to protect
previous and subsequent owners and lien holders from possible
claims.
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REGISTRATION
RENEWAL/RENEWAL NOTICES
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Q:
I have not received my registration renewal notice. What
do I do?
A: Your vehicle can be renewed at our office by bringing in
your proof of insurance & your license plate number. You
will need to show us your driver's license to prove you are
the registered owner of the vehicle you are wanting to register.
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Q:
I moved to another location within Texas. How can I be sure
that my registration renewal notice will get to me when the
time comes?
A: Your mail will be forwarded if you filled out a Change
of Address Form with the U.S. Postal Service, but the registration
record will not be updated in the TMV system. You may come into
our office and we will be happy to change your registration
renewal address. Or, you may fill out the Notice of Address
Change for Texas Motor Vehicle Registration (Form
VTR-146)*. Or, write a letter to: Texas Department of Transportation,
Vehicle Titles and Registration Division, Attention: Customer
Information Services Branch, Austin, TX 78779-0001. They will
take the information you have provided and update the vehicle
registration record accordingly. You must provide the description
for each vehicle you own. You can also call the Customer Help
Desk at (512) 465-7611, TDD (512) 302-2110.
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EXPIRED
REGISTRATION
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Q:
I did not receive my renewal notice and my registration has
expired. Why am I being forced to pay a 20% penalty?
A: A 20% penalty will no longer be assessed for delinquent
registration except in cases when the vehicle has received a
ticket for operating on the public highways unregistered after
the 5-working days grace period.
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Q:
Can a vehicle be operated after the registration expires?
A: Yes. A vehicle may be operated within 5 days after the
registration expires without penalty.
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Q:
What if I haven't driven the vehicle since my registration expired.
Do I still pay the 20% penalty?
A: No. If a delinquent registrant has a valid reason for
being delinquent in registering their vehicle, the registrant
will be required to register the vehicle for a 12 month period,
establishing a new registration expiration month which will
end on the last day of the 11th month following the month of
registration (no penalty and no Non-use Affidavit).
If there is not a valid reason for the delinquent registration,
the registrant will be required to register the vehicle for
a 12-month period without establishing a new registration period
(no penalty and no Non-use Affidavit).
A person who has been given a ticket for operating their vehicle
unregistered will be required to register their vehicle for
12 months without changing their vehicle registration expiration
month and pay a penalty of 20% of the prescribed registration
fee.
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MOTORCYCLES/TRAILERS
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Q:
How do I register and title a motorcycle or Trailer?
A: Come into our office and we can help you with either.
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