The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) has proposed a rule in the February 28, 2025, issue of the Texas Register. A summary of the proposed rule and the proposed language is available on TxDMV’s website at https://www.TxDMV.gov/general-counsel/proposed-and-adopted-rules-2025.

The proposal is posted for public comment until 5:00 p.m. on March 31, 2025.

The proposal includes:

• revisions to 43 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 215, Section 215.163, concerning license plate disposition for motor vehicles sold at auction or on consignment.

The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) adopts rules in the February 28, 2025, issue of the Texas Register. The adopted rules are available on TxDMV’s website at https://www.TxDMV.gov/general-counsel/proposed-and-adopted-rules-2024.

The adoptions include:

• revisions to 43 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 210, concerning cleanup; and
• revisions to 43 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 217, Section 217.66, concerning specialized license plate for registration of rental trailers.

Please review and distribute as appropriate. 

To provide guidance on the implementation of the new metal license plate requirements a recording, “Your Complete Guide to Metal Plate Implementation” is available on-demand now! The recorded presentation is now available 24/7 for you to view at your convenience. It provides an overview and understanding of the metal plate implementation impacting motor vehicle dealers with the passing of HB 718.

Step 1 Register at Your Complete Guide to Metal Plate Implementation – English.

Step 2 Receive a confirmation email and immediately gain access to the recording.

Step 3 View the On-demand recording on your time.

Step 4 Receive a certificate of completion within 24 hours.

Additional information about House Bill 718 can also be found at House Bill 718 Implementation | TxDMV.gov.

Thank you, 

Annette Quintero, Director
Vehicle Titles and Registration Division
Texas Department of Motor Vehicles

If you have any questions concerning this communication, please contact your local TxDMV Regional Service Center

Please review and distribute as appropriate.

House Bill 3297 ended the safety inspection program for non-commercial vehicles in Texas. State law requires the department to validate a passing emissions inspection is completed prior to allowing registration, when applicable. To accommodate the enforcement of these emissions inspection requirements, the department updated our systems as part of the 25.1 Registration and Title System (RTS) Release. 

After the go-live of this release, the department received numerous inquiries from the dealer community regarding the department’s interpretation of emissions requirements. In an abundance of caution and to prevent disrupting commerce, the department made further enhancements to our systems in the RTS 25.1.1 Release that provided an option for the dealer to select “Inspection Not Required” to bypass the emissions requirement and allow the transaction to process.

This temporary measure allowed the department to complete a detailed legal review.

Dealer Emissions Exemption (Retail Sale):

Upon completion of this legal review, it was determined that non-commercial vehicles sold in an emissions county to a customer who resides in an emissions county are required to have a passing emissions inspection unless that vehicle is 1996 or newer with less than 50,000 miles and previously titled and registered in a non-emissions Texas county.

If the vehicle meets ALL of the following criteria, an emissions inspection is not required for any customer:

• Subject to Retail Sale
• 1996 or Newer
• Less than 50,000 Miles on the odometer
• Last Titled/Registered in a Non-Emission Texas County                               

Dealer Action:

• If your dealership is located in an emissions county, obtain a passing emissions inspection when selling a vehicle to a customer residing in an emissions county unless the vehicle is 1996 or newer with less than 50,000 miles and previously titled/registered in a non-emissions Texas county.
• If your dealership is located in an emissions county, the vehicle was last titled or registered out-of-state, and the customer resides in an emissions Texas county, a passing emissions inspection is required.
• The transaction will be returned to you by the county tax office if you do not complete the required passing emissions inspection.

Additional enhancements will be implemented to address this issue more comprehensively in the coming weeks.

Thank you,

Annette Quintero, Director
Vehicle Titles and Registration Division
Texas Department of Motor Vehicles

Emissions Counties: Brazoria, Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, El Paso, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Johnson, Kaufman, Montgomery, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Travis and Williamson

If you have any questions concerning this communication, please contact your local TxDMV Regional Service Center.

Join us online for webDEALER 101 and webDEALER 102 Dealer Training Webinars.  The information provided will be specific to Dealers and their staff.

July 1, 2025, is fast approaching. Don’t wait! Please register for your virtual “seat” using the link provided.

Webinar Schedule 

• webDEALER 101 Dealer Training Webinar on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM CST at: 
  • https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5517227747343590746 

     

• webDEALER 102 – Working Through an Application (Dealer) Webinar on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM CST at:
  • https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/9088348055871723605 

• webDEALER 101 Dealer Training Webinar on Thursday, March 20, 2025, 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM CDT at:   
  • https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/320657618161043288

• webDEALER 102 – Working Through an Application (Dealer) Webinar on Thursday, March 20, 2025, 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM CDT at:           
  • https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8326593206137660762

Thank you, 

Annette Quintero, Director
Vehicle Titles and Registration Division
Texas Department of Motor Vehicles

If you have any questions concerning this communication, please contact your local TxDMV Regional Service Center. 

The Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority (MVCPA) adopts a rule in the February 7, 2025, issue of the Texas Register. The adopted rule is available the TxDMV website https://www.TxDMV.gov/about-us/mvcpa/proposed-and-adopted-rules-2024.

The adoption includes:

• revisions to 43 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 57, concerning cleanup.

Please review and distribute as appropriate. 

Effective July 1, 2025, all licensed dealers in Texas must use the TxDMV webDEALER system to electronically process title and registration for vehicle sales. Dealers without webDEALER accounts will not be able to complete sales transactions beginning July 1, 2025. 

Current dealers are required to complete webDEALER training by April 30, 2025, unless they have had access to webDEALER for more than 6 months and submitted more than 100 transactions in webDEALER as of October 1, 2024. It is important to mention that dealers who complete training will receive plates in advance of those who have not completed training.

TxDMV offers webDEALER training on multiple platforms.

• webDEALER training is available on-demand online 24/7 or during one of our live webinars. 
• Go to txdmv.gov/HB718 for more HB718 information and to register for recorded training and live webinars.  
• Any on-demand or virtual webDEALER 101 or webDEALER 102 training can be completed to meet the training requirement.

Thank you, 

Annette Quintero, Director
Vehicle Titles and Registration Division
Texas Department of Motor Vehicles

If you have any questions concerning this communication, please contact your local TxDMV Regional Service Center.