January 2018 Motor Vehicle Registration Manual Update

Texas Department of Motor Vehicles

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.

With the RTS Release 9.0, several annual plates will receive a registration sticker and no longer have a fixed expiration month and year preprinted on the license plate. The majority of the updates for this manual revision address this change.

Chapter 2 – Commercial Vehicles
Section 2.5, “Trailers Transporting Soil Conservation Machinery or Equipment,” was updated to specify Soil Conservation License Plates are staggered for 12 months from the date of issuance or renewal. These vehicles will receive a registration sticker and no longer have a fixed expiration month and year preprinted on the license plate. 

Chapter 5 – Emissions
Section 5.1, “Motor Vehicle Emissions Inspection and Maintenance Requirements,” was updated to include a Vehicle Inspection Report with an emissions inspection waiver notation is acceptable in lieu of the Texas Department of Public Safety Affidavit (VIE-12) for a vehicle that failed emissions compliance and relocates to a nonaffected county.

Chapter 7 – Farm Vehicles
Section 7.5, “Transports and Fertilizer Spreaders,” was updated to specify Fertilizer License Plates are staggered for 12 months from the date of issuance or renewal. These vehicles will receive a registration sticker and no longer have a fixed expiration month and year preprinted on the license plate.

Section 7.8, “Cotton Vehicles,” was updated to specify Cotton Vehicle License Plates are staggered for 12 months from the date of issuance or renewal. These vehicles will continue to receive a registration sticker.

Chapter 14 – Application for Registration
Section 14.6, “Registration Year,” was updated to remove references to certain annual license plates and fixed expiration months that no longer apply with the RTS Release 9.0.

Chapter 20 – Restricted Distribution Specialty License Plates
Section 20.8, “Honorary Consul,” was updated to specify Honorary Consul License Plates are staggered for 12 months from the date of issuance or renewal. These vehicles will receive a registration sticker and no longer have a fixed expiration month and year preprinted on the license plate.

Section 20.9, “Foreign Organization Vehicles,” was updated to specify Foreign Organization License Plates are staggered for 12 months from the date of issuance or renewal. These vehicles will receive a registration sticker and no longer have a fixed expiration month and year preprinted on the license plate.

Chapter 21 – Miscellaneous Specialty License Plates
Section 21.1, “Antique and Former Military,” was updated to specify Antique and Former Military License Plates are issued for a five year period from the date of issuance or renewal. These vehicles will receive a registration sticker and no longer have a fixed expiration month and year preprinted on the license plate.

Section 21.3, “Nonprofit Disaster Relief Organizations,” was updated to specify Disaster Relief License Plates are staggered for 12 months from the date of issuance or renewal. These vehicles will receive a registration sticker and no longer have a fixed expiration month and year preprinted on the license plate.

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.