| 1. |
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? |
| 2. |
I just moved to Texas. How do I register my vehicle? |
| 3. |
I used to live in Texas but am currently out of state. How do I register my vehicle in Texas? |
| 4. |
I am disabled and would like to obtain license plates with the international symbol of access. What should I do? |
| 5. |
What
should I do if my license plates are damaged or stolen, or I
need to replace a windshield validation sticker? |
| 6. |
I
want to renew my registration by mail. How do I do that? |
| 7. |
I
registered my vehicle in August. So why does the registration
expire in July? |
| 8. |
How
do I sell a vehicle that is registered and titled in my ex/late
spouse's name? |
| 9. |
How
do I register and title a rebuilt/salvage vehicle? |
| 10. |
Why
does it cost less to register my new pick up truck than it does
my older car? |
| 11. |
What
does "Registration Purposes Only" mean? What are the circumstances
for this type of transaction? |
| .12. |
How
do I obtain personalized license plates or other special plates?
|
| 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. Contact the county tax office or VTR Regional
Office and fill out the Motor Vehicle Transfer Notification
Form VTR-346 (available online). Or write a letter to: Texas
Department of Transportation, Vehicle Titles and Registration
Division, Attention: Customer Information Services 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, TX DOT will
place a notation on the motor vehicle record indicating that
the vehicle has been sold. The fee for this service is $5. |
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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.
The inspection facility will provide you with a Vehicle Identification
Certificate (Form VI-30-A). You must submit this form to
the county tax office along with an application for certificate
of title. Title and registration fees are due at the county
tax office at the time the application for title is made. Liability
insurance is required in Texas before these services are provided.
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|
| Q: |
I used to live in Texas but am currently out of state. How do
I register my vehicle in Texas? |
| A: |
Contact
the tax assessor-collector’s office in the county where you
last resided. If you are exempt from the required safety inspection
because you are active military or a full-time student, the
tax collector will send you a packet containing the information
and forms you will need to renew the registration on your vehicle.
If you are not a full-time student or active military, you must
register the vehicle in the state where you now reside. |
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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 when parked in a disabled
person parking space if the vehicle does not have disabled person
license plates. An application form is available at the county
tax office. The form must be completed and notarized by the
applicant’s physician. There is a $5 fee for the placard, which
must be renewed every 4 years. There is no extra fee for the
license plate. |
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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: |
No,
if taxes are paid by January 1 there is no lien. However, if
taxes are not paid by January 1 State law automatically
places a tax lien on property on JANUARY 1 of each year to ensure
that taxes are paid. |
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|
| Q: |
I want to
renew my registration by mail. How do I do that? |
| A: |
Follow
the instructions on the renewal notice: Send the renewal notice,
registration fee and all requested information to your county
tax office. Add an additional $1 for the processing and mailing
fee. Include a photocopy of your insurance card to show proof
of financial responsibility. |
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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, contact the
county tax office with a certified copy of the decree and 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. Contact the county
tax assessor-collector’s office or a VTR Regional Office for
help. |
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|
| Q: |
How do I
register and title a rebuilt/salvage vehicle? |
| A: |
For
information about rebuilt and salvage vehicles, contact the
VTR Regional Office, or the Customer Help Desk, at 512/465-7611.
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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 and trucks are based on gross
weight. |
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| Q: |
Answer #
11: 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 ownership document may be requested
when a vehicle that was registered or titled in another state
is subject to registration in Texas and the owner or operator
cannot/does not wish to surrender the negotiable out-of-state
evidence of ownership to obtain a Texas negotiable title. |
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| Q: |
Answer #
12: How do I obtain personalized license plates or other special
plates? |
| A: |
You
may obtain an application from the county tax office or any
VTR Regional 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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