Texas Legislature Creates a New State Agency

A new state agency, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), was created by the 2009 Texas Legislature in House Bill 3097. This new agency officially opens for business on November 1, 2009.

Divisions and functions moving from TxDOT to the TxDMV:

Division Functions Transferring
Automotive Burglary & Theft Prevention Authority
  • Auto theft reduction initiatives
  • Auto theft reduction education
  • Public awareness of auto theft reduction efforts
  • Auto burglary initiatives
Motor Vehicle
  • Licensing of dealers, manufacturers, distributors, converters, representatives, lease facilitators and lessors
  • Investigating complaints against all those listed above
  • Arbitrating disputes between new motor vehicle dealers and manufacturers
  • Enforcing lemon laws
  • Motor vehicle dealer e-Tags
Motor Carrier
  • Enforcement for motor carriers
  • File/search motor carrier complaints
  • Investigation
  • Mediation
  • Motor carrier open records requests
  • Motor carrier registration
  • Notices and rules
  • Payment information for motor carrier fees
  • Public assistance/inquiries
Vehicle Titles  & Registration
  • Issuance of vehicle titles and registration through the county tax offices
  • Distribution of license plates and disabled parking placards through the county tax offices
  • Verification of vehicle insurance in coordination with the Department of Public Safety (DPS)
  • Consumer protection for those who are buying or selling a vehicle.
  • Licensing of salvage vehicle dealers
  • Put Texas in Your Corner®
  • Protect Your Title, Texas
  • Vehicle transit permit
  • Vehicle transfer notification
  • TexasSure (Vehicle Insurance Verification)
  • Flood-damaged vehicle database
  • Standard Presumptive Value Calculator