Texas Registration Renewal
State of Texas requires that you renew your car’s registration annually with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. Driving privileges in the State of Texas are a privilege and motorist must abide by the rules and regulations to ensure that they are not revoked. In the State of Texas you have a very short time grace period from the time your registration expires to the time you must renew. Texas only allows a five day grace period before you begin to accrue penalties. Should you continue to drive your vehicle once its registration has expired and are pulled over, you could be responsible for a fine of up to $200.Renew Your Texas Registration
Texas motorists must keep their registration current to be legal on the highways and roads. Texas is very strict in this policy and will not even make exceptions to park unregistered cars on the roads. Texas motorists also must carry an efficient amount of insurance on their vehicle and to show proof of insurance at the time of their registration renewal. For more information on Texas insurance requirements visit 4dmv.com’s Insurance Section.
When it is time to renew your car’s registration you will receive a registration renewal notice in the mail with the renewal information that is required at the time of your application. You will also receive other important information such as having to have an emissions inspection on your vehicle prior to renewing your registration.
If you have lost or did not receive your renewal notice then you can still renew your vehicle’s registration if you provide the following information to your County Tax Office:
- Registration receipt from the previous year
- The number of your license plate
- VIN- Vehicle Identification Number of your vehicle
Calculate Your Fees
Depending on the manufacturer’s model year or weight in pound will depend on the amount of the registration fees you must pay. Obliviously, the newer the car the higher the registration fess.
- Your vehicle’s renewal notice indicates the cost to renew your registration and any other fees that may be applicable. If you’d like to calculate what you will owe at the time of renewal you can calculate your fees by visiting: Renew My Registration.
Texas First Time Vehicle Registration
- If you are new to the State of Texas the only method of registering your vehicle is in person. You will also need to apply in person if you have recently purchased an out of state vehicle or have recently purchased a new car. To apply in person simply visit your local County Tax Office.
- For more information on first time vehicle registration visit 4dmv.com First Time Car Registration Section.
- The State of Texas does not require that non operational vehicles be registered provided that the vehicle is parked on private property and you are not driving it at all. Should you make the necessary repairs to once again have the vehicle in operating condition, you can then have it registered and not be responsible for the years past.
- Depending on your county will depend on how you must renew. Some counties in Texas allow you to renew online provided that you met the requirements. Otherwise you will need to renew your vehicle registration in person or by mail.
If you are a Texas resident and the county you live in allows you to renew your vehicle’s registration online you must meet the following requirements.
- Select only the county in which you live that is offered through the state site’s online renewal system
- Have an email account which you check frequently
- Registration must not be expired
- Cannot renew within a total of 90 days prior to the expiration date of your registration which includes the five day grace period
- Renewal notice cannot have “Vehicle Record Messages” printed on it. If your renewal notice does have these words printed on it then it means that there are necessities such as a smog and emission inspection that are due prior to registration and you will need to register in person or via mail For more information on Smog and Emission Checks visit 4dmv.com’s Smog and Emission Checks in Texas
- Carry the required amount of liability insurance required by the State of Texas. You will be required to provide the state with a local or toll free number. You insurance coverage should have been in existence for at least 30 consecutive days.
- Vehicle’s gross weight must not exceed 54,999 pounds
- To apply online visit: Renew my Registration
When you renew in person, you are required to bring specific documentation with you. You will also be responsible for payment for your renewal registration. To ensure that you have the correct documentation and are aware of the fees to renew your vehicle’s registration you must have:
- Bring your registration renewal notice that you received in the mail.
- Bring your valid proof of liability insurance
- Bring a copy of your vehicle’s smog and emissions in speciation if your vehicle was required to be inspected
Renew Your Registration By Mail
If you failed to receive your car’s registration renewal notice or have lost it, they you can contact the Texas Tax Collector’s Office through their main customer service line at (512)465-7611. You will need to submit your vehicle registration renewal notice when you apply by mail. When you speak with the office make sure they have your correct address on file. Bring with you the portion that is to be submitted and keep the owner’s section for your records. You will also need to submit:
- Submit proof of your liability insurance (do not send the actual policy but a copy of your insurance card)
- Have the necessary funds to pay for the renewal fee which will be found on your renewal notice
- Depending upon your county, you may be required to have a smog and emissions and annual inspection. If you live in a county that requires an emissions test and annual inspection then it will be necessary to mail a copy of your report.
Affix Your Stickers
If you are new to the State of Texas you cannot register your vehicle online.
Affix Your Stickers
Once you have renewed your registration online or by mail you will be mailed your registration stickers provided you paid the applicable fees including the $1 postage fee and provided the correct documentation. Visit to watch a video tutorial of how to affix your stickers.
Now that you have your vehicle you need to consider and help Texas enhance the safety of our roads and highways; which means proper maintenance of your vehicle to ensure that it is in the best running condition.
- 4dmv.com brings you all the information you need to know when it comes to maintenance on your vehicle. Simple maintenance regularly is much less costly then major repairs due to ignoring minor details such as changing your oil or rotating your tires.
Other safety measures that you need to be aware of are the laws for transporting minor children. And cell phones. For more information visit our Road Laws and Safety Section.