Tx license plate registration

However, you can also order a full report online that may give you the owner's name, address, phone number, social security number, driver's license number, photographs, and more details. To get a full TX license plate or motor vehicle report, you must qualify under strict federal and state privacy laws.

If you violate these laws, you will face serious consequences such as years of prison time and steep fines. You may also have to pay damages to the person you harmed.

Using a government form, you can request records but will need to supply your contact details and as much information about the owner as possible. In the state of Texas, you must have two license plates on your vehicle at all times or the police can stop you and give you a citation.

One must be on the front and one on the rear of your vehicle. Texans must register their motor vehicles every year. You can renew up to 90 days before expiration the last day of the month on your sticker or six months after expiration as long as you don't have any citations.

You can renew online, in person at any county approved substation, or through the mail. You must have a passing inspection sticker before you apply to register or renew your vehicle registration. The county may also charge you a local fee, and if you order anything other than the standard license plates, you will pay higher fees then also. Along with the standard license plate offered by Texas, residents may also purchase one of the dozens of specialty plates or personalized license plates where they get to pick the lettering.

The state uses an online service called myplates. Some of the categories for specialty license plates include:. The Department of Motor Vehicles website states:. This law, the Driver's Privacy Protection Act DPPA , makes it illegal for the general public, including the media, to obtain, publish or confirm personal information about you from the state motor vehicle database. The law does provide exceptions for certain entities, such as courts and police. However, be aware that other businesses may collect and sell information on you and your vehicle.

Generally, these are motor vehicle-related businesses that capture information in their computer systems. These businesses are not covered under federal and state privacy protection laws". Yes, it is completely legal to look up a license plate number in Texas to find out about the vehicle itself. However, it is not legal to just search a license plate to find owner information or personal details.

Motor vehicle records contain personal and sensitive information that only eligible businesses and individuals may access and use for legitimate purposes. As a new resident, you also will pay sales tax-related fees required by the state's Comptroller of Public Accounts.

While at the county tax assessor-collector's office be sure to ask your customer service representative to sign you up for eReminder. We'll email you when it's time to renew, and you will have the opportunity to renew your registration online.

Note: Active duty members of the U. Armed Forces and non-resident, full-time students attending a Texas college or university are not required to register or title their vehicles in Texas. New residents are required to obtain a Texas driver license from the Texas Department of Public Safety within 90 days of moving to the state. Although many states combine motor vehicle services and driver license services under the authority of one agency, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles TxDMV provides only vehicle-related services.

Below is a summary of TxDMV services and how they are accessed:. Please note that some county tax offices require appointments. Statewide, TxDMV operates 16 Regional Service Centers, each of which serve specific counties, where motorists can complete certain transactions:. Home Motorists. New to Texas. Welcome to the Lone Star State You have 30 days from the time you move here to register your vehicle in the state. Here are the steps to becoming a Registered Texan: 1.

There are several steps to register your vehicle with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. Have your vehicle inspected at a certified inspection station. Show insurance coverage for the required minimums per person, per accident, and for property damage. Get your vehicle registration and sticker at your local county Tax Assessor Collector office.

There are several ways to renew your vehicle registration. Remember, you must have a passing vehicle inspection before you can renew. These services include:. Globe Icon English. Search Icon.