Texas vehicle services
Texas License Plates Guide
Understand general-issue, specialty, personalized, replacement, transferred, disabled, and military Texas license plates before visiting your county tax office.
Before you order or replace plates
- Confirm the vehicle is titled and registered in the correct name.
- Bring photo identification and the current registration record.
- Bring eligibility documents for disabled, military, professional, or organizational plates.
- Verify personalized-character availability and annual fees before ordering.
- Report stolen plates and keep the police report number.
General-issue Texas plates
Passenger vehicles normally receive the current general-issue plate when titled and registered. Plate issuance is tied to the vehicle registration record, and most public-facing transactions are handled by the county tax assessor-collector.
Specialty and personalized plates
Texas offers organizational, collegiate, military, professional, charitable, and cause-related specialty plates. Some can be personalized. Availability, character limits, annual fees, eligibility documents, and renewal rules vary by design.
Replacement plates
Use Form VTR-60 to request replacement plates or a registration sticker. TxDMV lists a $6 plate fee plus a $0.50 automation fee. Report stolen plates to law enforcement and ask the county office whether a new plate number will be issued.
Transferring plates
Eligible Texas plates can generally move to another vehicle owned by the same person. Tell the dealer or county tax office before the transaction is finalized so the plate number is attached to the correct registration record.
Disabled parking plates and placards
Form VTR-214 is used for disabled parking placards and plates. A permanent disabled plate displays the International Symbol of Access. Temporary red placards generally expire in six months or less, while permanent blue placards are renewable every four years.
Disabled veteran and military plates
Military and disabled veteran plates require eligibility documentation. Disabled veteran plates without the International Symbol of Access do not authorize parking in accessible spaces. Form VTR-615 is used for disabled veteran plates and parking placards.
Plate handling after a sale
Texas sellers should remove their plates before giving the vehicle to the buyer unless a permitted exception applies. File a Vehicle Transfer Notification and coordinate plate transfer, surrender, or disposal with the county tax office.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I get Texas license plates?
Most general-issue, replacement, transfer, disabled, military, and specialty-plate transactions begin with your county tax assessor-collector office. Some specialty and personalized plates are ordered through TxDMV or the state's specialty-plate vendor.
How much do replacement Texas plates cost?
TxDMV lists a $6 replacement-plate fee plus a $0.50 automation fee. County or transaction-specific charges may also apply.
Can Texas license plates be transferred to another vehicle?
TxDMV says eligible plates can generally be transferred to another vehicle you own when the registration record is updated through the county tax office or dealer.
Do disabled veteran plates automatically allow disabled parking?
No. A disabled veteran plate must display the International Symbol of Access, or the person must display a qualifying disabled parking placard, to use an accessible parking space.