Dallas, Texas — Starting July 1, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will no longer issue temporary paper tags for newly purchased vehicles.
A Major Shift in Vehicle Registration
Instead of the typical paper tags, car buyers in Texas will now receive a regular metal license plate directly from the dealer. The new system, set to launch on July 1, aims to combat the widespread fraud in temporary tags, which have been exploited by criminals to make millions.
“This is a huge change. We’ve been dealing with paper tags for decades, and it’s a big adjustment,” said Don Herring, a car dealer and chairman of the North Texas Automobile Dealers Association.
Dealers have been preparing for months to transition to the Texas DMV’s webDEALER system, which will directly register metal tags for customers. However, the transition may lead to delays, especially during the busy July 4 holiday when car sales peak.
Possible System Challenges
While the DMV has made preparations for the new system, they acknowledged that there could be initial issues as the changes are implemented. “Given the complexity of the process changes, unique operational challenges may emerge following implementation,” said a DMV spokesperson.
They assured that flexibility had been built into the system to quickly address any problems.
In the event of a system glitch, car dealers will still be able to sell cars and issue plates. Customers will receive an “internet down form,” which can be used to verify the ongoing registration process with law enforcement if necessary.
Dealers will also offer temporary purple-striped plates for customers who want specialty plates but don’t have them in stock.
Changes to Car Registration Laws
In addition to eliminating paper tags, recent tweaks to Texas law, particularly HB 718 and SB 1902, have impacted car registration and plate transfer processes. Under the new rules:
- If you trade a vehicle at a dealership, your old metal plates stay with you. Dealers can transfer those plates to your new vehicle.
- When selling a car privately, you can keep your plates and transfer them to a new vehicle.
- If a dealer doesn’t have a plate in stock, they can still register your vehicle but will provide the registration sticker separately through the local tax office.
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Ending the Era of Fake Tags
The move to eliminate paper tags aims to make it harder for criminals to use fraudulent plates, which have been a persistent issue in Texas. These fake tags have been used to create “ghost cars” and evade law enforcement.
The DMV has implemented stronger security measures, including background checks for dealers, to help curb this problem.
With the paper tags set to expire 60 days after July 1, this new system is expected to ease enforcement for police officers, making it more difficult for criminals to operate under fraudulent plates.
What do you think of Texas ending the issuance of paper tags? Do you expect this change to reduce fraud? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and stay updated with more news at ridgecrestpact.org
