How to Register a Vehicle in Texas

Navigating the labyrinths of the DMV can be frustrating, especially if you’re registering a car for the first time, or for the first time in a new state. If you’re looking to begin that process, and that state is Texas, we’ve put together a quick survival guide for you. Here are the three steps to registering a vehicle in Texas.

1. Insurance
You’ll be required to show proof of insurance for step two, so first you’ll need to insure your vehicle. The state of Texas requires all vehicles on the road to be insured. 

2. Inspection
Next you’ll need to submit your vehicle for a safety inspection. Texas requires all vehicles to be inspected for safety prior to registration. Seventeen Texas counties also require an emissions inspection. Take your car to a certified Texas Department of Public Safety inspection station. Many shops, service stations, and oil change operations keep an official inspector on staff, though you’ll want to call ahead. Some stations only offer inspections by appointment, and others only on certain days of the week. You’ll find a complete listing of inspection costs on the Texas Department of Public Safety website. 

There are twenty items on the inspection list, and though you don’t need to be a mechanic before you take your car in, several of the items are simple things like lights and windshield wipers. Pro tip: Check this stuff before your inspection, and you won’t have to pay the inspection shop to replace a simple tail light bulb or wiper blade.

3. The DMV
In Texas, vehicle registration is handled by the county tax office. Before you head there, make sure you have the following:

Insurance card
Inspection certificate
Vehicle title from previous state or owner
Form 130-U if you wish to transfer the title from another state to Texas
Form VTR-272 if you don’t have the title due to a lien on the vehicle
Money: Registration costs $52.75, though individual counties my tack on additional costs. As a new resident, you’ll be required to pay sales tax-related fees totaling up to $90 or the difference between the sales tax in your previous state and the Texas rate.

While there, you can sign up to receive an email when it’s time to renew your registration next year. 

And you’re done! If you just moved to Texas, you’re required to get a Texas driver’s license within 90 days of your arrival, so be sure to take care of that next. Happy adventuring in the Lone Star State!