Is your car registration about ready to expire? Are you new to Texas and trying to figure out how to get your car registered? I always dread renewing my registration, but I’m here to make your process as painless as possible. Let’s get to it!
Did You Just Move To Texas?
Once you move to the state, you have 30 days to register your vehicle.
- First, you’ll need to get your vehicle inspected at a certified vehicle inspection station. Use this locator to find one near you.
- Next, visit your local county tax-assessor collector to get your new Texas license plates and registration sticker.
- Make sure to bring a copy of your insurance, a copy of the vehicle inspection report, and proof that you own the vehicle or title from your previous state.
- If you have a document showing foreign/military ownership or foreign evidence of ownership, then you can bring that with you too.
- Wondering how much this is gonna cost? Here’s a breakdown of all registration fees.
Do You Need To Renew Your Registration?
- If you want to avoid long lines, then renewing your registration online might be the move. You can renew online 90 days before your sticker expires and up to 12 months after your sticker expires, as long as you don’t receive a citation for expired registration. It can take up to three weeks for your new registration sticker to arrive in the mail.
- You can also renew your registration using the Texas by Texas mobile application, which is a digital assistant that allows you to renew your registration. The app is available in the App Store and Google Play.
- If you want to renew by mail, you’ll send these items to your county tax office: renewal notice, a copy of your vehicle inspection report, proof of insurance, and your payment for registration fees.
- Finally, you can go in person to your local county tax office or an approved substation. My go-to substation is usually H-E-B. In person, they will likely be able to look up whether your car has passed inspection or not. However, make sure to bring your copy of insurance and registration renewal notice.
Some helpful news: Starting in Jan. 2025, Texas drivers will not have to get their non-commerical vehicles inspected before registering them.
