Top General Requirements

Registration Renewal

Unless this is the first time you are registering this particular vehicle in Texas, you should see our section on renewing your registration.

First-Time Registration

You fall under the first-time registration category if you just:

• Purchased a used car

• Moved to Texas

• Changed ownership on a car

Registering renewal takes place annually and can be sometimes done online or by mail. But to take care of registration initially you must go to your county tax office. The same is true for those who have allowed their current TX registration to expire.

New residents have 30 days of moving to the state to register their out-of-state vehicle. Within that time period you must also get a vehicle inspection, title your car in Texas and get a Texas driver’s license. This can all be done at the same time. In fact, to title and register your vehicle you’ll fill out one application. You’ll pay a title application fee and registration fee along with a new resident tax of $90. For info on this tax, contact the Comptroller of Public Accounts.

You are exempt from titling and registering your car as a non-resident only if are an active-duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces or a full-time student from another state going to school at a Texas college or university.

Top Get Insurance

As you’ll soon read in the steps below, to register your car in Texas you must show proof of insurance to the county tax office. More importantly, to operate your vehicle on Texas roads you must have insurance. There is no grace period and no exceptions. To shop for auto insurance quotes online, visit our Insurance Center.

Top Prepare the Paperwork

If you have purchased a new or used car from a dealer, it’s likely your paperwork has been taken care of for you. You’ll just want to check that this has been properly. Typically when people buy a car they take care of the change of ownership first. To learn more on titling (and therefore registering) the vehicle in your name, see our section on title transfers.

For those who are registering an out-of-state vehicle and/or you are new to Texas, do the following:

1. Obtain the inspection certification proving the vehicle has been inspected. If you just purchased the vehicle, you’ll notice the previous owner had to get the car inspected in order to keep the registration current. Some vehicles only require a safety inspection while others must also get an emissions test as well. All vehicles registered in the state must be inspected, including those that are from another state. For more info on state inspections, consult the AirCheckTexas of the Texas Department of Public Safety or our section on smog and emissions checks.
2. Obtain proof of insurance from your insurance provider.
3. If the car is less than 10 years old, be prepared to provide the vehicle’s odometer reading. This might be noted on the Bill of Sale, the title, etc.
4. Obtain either the original out-of-state title or the current foreign/military ownership document if you are simultaneously titling the car in your name at this time. To make sure you cover all the bases, visit our section Title Transfers. If the title has been misplaced, see our section Replacing a Lost Title.
5. Complete the title/registration (Form 130-U), making sure all registered owners sign the application.

If you are still shopping around because you haven’t found a car that meets your needs, consider ordering a vehicle history report. These VHRs offer valuable background info on the vehicles you might consider purchasing.

Top Calculate the Fees

Before you go to the county tax office with your paperwork, it’s best to figure out what you’re going to pay in terms of fees. The state offers a comprehensive document called the Schedule of Texas Registration Fees that lists fees by county. Figure out your fee according to the county in which you live and then add to that the title application fee of $28 or $33 depending on where you live and the new resident tax of $90 (if applicable).

In certain situations you’ll face additional fees, so it’s a good idea to contact your county tax office to avoid any surprises.

Top Go to the County Tax Office

If you are a new resident, you’ll need to obtain a Texas driver’s license in addition to registering and titling your car in the state. However, note that licensing takes place through a different state agency. To find out more about applying for a Texas driver’s license through the Department of Public Safety, see our section on licensing.

If you already have a state driver’s license, your next step is to locate the nearest county tax office.

Transferring License Plates

If you bought a used car, you probably figured out that the license plates stay with the vehicle. You can transfer your general use license plates from a previous car to this one for $5 (and you’ll also receive a new registration sticker) as long as they are not passenger car or light truck plates.

At this time you might also consider ordering a specialized or vanity plates. These range from those for drivers with disabilities to those who want to display they are driving an antique vehicle. For more info on license plate specifics, visit our section License Plates & Placards.

To tell other drivers you are for example a Longhorn or an Aggie, a dog or a cat lover, etc. consider buying some cool license plate frames.

Top Affix Your Stickers

The county tax office will give you stickers for the license plates if the car was not already currently registered in Texas. There will be a sticker for the year and the month along with instructions on how to place them properly on the rear plate.

Top Get a Tax Deduction

Texas does not calculate your car registration fee based on your vehicle’s value. Therefore, you can’t take the deduction allowed in other states. For any tax questions, consult a tax professional.

Top Safely Get on Your Way

You’ve already dedicated plenty of time to getting your vehicle current in the state of Texas, so why not make it and the roads you travel on safer while you are at it?

For example, roadside assistance programs are a great way to ensure you’ll have help if an unplanned situation arises. These programs come to the rescue if you break down or blow a tire. Also having an after-market auto warranties might make it easier to keep your car in running at its best. Pair that with a mechanic you can trust and you’ll be as well prepared for “surprises” as you can be.

There are also ways to enhance road safety that are affordable no matter what your budget. For example, hands-free headsets for your cell phone, child safety seats and car emergency kits are easy to get your hands on and don’t cost a whole lot of money.

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