11 hours ago
Car Law Changes for Millions in Texas on July 1
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Beginning on July 1, Texas plans to no longer issue paper license plates for new vehicles.
Newsweek has contacted the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Texas issues temporary paper license plates to those buying new cars in the state, which has caused widespread issues—including drivers bypassing toll road payments and the concealment of uninsured or unsafe vehicles.
In 2022, Grand Prairie police officer Brandon Tsai died in a crash while in pursuit of a driver using a fraudulent paper tag.
What To Know
The law change comes as a result of House Bill 718, passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Greg Abbott in 2023, which mandates the use of metal plates for all vehicles.
A stock image of a Texas metal license plate.
A stock image of a Texas metal license plate.
GETTY
Under the new system, when a new car is purchased, drivers are set to receive metal plates at the time of sale, with temporary paper tags no longer being available. Buyers who purchase a vehicle before the end of June are allowed up to 60 days after their purchase to update to metal plates.
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles said in a news release on June 10:
Buying from a dealer : Texas dealers will now give buyers metal plates when purchasing a vehicle—no more paper tags. Until the registration sticker arrives, drivers must keep the buyer's plate receipt in the car.
: Texas dealers will now give buyers metal plates when purchasing a vehicle—no more paper tags. Until the registration sticker arrives, drivers must keep the buyer's plate receipt in the car. Trading in a vehicle : If you trade in a car with standard plates, the dealer can reuse those plates on another vehicle within 10 days (if they match the vehicle type). Specialty plates stay with the owner.
: If you trade in a car with standard plates, the dealer can reuse those plates on another vehicle within 10 days (if they match the vehicle type). Specialty plates stay with the owner. Private sales: The process hasn't changed. Sellers must remove their plates and registration sticker and can transfer plates to another vehicle they own by visiting their local tax office. They should also notify the Texas DMV of the sale within 30 days. Buyers have 30 days to apply for a new title and registration—and must get new plates—from their county tax office.
What People Are Saying
Daniela Cantu, the owner of DD Motors in McAllen, Texas, told ValleyCentral: "It's going to take time and adjustment, just like with everything new, but it's going to save the clients time as they don't have to come back to get the metal plates."
Cantu continued: "The paper plates are very easy to just print out and make copies. We were very careful when we would take our vehicles; for example, to the mechanic, as we had heard from other dealers about experiences that they would make copies of the dealers' license plates."
Jerry Smith, a car dealer at the Fort Worth chapter of the Texas Independent Auto Dealers Association, told NBC 5: "There's always gonna be some curve balls and there's always going to be some changing. This is going to be probably as big a change as we've ever had."
What Happens Next
The new rules are set to officially come into effect on July 1.
