How Do I Renew an Expired Vehicle Registration in Texas?
In Texas, you have a five-day grace period after your vehicle registration expires to drive your car without being cited. But once that five-day period has ended, you must renew your registration or risk being pulled over by an eagle-eyed law-enforcement officer. The state does not give drivers with expired registrations the option to renew online or through the mail. Instead, you must visit a local county tax office -- which handles registration and titling -- and renew your registration in person.
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Things You'll Need
- Expired registration renewal notice
- Proof of valid liability insurance
- Completed inspection report
- Money to pay registration and late fees
Instructions
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Take your motor vehicle for a safety inspection. Nearly all motor vehicles in Texas must undergo an annual safety inspection. If you reside in a county with high emissions, your vehicle will also need to undergo a smog test. Your vehicle must pass these inspections to obtain a registration. If your vehicle does not pass, you must make repairs to satisfy the state standard. Obtain inspection station locations by accessing the Texas Department of Public Safety website (www.txdps.state.tx.us).
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Locate the county tax office in your area. Visit the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles' website (txdmv.gov). Select the "County Tax Offices" link listed under the "Where to go" menu listing. Click "Select a County" box, which generates a pull-down menu. Write down the address and phone number of the county tax office.
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Take your expired registration renewal notice, proof of valid liability insurance and completed inspection report to the county tax office. You will also need to pay the registration fee, which includes a penalty because your registration has expired. As of Sept. 1, 2011, all vehicle registration fees were standardized under the "Fee Simplification" law. Base registration fees for cars and light pick-up trucks is $50.75. Vehicles that weigh 6,100 pounds to 10,000 pounds incur a $54 fee. If you did not receive a late registration reminder with the penalty fee, the DMV representative will inform you of the additional fee.
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Tips & Warnings
If you never received a registration renewal notice, renew your expired registration by visiting your county tax office and presenting your vehicle license plate number, vehicle identification number or registration receipt from the previous year.
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Resources
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