On July 1, 2025, vehicle dealers in Texas will start issuing metal license plates instead of paper temporary tags to their customers, both in-state and out-of-state. This change, implemented by House Bill 718, which was passed by the 88th Texas Legislature in 2023, aims to provide a more efficient process for obtaining metal license plates when purchasing a vehicle from a dealer.
Customers buying a vehicle from a Texas dealer will receive their metal license plates at the time of purchase, allowing them to drive off the lot with the plates already installed. Until they receive their registration sticker from their county office, customers must keep their buyer’s plate receipt in the vehicle to verify the purchase and pending registration to law enforcement.
For those selling or trading in a vehicle with general issue plates, dealers can transfer the plates to another sold vehicle within 10 days, provided that the plates match the appropriate vehicle type. This provision is part of Senate Bill 1902, passed by the 89th Legislature this year. Consumers with specialty license plates will retain their original plates.
The process for private party sales will remain unchanged. Sellers are required to remove their license plates and registration sticker from the vehicle before delivering it to the buyer. If suitable for the vehicle type, the seller can request to transfer their plates to another vehicle they own by visiting their county tax assessor-collector’s office. Additionally, sellers must submit a Vehicle Transfer Notification to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles within 30 days of the sale. Buyers must then submit a title and registration application at their county tax assessor-collector’s office and obtain new plates to register the vehicle in their name within 30 days of the purchase.
Example of Texas license plates under the new license plate law
