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Please review and distribute as appropriate.
The latest update to the Motor Vehicle Registration Manual (attached) is now available via Registration and Title System (RTS) workstations and at www.txdmv.gov.
We welcome your feedback and encourage you to email any comments or suggestions to
VTR_Title_Reg-Manual-Update@txdmv.gov (please note the underscores between VTR and Title and Title and Reg).
Updates for this release are marked with red change bars in the text.
The majority of the manual revisions include changes from the 85th Legislative Session. The following are brief summaries of the chapters updated in the October 2017 revision.
Chapter 3 – Disabled Persons
Section 3.19, “Seizure and Revocation of Placards,” was updated due to House Bill (HB) 1790, which allows for an applicant whose placard was seized by law enforcement to apply for a new placard. This change was also explained in Registration and Title Bulletin (RTB) #013-17.
Chapter 8 – Additional and Voluntary Fees
Section 8.1, “State’s Portion of Inspection Fee,” was updated due to HB 1793, which requires vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of more than 26,000 lbs. domiciled out of state to be assessed the state’s portion of the commercial inspection fee. Note: Section 22.8, “Out-of-State Motorists,” was updated with the same changes.
Two new sections, Section 8.14, “Voluntary Donation to Evidence Testing Grant Program,” and Section 8.15, “Voluntary Donation to Ending Homelessness Fund,” were added due to HB 4102, which provides for two new voluntary contribution opportunities at the time of initial registration or renewal.
Chapter 9 – Registration Fees
Section 9.3, “Trailer or Semitrailer Fees,” was updated due to Senate Bill (SB) 2076, which changed the dimensions of a travel trailer to be less than eight feet, six inches in width or less than 45 feet in length. These changes were also provided in RTB #007-17.
Chapter 12 – Off-Highway, Log Loader, Forestry, and Miscellaneous
Section 12.1, “All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV),” and Section 12.2, “Recreational Off-Highway Vehicles (ROV),” were updated due to HB 1956 and HB 920, which made changes to the operation of these vehicles on public roads based on the vehicle’s operator and use.
A new section, Section 12.5, “Package Delivery Vehicles,” was added due to HB 561, which creates the issuance of new Package Delivery License Plates. These plates may be issued to ATVs, golf carts, neighborhood electric vehicles, ROVs, and utility vehicles operated by a motor carrier for the purpose of picking up and delivering mail, parcels, and packages. These plates are scheduled to be available for issuance with the RTS release 9.0.
Chapter 14 – Application for Registration and Certain Permits
Section 14.4, “Initial Registration,” was updated to clarify the residency requirements for an owner of a farm or ranch located in a county other than their county of residence and where the vehicles used at the ranch may be registered.
Section 14.6, “Owner Designation Registration Period,” was removed due to HB 2075, which repealed Transportation Code, Section 502.1585. This section allowed an owner to designate the registration period for more than one vehicle they owned. The change was also provided in RTB #011-17.
Section 14.8, “Registration Receipt,” was updated due to HB 2075, which allows for a registration receipt issued for a renewal processed online to serve as proof of registration for 31 days from the date of renewal.
Section 14.11, “Refusal to Register Vehicles (Scofflaws),” was updated due to SB 1913, which prevents a county tax assessor-collector from denying registration to an individual that has been found indigent by the court.
Chapter 19 – Military Specialty License Plates
Section 19.2, “General Application Procedures,” was updated due to HB 377 and SB 441, which allow a surviving spouse of a person who would be eligible for a military specialty license plate or Disabled Veteran License Plate to register their vehicle with the military plate or a Surviving Spouse of a Disabled Veteran plate if they remain unmarried.
Chapter 20 – Restricted Distribution Specialty License Plates
A new section, Section 20.4, “Star of Texas License Plates,” was added due to HB 979, which creates the issuance of a new license plate for recipients of the Star of Texas Award issued by the Governor’s Office.
Chapter 21 – Miscellaneous Specialty License Plates
Section 21.1, “Antique and Former Military,” was updated and explained in RTB #005-17. These changes allow a former military vehicle not designated as “Off-Highway Use Only” to be used for regular transportation. All requirements for registration would apply, including safety and emissions inspections and insurance.
Chapter 22 – Inspection Verification
Section 22.12, “Additional Inspection Information,” was updated due to SB 1001, which changed the gross weight for trailers required to be inspected from 4,500 lbs. or less to 7,500 lbs. or less. This bill also created a new fee to be assessed for trailers with a gross weight of 4,501 lbs. to 7,500 lbs. that supports the Texas Mobility Fund and Clean Air Account. These changes were also provided in RTB #012-17.
Thank you,
Jeremiah Kuntz, Director
Vehicle Titles and Registration Division
Texas Department of Motor Vehicles
JK:TT:KJ
Attachment
If you have any questions concerning this communication, please contact your local TxDMV Regional Service Center.
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