Texas Driver Handbook 2017

Chapter 2: Vehicle Inspection and Registration 

Texas Driver Handbook

Equipment You Must Not Have

The following equipment is considered unsafe and is not allowed on your vehicle:

1.  A red light showing from the front except on an emergency vehicle.

2.  A bell, siren, or exhaust whistle except on an emergency vehicle.

3.  A muffler cutout.

4.  Anything extending more than three inches beyond the left side or six inches beyond the right side of the body, running board, 

or fenders of your car.

5.  Flashing red lights on the front except on emergency vehicles, school buses, and church buses.

6.  A radar interference device designed, manufactured, used, or intended to be used to interfere with, scramble, disrupt, or cause 

to malfunction a radar or laser device used to measure a vehicle’s speed.

Minimum Road Clearance

A vehicle must not be modified or weighted in such a manner where the body is below the lowest part of the rims of the wheels.

Optional Equipment for Vehicles

The following equipment is considered optional and is not required to be on your vehicle.

Table 14: Optional Equipment for Motor Vehicles

Optional Item

Description

Spotlight

Spotlights must be turned off for a vehicle approaching from the opposite direction. If headlights fail, it 

may be used with the beam striking the road not more than 50 feet in front of the vehicle on which it  

is used.

Side cowl or fender light

Two of these types of lights are permitted; must show amber or white light without glare.

Running board courtesy lights

One running board courtesy light is permitted on each side; must show amber or white light without a 

glare. 

Backup lights

Two backup lights are permitted separately or in combination with other lights. Do not use when vehicle is 

in forward motion.

Flashing lights

Widespread flashing lights may be used on any vehicle to warn of unusual traffic hazards; must show flash-

ing amber or white to the front and flashing amber or red to the rear and must flash simultaneously.

Additional lights

Any motor vehicle may have up to three additional driving lights mounted on the front, not less than  

12 inches but not more than 42 inches from the road surface.

Sunscreen or window tinting

If sunscreen or window tinting is used, it must comply with the appropriate state regulations for your 

vehicle make and model.

Registration of Vehicles

All vehicles must be registered in the owner’s county of residency. Once the vehicle is properly registered, a registration sticker will 

be issued that must be displayed on the vehicle’s windshield or on the rear license plate of a motorcycle or moped.

1.  An owner must register a newly purchased vehicle within 30 days of purchase.

2.  Nonresident truck owners may be issued 30-day temporary registration permits for certain movements of farm products and 

machinery during harvesting season.

3.  Under certain conditions, temporary registration permits and reduced registration rates for special vehicles may be obtained.

4.  Buyers’ temporary tags are recognized for 60 days; dealers’ metal registration plates may be used on any dealer-owned vehicle 

except for commercial purposes (vehicle inspection is required).

5.  A manufacturer’s metal registration plate may be used for vehicle testing purposes only; a vehicle inspection is required. 

Dealers temporary cardboard tags may be used for demonstrating a vehicle for sale, or for transporting or servicing vehicles 

without a motor vehicle inspection. These vehicles may not be used for driver license driving exams.

6.  Farm registered vehicles, in addition to use for farm and ranch purposes, may be used as a means of passenger transportation 

for members of the family to attend church or school, to visit doctors for medical treatment or supplies, or for other necessities 

of the home or family. Farm registered vehicles may not be used for gainful employment.

7.  For registration applications and detailed information, consult your County Tax Assessor-Collector or the Texas 

Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

19

---

Chapter 2: Vehicle Inspection and Registration 

Texas Driver Handbook

Vehicles Not Required to be Registered or Inspected

The following vehicles are not required to be registered, inspected, or to display a license plate when temporarily operated on 

highways:

1. Farm tractors

2.  Farm trailers, farm semi-trailers, and certain fertilizer and cottonseed trailers with a gross weight of 4,000 lbs. or less

3.  Implements of agriculture

4.  Power sweepers

5.  Certain golf carts

6.  Electric bicycles

7.  Motorized and electric personal assistive mobility devices

When temporarily operated on highways, the following vehicles are not required to be registered or inspected if the owner annually 

secures a distinguishing $5 license plate and complies with other special conditions in the law:

1.  Machinery for drilling water wells and construction machinery.

2.  Farm trailers, farm semi-trailers, cotton trailers, cottonseed trailers, and certain fertilizer trailers weighing over 

4,000 lbs. but less than 34,000 lbs gross.

Vehicle Registration for New and Nonresidents of Texas

A new Texas resident must register every vehicle he/she owns before applying for a Texas driver license.

When a nonresident establishes residency in Texas or enters into gainful employment, his/her vehicle may be operated for 30 days. 

After 30 days, the vehicle must be registered in Texas.

New residents registering a vehicle must obtain a Texas vehicle inspection report and verification of the vehicle identification number 

(VIN) by a state-approved vehicle inspection station prior to registration. The vehicle owner will then be provided the necessary form for 

processing the vehicle registration. Evidence of financial responsibility for the vehicle being registered must be presented at the time of 

registration. If evidence of financial responsibility is not presented, the vehicle cannot be registered. The registration receipt issued by the 

county tax assessor-collector for each vehicle will be acceptable proof of the registration when applying for a Texas driver license.

20

---