Do You Need Texas Car Registration for Car Insurance?

To properly register a vehicle in Texas, you need valid car insurance. The insurance comes first, since it is one of the documents you’ll need to register the vehicle. You should get auto insurance as soon as you buy a car, whereas registration can be days or weeks later.

Texas issues licenses for eight years for those 18 and older, and 15-year-olds can be issued a license for six years. Here’s how to become a registered Texas driver:

1. Pass the written test with information from the Texas Driver’s Manual. The test is 30 questions, and you must pass with a score of at least 70 percent.²
2. Pass the 20-minute driving test that covers basic driving skills.
3. Demonstrate your U.S. citizenship or lawful presence with a passport or other government-issued ID.
4. If you already have a vehicle, show your proof of insurance and (if you previously registered in another state) valid registration.
5. If you don’t own a vehicle yet, sign a statement affirming that you don’t.³

Texas requires car registration for any vehicle owned by a resident of the state. Owners have 30 days after buying a car or moving to the state to register their vehicles. Fees start with the base registration of $50.75 plus $1 to use TexasSure, an electronic verification program.

If you’re a new resident, you’ll also pay a sales tax fee of $90 or the difference between your previous state’s sales tax and the Texas sales tax.

As of September 2023, electric vehicle owners must pay a registration fee of $200 annually. Disabled Veterans and those with other military license plates are exempt from the fee.

New residents and new car owners have 30 days to register their vehicles with the state, giving you enough time to settle down and get a permanent address in Texas. You should use the permanent address for the registration.

What if You Split Time Between States?

Even if you split your time between states, Texas requires you to register your vehicle if you plan on being in the state for more than 30 days. The registration and title don’t need to match, though, meaning you can have the car titled out of state and registered in Texas.

Exceptions to Registering a Car in Texas

There are some exceptions to the requirement to register a car in Texas. You don’t need to register if you plan on being in the state for less than 30 days. Certain all-terrain vehicles, towed light cars and trucks, tractors, and trailers don’t need registration either.

You can renew your Texas car registration online or in person at the county tax office, grocery store, or another approved location. Here’s how to renew:

1. Renew it within 90 days of the registration expiration.
2. Go to a DMV office or TxDMV.gov.
3. Provide proof of insurance and a state inspection.
4. Pay the registration fee of at least $50.75.

As of 2024, Texas requires all vehicles to pass an annual safety inspection. However, a recent bill (HB 3297) passed in 2023 will eliminate the requirement for annual safety inspections for most vehicles starting in 2025. A $7.50 inspection program replacement fee remains.⁴

Emission tests for vehicles 2 to 24 years old are still required in the following counties:
Brazoria, Collin, Dallas, Denton, El Paso, Ellis, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Johnson, Kaufman, Montgomery, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Travis, and Williamson. This test measures the emissions from the exhaust from the tailpipes. If your vehicle doesn’t pass the emissions test, you can’t register it until it meets emission standards.

If you have lost your registration, you can get a replacement in person or by mail. Here’s how to replace a lost registration:

1. Complete the Request for Information Form.
2. Pay the $2 fee.
3. Show a copy of your government-issued photo ID.
4. Make a photocopy of the ID if you’re mailing it in. You can mail documents to your local DMV office. To find your DMV location, visit DPS.Texas.gov/rolodex/search.asp and search by city, county, or ZIP code.

It isn’t a legal requirement in Texas for the name on the insurance card to match the name on the vehicle registration. However, different names on the two documents could lead to problems with filing claims. Most insurance carriers will want the insurance card name to match the vehicle registration to prevent complications during claims.

Texas law requires car insurance. Driving without insurance in Texas  can result in a $175 to $350 fine. Texas is more lenient than many states, only assessing a fine rather for your first offense than suspending licenses for failure to maintain insurance (a potential penalty for second and subsequent offenses).

Because Texas allows different names on the registration and insurance, it is possible to insure a car you don’t own. If you frequently borrow or rent different cars, you can also get a non-owner insurance policy, which is a liability-only policy. This policy helps you meet the legal requirements for insurance. If you need to file an SR-22 in Texas but no longer own a car, you can buy a non-owner policy to fulfill the requirement.

Non-title registration means you register the car in Texas but maintain the title in another state. The state lists the car as “registration purposes only (RPO),” which means that the insurance can be out of state as long as it meets the minimum Texas liability requirements.⁵

You can have out-of-state car insurance in Texas as long as your car’s registration is properly filed and the car meets the state’s minimum liability requirements. When you travel, your car insurance travels with you. In other words, if you are in Texas for less than 30 days, your home state’s insurance policy will cover the difference if your policy is under the Texas minimum.

You need insurance in order to register a car in Texas. Depending on how you register the car, you can use Texas insurance or a policy from out of state. Driving without insurance can lead to a $175 to $350 fine. Follow the guidelines we’ve covered in this compilation of car insurance FAQs in Texas to stay compliant.