Bring the car. Make it Texan.
New Texas address? Your car has some paperwork too. Here's how to get your vehicle registered, get your Texas plates and move on with your life.
You've got 30 days.
New Texas residents generally have 30 days from the time they move to Texas to register their vehicles in the state.
Start with insurance.
Before registering the vehicle, make sure you have insurance that satisfies Texas requirements. You'll need proof of current insurance when you register.
Texas's minimum liability limits are commonly called 30/60/25: $30,000 for each injured person, up to $60,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage.
CHECK MY AUTO INSURANCE →Do you need an inspection?
Most noncommercial vehicles no longer need a Texas safety inspection before registration. But emissions testing still applies to qualifying vehicles registered in 17 counties.
Commercial vehicles still have separate safety inspection requirements.
Build your registration folder.
Now gather everything you'll need before heading to the county tax office. First-time Texas registrants complete Form 130-U, the Application for Texas Title and/or Registration.
The paperwork pile.
Head to your county tax office.
New residents complete the initial Texas registration process through a county tax assessor-collector office. Bring the paperwork you've gathered and be prepared to pay the applicable registration and local fees.
Your car is officially a Texan.
Once the vehicle registration is handled, you're one big step closer to being done with the new-resident paperwork.
If you still need your Texas driver's license, that's the next major item on the list.
Texas car. Texas insurance?
Your ZIP code, commute, vehicle and where you park can all affect your auto insurance. Hey Charley can help you look at your options before you hit the road.
GET A TEXAS AUTO QUOTE →