TxDMV TO REPLACE PAPER LICENSE TAGS WITH METAL PLATES STARTING JULY 1

  

Residents purchasing cars from dealers will need to be mindful of changes coming soon to that process, as part of a new state law that goes into effect on July 1^st.   

The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles says that House Bill 718, passed during the 88^th Texas Legislature in 2023, enables motor vehicle dealers to issue metal license plates directly to buyers of new and used vehicles.  The Legislature enacted the law to address concerns related to the fraudulent use of paper license tags.

Consumers who purchase a vehicle from a Texas dealer will receive metal license plates instead of paper temporary tags and will be able to drive off the lot with their plates already in place.  Until their registration sticker arrives from their county office, customers must keep their buyer’s plate receipt in the vehicle so that they can verify the purchase and pending registration to law enforcement. 

When customers sell or trade in a vehicle with general issue plates, dealers may transfer the plates to another vehicle sold within 10 days, if the plates match the appropriate vehicle type.  That change will come per Senate Bill 1902, which was passed by the 89^th Legislature this year.  Consumers with specialty license plates will keep their plates.

The process of buying and selling vehicles between private parties remains unchanged.  Sellers should remove their license plates and registration sticker from the vehicle when they deliver it to the buyer.  The seller can request to transfer the plates to another vehicle they own – if appropriate for the vehicle type – by visiting their county tax assessor-collector’s office.

Sellers should submit a Vehicle Transfer Notification to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles within 30 days of the sale of the vehicle.  Buyers must submit a title and registration application at their tax assessor-collector’s office and obtain new plates to register the vehicle in their name within 30 days of purchase.

More details on the changes can be found at www.TxDMV.gov/HB718.