The Expired Registration in Texas Guide: Grace Periods & Tickets
Texas requires that motor vehicles be registered yearly. But sometimes life happens, and you find yourself driving with expired registration in Texas. Reregistering your vehicle ASAP is essential, especially if you want to avoid tickets and other ramifications of driving with expired registration.
So what do you need to do to register your vehicle? In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about renewing your Texas expired registration, including grace periods, fees, tickets, and more.
The Requirements To Pass A Vehicle InspectionHow To Register A Car In Texas
How Often Do You Have to Renew Your Registration in Texas?
For most passenger vehicles, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) requires that you renew your vehicle registration every 12 months. You can renew up to 90 days before your sticker expires.
The registration lasts 12 months from the month of the original registration. For example, if you register your vehicle in May and the vehicle was originally registered in June, the registration will last until June of the following year.
Is There a Grace Period?
Yes, Texas offers a short-term grace period after your registration expires. You have a five-day grace period, during which you won’t be ticketed just for the registration. However, the grace period doesn’t extend your registration. Legally, once your vehicle registration has expired in Texas, it’s expired. Instead, the grace period just gives you extra time to renew without penalty.
Expired Registration Ticket in Texas
Texas’s expired registration laws give you a five-day grace period after your registration expires to renew your registration. But after that time, if you’re pulled over while driving with expired registration, you can be ticketed.
Law enforcement officers don’t need another reason to pull you over. They are allowed to stop you just to check registration, which means that driving on the road with expired tags can trigger a citation.
However, if you do get a ticket, you may be able to get it dismissed. Many courts in Texas allow a compliance dismissal if you act quickly. All you typically need to do is renew within 20 to 30 days, pay the delinquent registration fee, and pay the $20 court fee for the ticket to be dismissed.
How Much Is a Ticket for Expired Registration in Texas?
The exact fine for a Texas expired registration ticket depends on the court, but under state law, the maximum you can pay is $200 plus court fees. Tickets range between $150 and $200, depending on the jurisdiction. Some courts increase fines if your registration has expired for a while, so it’s always best to take care of your expired registration ASAP.
How to Renew an Expired Registration in Texas
Need to renew an expired registration in Texas? You have several options. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide:
- If you live in one of the 17 counties that require emissions testing, the first thing you need to do is take your car to an emissions inspection. The counties that require emissions testing include Brazoria, Collin, Dallas, Denton, El Paso, Ellis, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Johnson, Kaufman, Montgomery, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Travis, and Williamson.
- Choose a renewal method. If you’ve been cited, you’ll need to renew in person at your county’s tax collector’s office. However, if you haven’t been given a ticket, you can choose to renew online using TxT, by mail, or in person.
- Make sure you provide proof of current liability insurance, your vehicle’s license plate number or VIN, the emissions inspection certificate (if applicable), and payment for renewal fees.
- After you renew, you’ll receive your registration sticker in the mail. The registration will last for 12 months from the original month of registration. So, if your registration expired in June but you didn’t register until October, the new registration will last until June of the following year.
How Much Is the Fee to Renew an Expired Registration?
The fee to renew expired registration in Texas costs more than registering on time, but only if you’ve been cited for it. Base registration for a typical passenger car or light truck costs $50.75 plus any local fees. If you renew your registration after the grace period and you’ve been given a ticket, you’ll have to pay an extra penalty fee of 20% added to the registration fee.
Expired Registration in Texas Summary
In Texas, vehicles must be registered annually. If you’re caught driving with expired registration in Texas, you’ll likely be cited and have to pay a higher fee to renew your registration. That’s why it’s always better to take care of your registration before it expires.
Are you looking for a new ride? At Boggus Tipton Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, we have a huge inventory of new and used vehicles ready to go home with you today. Whether you want a new or used Ram 1500, Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Gladiator, or Ram 2500, we can get it for you. Additionally, we’ll handle the registration of your vehicle after your purchase. While we’re located in Brownsville, we serve the entire area, including Edinburg, Harlingen, Corpus Christi, and beyond. We even serve cities farther away, such as San Antonio and Houston. Whether you need a new car or maintenance such as transmission repair, general auto repair, oil changes, new custom tires, or auto glass repair, we can help.
0 comment(s) so far on The Expired Registration in Texas Guide: Grace Periods & Tickets