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In all 50 states, it is illegal to operate any kind of vehicle without proper registration. In Texas, the penalty for driving an unregistered car or other vehicle carries a steep fine. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid a ticket for driving without a registration in Texas and—if you’ve already gotten one—to kick that fine to the curb. Here’s what you need to know:
What Are the Vehicle Registration Laws in Texas?
Vehicle registration requirements in Texas are similar to those of most other states. In order to operate any kind of motor vehicle on public roadways, that vehicle must be properly registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) of that state. In other words, all vehicles belonging to Texas residents must be registered with the Texas DMV.
If you live in Texas and drive your car in Texas but your car is not registered with the Texas DMV, you are driving it illegally.
There are two parts to Texas’s vehicle registration laws that you should know about: residency and operation of a motor vehicle. If either of those two parts do not apply to you, you do not need to worry about registering your vehicle in Texas.
- If You Live In Texas but Do Not Drive in Texas
If you are a Texas resident but do not drive in Texas, you do not need to register your vehicle in Texas. If you are a Texas resident but only drive your vehicle in Florida, for example, you should register your vehicle with Florida’s Tax Collector’s Office in the county in which you typically reside when in Florida.
Note that this is a very nuanced law and every state is different. For specifics on your situation, consult with a traffic lawyer like one of those found on the WinIt app.
- If You Do Not Live in Texas but Do Drive in Texas
If you are not a Texas resident, but frequently drive in Texas, you do not need to register your vehicle in Texas. For example, if you live in New Mexico but work in Texas, you should register your vehicle in New Mexico.
- If You Neither Live in Texas nor Drive in Texas
If you neither live in Texas nor drive in Texas, you may be better helped reading our articles about vehicle registration in other states. To check out our blog, click here.
How Much Is the Fine for Driving Without Registration in Texas?
The fine for driving without a registration in Texas can vary depending on the county in which the violation occurred. The table below contains information taken from the Bexar County Clerk of Courts’ Fine Schedule:
| Violation | Fine |
| Expired or no license plate registration. | $210.00 |
| Expired or no trailer registration sticker. | $235.00 |
| Fictitious or false safety inspection sticker or license plate registration sticker. | $285.00 |
Generally speaking, the fine for having an expired vehicle registration (on a non-commercial vehicle) in Texas is only going to cost you around $75 before any applicable court costs or surcharges.
How Long Do I Have to Register My Vehicle in Texas?
There are two reasons why you would have to register your vehicle in Texas: you just moved there or you just bought (or otherwise had transferred into your name) a vehicle. In either of these cases, you will have a total of 30 days from the date of the move-in or transfer to register your vehicle. However, each situation is slightly different. Let’s break them down.
Moving to Texas
When moving to Texas, you may have to inform your home DMV (or MVC, TVB, DOL, or similar organization) of your move before you make it and the Texas DMV of your move after you make it.
No matter what circumstances surround your move to Texas, you will only have 30 days from the date you become a legal resident of the state to register your vehicle. After that period of time lapses, you will be eligible to receive tickets, fines, and potentially other penalties for failing to register your vehicle with the Texas DMV.
Buying/Obtaining a Vehicle in Texas
Whether you purchase a vehicle, get one as a gift, inherit one, or otherwise come to be its owner; you will have to register that vehicle in your name with the Texas DMV and you will have 30 days from the date of transfer to do so. After that period of time lapses, you will be eligible to receive tickets, fines, and potentially other penalties for failing to register your vehicle with the Texas DMV.
Should I Pay or Fight My Registration Ticket in Texas?
Deciding whether to pay or fight your registration ticket in Texas can be a stressful and time-consuming process. Fortunately, by reading this article, you’ve already done much of the research necessary to make that decision. Here, we will lay out the pros and cons of each of these two options.
Pay Your Ticket
First things first, in order to pay your ticket, you’re going to need a good chunk of free cash. That means looking through your checking or savings account to make sure you have a couple hundred dollars on hand to pay for the fine and all the other hidden costs.
Perhaps the most important part of this decision is the fact that paying your ticket is considered an admission of guilt, meaning that you will be found guilty of the violation and will be forced to suffer all the consequences thereof. That could include points on your license and potentially even an increase to your insurance premiums.
Fight Your Ticket
If you don’t have the money to pay for the fine, fees, and increased insurance premiums associated with a conviction for driving without a registration in Texas (or just plain don’t want to shell out that kind of cash), fighting your ticket may be the best option for you.
Courts often dismiss these kinds of tickets for a few reasons. One common cause for dismissal is if the defendant (that means you) satisfies all three of the following requirements:
- Obtain a current registration sticker for the vehicle within 30 days from the date the ticket was issued.
- Pay the penalty fine for the ticket at the time the vehicle is registered.
- Pay a $20 administrative fee.
To start the traffic ticket dispute process in Texas, you must plead not guilty to the ticket.
It is highly recommended that you hire an experienced traffic ticket expert to fight your ticket through you in order to get the best possible results in your case. To do so, download the WinIt app today and select a lawyer in your area. What are you waiting for? Take your case to court and win it with WinIt!
