Texas Vehicle Registration

There are several steps to register your vehicle with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.

1. If you live in one of the designated counties in Texas that require emissions testing, have your vehicle inspected at a certified inspection station that offers emissions testing.

• Texas requires vehicles in these designated counties to have a passing emissions test before applying for registration: Brazoria, Collin, Dallas, Denton, El Paso, Ellis, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Johnson, Kaufman, Montgomery, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Travis, and Williamson.
• Learn more about emissions testing on the Texas Department of Public Safety website.
• Find an inspection station

2. Show insurance coverage for the required minimums per person, per accident, and for property damage.

3. Get your vehicle registration and sticker at your local county Tax Assessor Collector office.

There are several ways to renew your vehicle registration. Remember, if you live in a designated emissions testing county, you must have a passing vehicle emissions inspection before you can renew your vehicle registration.

• Online. You can renew your vehicle registration online 90 days before the expiration date or up to one year after the expiration date, if you have not received a citation for expired registration. If you renew online, you’ll receive $1.00 discount. There are two online renewal options:
  •  Renew with Texas by Texas (TxT). TxT is an official, account-based digital government assistant that provides an even easier, faster, and more secure way for Texans to take care of government services – like vehicle registration renewal. To learn more about TxT and create an account, visit the Texas by Texas page on Texas.gov.
  • Complete the Vehicle Registration Renewal application. If you don’t want to create a TxT account, you can still use this online option to renew.
• Mail. Send the renewal notice, a copy of your Vehicle Inspection Report (VIR), proof of current liability insurance, and all fees to your county Tax Assessor- Collector office.  
• In-person. Take your registration renewal notice and proof of current liability insurance to your county’s Tax Assessor-Collector office or an approved substation.

Vehicle registration fees vary based on the type and weight of the vehicle you’re registering.

If you’re a new Texas resident, you have 30 days to register your vehicle.  

County Tax Assessor-Collector offices handle most vehicle title and registration services on behalf of TxDMV. These services include: 

• Registration renewals (license plates and registration stickers). 
• Vehicle title transfers. 
• Change of address on motor vehicle records. 
• Non-fee license plates such as Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans license plates. 
• Disabled parking placards. 
• Copies of registration receipts. 
• Temporary registration.