New Law Regarding Certified Copies of Title (CCOs) Becomes Effective January 1, 2019

Vehicle Transfer Notifications Become More Important December 31, 2018

Texas dealers, take note to protect yourselves from title fraud: On January 1, 2019, a new law related to Certified Copies of Title (CCOs) will take effect.  Senate Bill 2076 passed by the 85^th Legislature amended Transportation Code, Section 501.134(d), to provide that a lawfully obtained CCO supersedes and invalidates any previously issued title or certified copy.

This change will become effective in the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles system at the start of business on December 31, 2018.

The goal of this new provision is to ensure that once a CCO is issued, it becomes the only valid proof of ownership. Prior to the passage of this law, Texas was the only state to allow the original title and any CCOs to all be valid evidence of ownership simultaneously, which often led to confusion for motorists and lending institutions, and was an opportunity for fraud.

Texas dealers who take vehicles in on trade should be particularly aware of this change.  Dealers should always submit a Vehicle Transfer Notification (VTN) right away to protect themselves from someone fraudulently obtaining a CCO after trade-in.  This will become even more important beginning on December 31, 2018.  

Completing and submitting a VTN is quick and easy.  You can electronically submit a VTN via eTAG.  From the eTAG Home Page, click on the “Tags” tab and select “Vehicle Transfer Notification” from the drop-down menu.

One of the pillars of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles mission is to “protect…the citizens and industries in the state with quality motor vehicle related services.” The department is confident that this new approach to CCOs will help us meet that mission, but we can’t do it without you. We encourage all dealers to adopt a habit of promptly submitting VTNs and, as always, we appreciate your partnership.

Good afternoon,

An issue has been reported with the FileNet system where users are experiencing issues uploading documents, but users are still able to view documents.  Support staff are working to identify and resolve the issue. An update will be sent by 3:00 PM (11/12/2018) or as more additional information becomes available.

The statewide ticket for this issue is: 202916

We apologize for the inconvenience and for any impact on you or your customers. 

Thank you,

Department of Motor Vehicles

TxDMV IT Services Division

3800 Jackson Ave

Austin, TX 78731

(512) 465-5870

Please review and distribute as appropriate.

Thank you,

Jeremiah Kuntz, Director
Vehicle Titles and Registration Division
Texas Department of Motor Vehicles

Attachment

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

Dear Licensee,

When you have a question or issue with Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) systems at your dealership, you need prompt and reliable support so you can properly serve your customers. To that end, we want to keep you informed about the support resources available to you.

Online Support: Visit us at www.txdmv.gov/dealers. Our online resources include information that answers the most common inquiries received by dealers, including password resets. For password reset assistance, please see the eTAG User Guide at www.txdmv.gov/dealers/etag/resources under the eTAG Training Documents tab. This is the quickest and most efficient way to find the information you need. You can save time by skipping a phone call or email and going online.

Telephone Support: Our Consumer Relations Division (CRD) is available from Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. at 512-465-4010, Option 2.

We know that licensees are open for business beyond the days and hours when TxDMV support is available. For this reason, we have a wealth of support information available online so you can easily find the answers you need and focus on your business.

If you have any questions about TxDMV support, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,

Daniel Avitia, Director
Motor Vehicle Division
Texas Department of Motor Vehicles

Salvage Motor Vehicle Dealers and Industry:

We are pleased to announce our Salvage Motor Vehicle Dealer Training Seminar on November 14^th, 2018, in Corpus Christi, Texas.  This presentation will be a specific overview of the rules and regulations surrounding the salvage motor vehicle dealer industry.

The information provided will be specific to the individual operating as a salvage dealer and the related policies and procedures used by our agency.

David George, Chief Investigator for the Enforcement Division, will provide valuable information on salvage dealer operations and requirements.

We are excited to have you join us, to learn and discuss issues that concern you and your business.

Thank you;

Stacey Cullen, Staff Services Officer

Enforcement Division

Texas Department of Motor Vehicles

SC

Attachment 

Proposed 43 TAC §217.84

Please review and distribute as appropriate.

The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) has published in the Texas Register proposed changes to the Texas Administrative Code, which affect Chapter 217, §217.84. These proposed changes are posted for public comment until 5:00 p.m. on November 26, 2018. The proposed language is attached and it is also available on the Office of the Secretary of State’s website at http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/pdf/currview/index.shtml.

The web link is subject to change as the Texas Register is a weekly publication. Previous versions of the Texas Register are available at http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/pdf/backview/index.shtml

We expect to present the proposed changes and any received written comments to the TxDMV board at an upcoming board meeting. The meeting agenda with this item will be posted on the TxDMV website at

http://www.txdmv.gov/about-us/txdmv-board-meetings.

Thank you,

Sarah Swanson

Interim General Counsel

Attachment

 Adopted 43 TAC §215.155

Please review and distribute as appropriate.

The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) has published in the Texas Register adopted changes to the Texas Administrative Code, which affect Chapter 215, §215.155. The adopted Texas Register language is attached and it is also available on the Office of the Secretary of State’s website at http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/pdf/currview/index.shtml.

The web link is subject to change as the Texas Register is a weekly publication. Previous versions of the Texas Register are available at http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/pdf/backview/index.shtml

These adopted changes become effective on November 4, 2018 and the changes are included in the Texas Administrative Code at http://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.viewtac.

Thank you,

Sarah Swanson

Interim General Counsel

Attachment

Good morning,

The issue that caused a brief DIR network outage has been resolved.  If you experience new issues with this system, please contact the Service Desk.

The statewide ticket for this issue is: 201806.

Please remember that after using an Internet Down tag, you must enter the information for that tag into eTAG as soon as the system is accessible. Doing this will ensure you always have the full allocation of unused Internet Down tags available when you need them. Also remember that unused Internet Down tags are valid for one year from the date they are printed.

If you would like to speak to a Service Desk representative, please call us at 512-465-4010 or toll free at 1-877-933-2020. The Service Desk is available from 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM Central Time, Monday through Friday. You may also send email to ServiceDesk@TxDMV.gov.

Thank you,

TxDMV Service Desk
Department of Motor Vehicles
IT Services Division
3800 Jackson Ave
Austin, TX 78731
(512) 465-4010
(877) 933-2020
ServiceDesk@TxDMV.gov

Good morning,

An issue was reported from DIR that multiple state agencies experienced a brief network outage, including TxDMV, and service is being restored.  Users may have experienced brief connectivity issues.  If you experience new issues with this system, please contact the Service Desk.

The statewide ticket for this issue is: 201806

As a reminder, if you are unable to print buyer’s tags, you should use your pre-printed Internet Down buyer’s tags.   As you know, every dealer is now allowed a minimum of 30 Internet Down tags.  If you have less than 30 printed, print your full allocation now so you are prepared when the eTags system is unavailable.  Please remember that after using an Internet Down tag, you must enter the information for that tag into eTags as soon as the system is accessible.  Doing this, will ensure you always have the full allocation of unused Internet Down tags available when you need them. Also remember that unused Internet Down tags are valid for one year from the date they are printed. 

If you would like to speak to a Service Desk representative, please call us at 512-465-4010 or toll free at 1-877-933-2020. The Service Desk is available from 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM Central Time, Monday through Friday. You may also send email to ServiceDesk@TxDMV.gov.

Thank you,

TxDMV Service Desk
Department of Motor Vehicles
IT Services Division
3800 Jackson Ave
Austin, TX 78731
(512) 465-4010
(877) 933-2020
ServiceDesk@TxDMV.gov