The Process

The Process for Transferring Your Vehicle to Texas

• Step 1 - Complete and submit a VIN Self-Certification form (Form VTR-272-B) or you obtain a Vehicle Inspection Report (VIR) or Form VI-30 issued by a vehicle inspection station.
• Step 2 - Obtain insurance on the vehicle that meets the state’s minimum requirements. You will be required to furnish the declarations page for registration purposes.
• Step 3 - Proof of military service or Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) along with a copy of your current government issued identification.
• Step 4 - An Application for Texas Title form (Form 130-U).
• Step 5 - If you are applying for a Texas title and registration you will also need:

1. 1. The current title (Or MCO if a new unregistered vehicle).
   2. If importing from another country a USDOT Form HS-7 or a US Customs Form CBP7501.

If you are applying for registration purposes only (no title will be issued) you will also need:

1. 1. Your current out of state registration, and
   2. An Application for Registration Purposes Only form (Form VTR-272).

• Step 6 - Because we all enjoy the Texas roads and scenery, each vehicle registered in Texas pays fees unless you are exempt by law.

Fees

Since counties vary in their fees and their fees may change, be sure to check with your county for specific amounts.

Taxes

If you are a Texas resident and have not previously paid a Texas sales tax on the vehicle, you will pay either a 6.25% sales tax or the difference between the full amount of taxes less any taxes previously paid to another state. For used vehicles the value of the vehicle will be determined at the county and is based on the Standard Presumptive Value (SPV) of the vehicle. A SPV calculator is available on our home page for your reference. Information can be obtained by calling (800) 252-1382 or by visiting www.window.state.tx.us.

Insurance, Inspections
& Importing

Insurance

Texas law requires the following minimum amounts of coverage for your vehicle:

• $30,000 bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident
• $60,000 bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident, with a $30,000 limit for one person
• $25,000 because of injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident

"No fault" insurance is not valid proof of financial responsibility in Texas. However, proof of financial responsibility from out of state or out of country is acceptable if the insurance company is licensed to do business in Texas and reflects the above minimum amounts.

Annual Vehicle Safety Inspection

Every vehicle registered in Texas and operated on a public roadway (unless exempted by law) must pass an annual safety inspection. The vehicle must have current, passing inspection prior to registration. You will need to present valid proof of liability insurance in order to receive your vehicle inspection report. Some counties also have emissions testing requirements. Please check with your county for requirements.

Texas approved inspection stations conduct vehicle inspections and VIN verifications. Many mechanics, repair facilities, and full-service stations are approved to perform the inspections. Look for the state inspection sign at their place of business.

Contact the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) at (512) 424-7293 or visit their website, for more information regarding vehicle inspections.

Importing a Vehicle

If you will be bringing in a vehicle purchased in another country, you are required to meet all federal and state importation requirements before you can title and/or register it in the state of Texas.

Your vehicle must meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. More information concerning duty or other Customs matters is available from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Your vehicle must pass a Texas vehicle safety inspection and a visual verification of the vehicle identification number (VIN). You can have your vehicle inspected by any Texas approved Safety Inspection Station.

You must provide a certified English translation of any document printed in any language other than English.

Leaving
Texas

If you are a Texas resident serving out of the state, you can retain your Texas title and continue to renew your registration. If you have a Texas title you must keep the registration valid and up to date.

If your vehicle is out of state and you are unable to complete a Texas vehicle inspection in order to renew your registration, you will be able to self-certify that the vehicle is out of state and will be permitted to register.

You may renew your registration using self-certification online, by mail or in-person. Please contact your county tax office for more information about their requirements for out-of-state registration renewal.

If you renew your registration using the out-of-state self-certification option, a remark will be placed on your vehicle record indicating that an inspection is still due. Once you return to Texas, you must complete a vehicle inspection within three days of your arrival at your home, duty station or destination. It is very important that you keep the Vehicle Inspection Report issued after completing your inspection in case you are stopped by law enforcement before the remark is removed from your vehicle record, which takes about 48 hours. The remark will only be removed upon payment of the state's portion of the inspection fee and verification of a current, passing inspection.

Be sure to change the address at TxDMV for your registration to make sure there is no time delay. Thanks for visiting and thank you for serving our country.

Military
License Plates

Are you or were you in the military? A disabled veteran? In the Texas Guard?

View license plates made just for you.

Thank you for your service.

Military Specialty Plates Catalogue

Military License Plates Brochure

International Symbol of Access (ISA)

If you’re a disabled veteran, you may have the International Symbol of Access (ISA) displayed on your military license plates; or choose to receive a disabled person placard for each vehicle with a Disabled Veteran plate. To do so, please complete and submit Form VTR-615 Application for Disabled Veteran License Plates and Parking Placards to obtain your disabled license plates or placards.
Note: the Disabled Veteran plates can no longer include both the ISA symbol and an emblem.

VTR-615 Application for Disabled Veteran License Plates and Parking Placards

Replacement Plates

We issue replacement license plates every seven years to maintain license plate reflectivity. Your replacement plates will have the same plate number and will arrive in the mail to your home.

If you order new military plates with a new design or an ISA to replace your existing military plates, a new plate number will be assigned. Disabled Veteran plate numbers will not change if an emblem or an ISA is added. When you receive your new plates, please surrender the old ones to your county tax assessor-collector so they may be destroyed or recycled.

Transfer of Plates

You may transfer your military plate to a new vehicle, but remember to inform your car dealer and/or county tax assessor-collector, so your vehicle’s registration record can be updated. You may be asked to clarify if the plate number is the designated “first set” or an additional set of plates, as registration fees differ.

Surviving Spouses

If you are a surviving spouse of a veteran, you may retain your spouse’s military plate unless it is a Disabled Veteran plate. You may also apply for a Surviving Spouse plate of your own. If you are the surviving spouse of a disabled veteran, you must pay $3 for the first set of plates. . Additional sets are free, but annual registration fees and any additional fees will apply. If you would like an ISA displayed on your disabled surviving spouse license plate, you must provide proof of your disabled status by completing form VTR-214 Application for Persons with Disabilities Parking Placard and/or License Plate.

VTR-425 Surviving Spouse of a Veteran

VTR-214 Application for Persons with Disabilities Parking Placard and/or License Plate

Gold Star

If you are an immediate family member (defined as a parent, child, sibling, or spouse) of a person who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, you may order a Gold Star license plate. Only one set of Gold Star plates may be issued per person.

VTR-423 Application for Gold Star License Plates

Parking Privileges and Fee Exemptions for Vehicles with Military License Plates

State law allows for a vehicle with Disabled Veteran plates that is being operated by or for the disabled veteran to use any parking space or area that is designated specifically for persons with physical disabilities. Vehicles that display the following license plates may park free of charge at a parking meter operated by a governmental authority other than the federal government:

You should not assume all local and state parking will be free. Please be aware that some private and local government parking garages (for example, airports) are bound by local ordinances, and may not exempt parking fees in some situations. Some federal facilities require an ISA either on the plates or a disabled person placard be displayed.

Please call us at (512) 374-5010 if you have questions about military license plates.