Title TN, Transportation Code

Sec. 502.0024. EXTENDED REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN TRAILERS. (a) Notwithstanding Section 502.044(c), the department shall develop and implement a system of registration to allow an owner of a trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer having an actual gross weight or registered gross wei…

Sec. 502.0025. EXTENDED REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN COUNTY FLEET VEHICLES. (a) In this section, "exempt county fleet" means a group of two or more nonapportioned motor vehicles, semitrailers, or trailers described by Section 502.453(a) that is owned by and used exclusively in the ser…

Sec. 502.0026. EXTENDED REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN RENTAL VEHICLES. (a) Notwithstanding Section 502.044, the initial registration period is three years for a passenger car or light truck: (1) that is sold in this state or purchased by a commercial fleet buyer described by Section 50…

Sec. 502.003. REGISTRATION BY POLITICAL SUBDIVISION PROHIBITED. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a political subdivision of this state may not require an owner of a motor vehicle to: (1) register the vehicle; (2) pay a motor vehicle registration fee; or (3) pay an occupa…

Sec. 502.004. INFORMATION ON ALTERNATIVELY FUELED VEHICLES. (a) In this section, "alternatively fueled vehicle" means a motor vehicle that is capable of using a fuel other than gasoline or diesel fuel. (b) The department by rule shall establish a program to collect information ab…

Sec. 502.005. REGISTRATION OF AUTOCYCLE. (a) In this section, "autocycle" means a motor vehicle, other than a tractor, that is: (1) designed to have when propelled not more than three wheels on the ground; (2) equipped with seat belts and a steering mechanism; (3) equipped with s…

Sec. 502.006. REGISTRATION OF MINIATURE VEHICLE. For purposes of registering a vehicle under this chapter, a miniature vehicle is considered to be a motor vehicle. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 505 (S.B. 1816), Sec. 3, eff. June 20, 2025.

Sec. 502.010. COUNTY SCOFFLAW. (a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, a county assessor-collector or the department may refuse to register a motor vehicle if the assessor-collector or the department receives information that the owner of the vehicle: (1) owes the count…

Sec. 502.011. REFUSAL TO REGISTER VEHICLE FOR NONPAYMENT OF TOLL OR ADMINISTRATIVE FEE. (a) A county assessor-collector or the department may refuse to register or renew the registration of a motor vehicle if it has received written notice from a toll project entity that the owne…

Sec. 502.012. NOTICE REGARDING WHETHER CERTAIN TRAILERS ARE SUBJECT TO INSPECTION. The department shall include in each registration renewal notice for a vehicle that is a trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer a statement regarding whether the vehicle is subject to inspection und…

Sec. 502.013. VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE OF MILITARY STATUS BY REGISTRATION APPLICANT. (a) When a person registers or renews the registration of a motor vehicle under this chapter, the department shall provide the person with the option to indicate whether the person is a member of the…

Sec. 502.040. REGISTRATION REQUIRED; GENERAL RULE. (a) Not more than 30 days after purchasing a vehicle or becoming a resident of this state, the owner of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer shall apply for the registration of the vehicle for: (1) each registration year in w…

Sec. 502.041. INITIAL REGISTRATION. (a) Notwithstanding Section 502.040, the owner of a vehicle may concurrently apply for a title and for registration through the county assessor-collector of the county in which: (1) the owner resides; (2) the vehicle is purchased or encumbered;…

Sec. 502.042. TITLE REQUIRED FOR REGISTRATION. The department may not register or renew the registration of a motor vehicle for which a title is required under Chapter 501 unless the owner: (1) obtains a title for the vehicle; or (2) presents satisfactory evidence that a title wa…

Sec. 502.043. APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION AND CERTAIN PERMITS. (a) An application for vehicle registration or a permit described by Section 502.094 or 502.095 must: (1) be made in a manner prescribed and include the information required by the department by rule; and (2) contain…

Sec. 502.0435. ONLINE REGISTRATION RENEWAL. If a person is otherwise eligible to renew a vehicle registration under this chapter, the person may renew the vehicle registration through an online registration system maintained by the department. Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S.,…

Sec. 502.044. REGISTRATION PERIOD. (a) The department shall designate a vehicle registration year of 12 consecutive months to begin on the first day of a calendar month and end on the last day of the 12th calendar month. (a-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the department shall …

Sec. 502.045. DELINQUENT REGISTRATION. (a) A registration fee for a vehicle becomes delinquent immediately if the vehicle is used on a public highway without the fee having been paid in accordance with this chapter. (b) An applicant for registration who provides evidence to estab…

Sec. 502.046. EVIDENCE OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. (a) Evidence of financial responsibility as required by Section 601.051 other than for a trailer or semitrailer shall be submitted with the application for registration under Section 502.043. A county assessor-collector may not …

Sec. 502.047. REGISTRATION-BASED ENFORCEMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLE INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS. (a) Except as provided by Chapter 548, the department and the Department of Public Safety shall ensure compliance with motor vehicle inspection requirements under Chapter 548 through a vehicle …

Sec. 502.048. REFUSAL TO REGISTER UNSAFE VEHICLE. The department may refuse to register a motor vehicle and may cancel, suspend, or revoke a registration if the department determines that a motor vehicle is unsafe, improperly equipped, or otherwise unfit to be operated on a publi…

Sec. 502.055. DETERMINATION OF WEIGHT AND SEATING CAPACITY. (a) The weight, net weight, or gross weight of a vehicle, as determined by the department, is the correct weight for registration purposes, regardless of any other purported weight of the vehicle. (b) The department may …

Sec. 502.056. DISPUTED CLASSIFICATION OF VEHICLE. In a disputed case, the department may determine: (1) the classification to which a vehicle belongs; and (2) the amount of the registration fee for the vehicle. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Sec. 502.057. REGISTRATION RECEIPT. (a) The department shall issue or require to be issued to the owner of a vehicle registered under this chapter a registration receipt showing the information required by rule. (b) A receipt for the renewed registration of a vehicle generated by…

Sec. 502.058. DUPLICATE REGISTRATION RECEIPT. (a) The owner of a vehicle for which the registration receipt has been lost or destroyed may obtain a duplicate receipt from the department or the county assessor-collector who issued the original receipt by paying a fee of $2. (b) Th…

Sec. 502.059. ISSUANCE OF REGISTRATION INSIGNIA. (a) On payment of the prescribed fee an applicant for motor vehicle registration shall be issued a registration insignia. (b) On application and payment of the prescribed fee for a renewal of the registration of a vehicle through t…

Sec. 502.060. REPLACEMENT OF REGISTRATION INSIGNIA. (a) The owner of a registered motor vehicle may obtain a replacement registration insignia by: (1) certifying that the replacement registration insignia will not be used on any other vehicle owned or operated by the person makin…

Sec. 502.061. REGISTRATION BY OWNER WITH CONDITION THAT IMPEDES EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION. (a) An application for registration must provide space for the applicant to voluntarily indicate that the applicant has a health condition or disability that may impede effective communicatio…

Sec. 502.090. EFFECT OF CERTAIN MILITARY SERVICE ON REGISTRATION REQUIREMENT. (a) This section applies only to a motor vehicle that is owned by a person who: (1) is a resident of this state; (2) is on active duty in the armed forces of the United States; (3) is stationed in or ha…

Sec. 502.091. INTERNATIONAL REGISTRATION PLAN. (a) The department, through its director, may enter into an agreement with an authorized officer of another jurisdiction, including another state of the United States, a foreign country or a state, province, territory, or possession …

Sec. 502.092. NONRESIDENT-OWNED VEHICLES USED TO TRANSPORT FARM PRODUCTS. (a) The department may issue to a nonresident owner a permit for a truck, truck-tractor, trailer, or semitrailer that: (1) is registered in the owner's home state or country; and (2) will be used to transpo…

Sec. 502.093. ANNUAL PERMITS. (a) The department may issue an annual permit in lieu of registration to a foreign commercial motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer that is subject to registration in this state and is not authorized to travel on a public highway because of the lack…

Sec. 502.094. 72- OR 144-HOUR PERMITS. (a) The department may issue a temporary registration permit in lieu of registration for a commercial motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or motor bus that: (1) is owned by a resident of the United States, Canada, or the United Mexican Stat…

Sec. 502.095. ONE-TRIP OR 30-DAY TRIP LICENSE PLATES. (a) The department may issue a temporary metal license plate in lieu of registration for a vehicle subject to registration in this state that is not authorized to travel on a public highway because of the lack of registration …

Sec. 502.140. CERTAIN OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLES. (a) In this section, "off-highway vehicle" has the meaning assigned by Section 551A.001. (b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), the department may not register an off-highway vehicle, with or without design alterations, for operation…

Sec. 502.141. OFF-HIGHWAY FORMER MILITARY VEHICLES. (a) Except as provided by Subsections (b) and (c), a person may not register a former military vehicle designated for off-highway use, with or without design alterations, for operation on a public highway. (b) A former military …

Sec. 502.142. MANUFACTURED HOUSING. Manufactured housing, as defined by Section 1201.003, Occupations Code, is not a vehicle subject to this chapter. Transferred and redesignated from Transportation Code, Section 502.0072 by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1296 (H.B. 2357), Sec. …

Sec. 502.143. OTHER VEHICLES. An owner may not register the following vehicles for operation on a public highway: (1) power sweepers; (2) motorized mobility devices; (3) electric personal assistive mobility devices; and (4) electric bicycles, as defined by Section 664.001. Transf…

Sec. 502.144. VEHICLES OPERATED ON PUBLIC HIGHWAY SEPARATING REAL PROPERTY UNDER VEHICLE OWNER'S CONTROL. Where a public highway separates real property under the control of the owner of a motor vehicle, the operation of the motor vehicle by the owner or the owner's agent or empl…

Sec. 502.145. VEHICLES OPERATED BY CERTAIN NONRESIDENTS. (a) A nonresident owner of a privately owned passenger car that is registered in the state or country in which the person resides and that is not operated for compensation may operate the car in this state for the period in…

Sec. 502.146. CERTAIN FARM VEHICLES AND DRILLING AND CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT. (a) The department shall issue distinguishing license plates to a vehicle described by Subsection (b), (c), or (i). The fee for the license plates is $5 and shall be deposited to the credit of the Texas …

Sec. 502.1515. OUTSOURCING PRODUCTION OF RENEWAL NOTICES; PAID ADVERTISING. The board may authorize the department to enter into a contract with a private vendor to produce and distribute motor vehicle registration renewal notices. The contract may provide for the inclusion of pa…

Sec. 502.156. STATEMENT REQUIRED FOR REBUILT VEHICLES. A county assessor-collector shall require an applicant for registration of a rebuilt vehicle to provide a statement that the vehicle is rebuilt and that states the name of each person from whom the parts used in assembling th…

Sec. 502.168. FEE: MOTOR BUS. The fee for a registration year for registration of a motor bus is the fee prescribed by Section 502.252 or 502.253, as applicable. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by: Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1136 (H.B. 2553…

Sec. 502.1746. VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION TO VETERANS' ASSISTANCE FUND. (a) When a person registers a motor vehicle under this chapter, the person is entitled to make a voluntary contribution in any amount to the fund for veterans' assistance established by Section 434.017, Governmen…

Sec. 502.1747. VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION TO PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT. (a) When a person registers or renews the registration of a motor vehicle under this chapter, the person may contribute $5 or more to the Parks and Wildlife Department. (b) The department shall: (1) include s…