Tex. Transp. Code Section 503.0631
Buyer’s Temporary Tag Database


(a)

The department shall develop, manage, and maintain a secure, real-time database of information on persons to whom temporary buyer’s tags are issued that may be used by a law enforcement agency in the same manner that the agency uses vehicle registration information.

(b)

The database must allow law enforcement agencies to use a vehicle-specific number assigned to and displayed on the tag as required by Section 503.063 (Buyer’s Temporary Tags)(e)(2) to obtain information about the person to whom the tag was issued.

(c)

Except as provided by Subsection (d), before a buyer’s temporary tag may be displayed on a vehicle, a dealer must enter into the database through the Internet information about the buyer of the vehicle for which the tag was issued as prescribed by the department and generate a vehicle-specific number for the tag as required by Section 503.063 (Buyer’s Temporary Tags)(e). Except as provided by Section 506.0632(f), the department may not deny access to the database to any dealer who holds a general distinguishing number issued under this chapter or who is licensed under Chapter 2301 (Sale or Lease of Motor Vehicles), Occupations Code.

(d)

A dealer shall obtain 24-hour Internet access at its place of business, but if the dealer is unable to access the Internet at the time of the sale of a vehicle, the dealer shall complete and sign a form, as prescribed by the department, that states the dealer has Internet access, but was unable to access the Internet at the time of sale. The buyer shall keep the original copy of the form in the vehicle until the vehicle is registered to the buyer. Not later than the next business day after the time of sale, the dealer shall submit the information required under Subsection (c).

(e)

The department shall adopt rules and prescribe procedures as necessary to implement this section.

(f)

The dealer may charge a reasonable fee not to exceed $20 for costs associated with complying with this section.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 258 (S.B. 11), Sec. 8.06, eff. September 1, 2007.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1336 (S.B. 1786), Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2007.
Amended by:
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 793 (S.B. 1235), Sec. 10, eff. September 1, 2009.
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 729 (H.B. 3927), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2021.
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 668 (H.B. 718), Sec. 17, eff. July 1, 2025.
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 768 (H.B. 4595), Sec. 21.002, eff. September 1, 2023.

(b)

The database must allow law enforcement agencies to use the information required to be included on a license plate to obtain information about the person to whom the license plate was issued.

(c)

Except as provided by Subsection (d), before a license plate or set of license plates issued under Section 503.063 (Buyer’s Temporary Tags) or 503.065 (Buyer’s Out-of-state License Plates) may be displayed on a vehicle, a dealer must, as prescribed by the department:

(1)

enter into the database through the Internet information about the buyer of the vehicle for which the license plate or set of license plates was issued; and

(2)

complete and sign a form prescribed by the department stating that the dealer entered the buyer’s information into the database as required by Subdivision (1).

(c-1)

Except as provided by Section 503.0633 (Department Regulation of Dealer-issued License Plates and Access to Database of Dealer-issued License Plates)(f), the department may not deny access to the database to any dealer who holds a general distinguishing number issued under this chapter or who is licensed under Chapter 2301 (Sale or Lease of Motor Vehicles), Occupations Code.

(d)

A dealer shall obtain 24-hour Internet access at its place of business, but if the dealer is unable to access the Internet at the time of the sale of a vehicle, the dealer shall complete and sign a form, as prescribed by the department, that states the dealer has Internet access, but was unable to access the Internet at the time of sale to enter the buyer’s information into the database as required by Subsection (c). Not later than the next business day after the time of sale, the dealer shall submit the information required under Subsection (c).

(d-1)

The forms prescribed by the department under Subsections (c) and (d) must contain a notice to the buyer describing the procedure by which the vehicle’s registration insignia will be provided to the buyer.

(d-2)

Until a vehicle displaying a license plate or set of license plates issued under Section 503.063 (Buyer’s Temporary Tags) is registered to the buyer, the buyer shall keep in the vehicle the original copy of the form provided by the dealer as required by, as applicable, Subsection (c) or (d).

(e)

The department shall adopt rules and prescribe procedures as necessary to implement this section.

(f)

The dealer may charge a reasonable fee not to exceed $20 for costs associated with complying with this section.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 258 (S.B. 11), Sec. 8.06, eff. September 1, 2007.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1336 (S.B. 1786), Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2007.
Amended by:
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 668 (H.B. 718), Sec. 17, eff. July 1, 2025.
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 668 (H.B. 718), Sec. 18, eff. July 1, 2025.
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 768 (H.B. 4595), Sec. 21.002, eff. September 1, 2023.

(b)

The database must allow law enforcement agencies to use a vehicle-specific number assigned to and displayed on the tag as required by Section 503.063 (Buyer’s Temporary Tags)(e)(2) to obtain information about the person to whom the tag was issued.

(c)

Except as provided by Subsection (d), before a buyer’s temporary tag may be displayed on a vehicle, a dealer must enter into the database through the Internet information about the buyer of the vehicle for which the tag was issued as prescribed by the department and generate a vehicle-specific number for the tag as required by Section 503.063 (Buyer’s Temporary Tags)(e). Except as provided by Section 506.0632(f), the department may not deny access to the database to any dealer who holds a general distinguishing number issued under this chapter or who is licensed under Chapter 2301 (Sale or Lease of Motor Vehicles), Occupations Code.

(d)

A dealer shall obtain 24-hour Internet access at its place of business, but if the dealer is unable to access the Internet at the time of the sale of a vehicle, the dealer shall complete and sign a form, as prescribed by the department, that states the dealer has Internet access, but was unable to access the Internet at the time of sale. The buyer shall keep the original copy of the form in the vehicle until the vehicle is registered to the buyer. Not later than the next business day after the time of sale, the dealer shall submit the information required under Subsection (c).

(e)

The department shall adopt rules and prescribe procedures as necessary to implement this section.

(f)

The dealer may charge a reasonable fee not to exceed $20 for costs associated with complying with this section.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 258 (S.B. 11), Sec. 8.06, eff. September 1, 2007.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1336 (S.B. 1786), Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2007.
Amended by:
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 793 (S.B. 1235), Sec. 10, eff. September 1, 2009.
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 729 (H.B. 3927), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2021.
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 668 (H.B. 718), Sec. 17, eff. July 1, 2025.
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 768 (H.B. 4595), Sec. 21.002, eff. September 1, 2023.

(b)

The database must allow law enforcement agencies to use the information required to be included on a license plate to obtain information about the person to whom the license plate was issued.

(c)

Except as provided by Subsection (d), before a license plate or set of license plates issued under Section 503.063 (Buyer’s Temporary Tags) or 503.065 (Buyer’s Out-of-state License Plates) may be displayed on a vehicle, a dealer must, as prescribed by the department:

(1)

enter into the database through the Internet information about the buyer of the vehicle for which the license plate or set of license plates was issued; and

(2)

complete and sign a form prescribed by the department stating that the dealer entered the buyer’s information into the database as required by Subdivision (1).

(c-1)

Except as provided by Section 503.0633 (Department Regulation of Dealer-issued License Plates and Access to Database of Dealer-issued License Plates)(f), the department may not deny access to the database to any dealer who holds a general distinguishing number issued under this chapter or who is licensed under Chapter 2301 (Sale or Lease of Motor Vehicles), Occupations Code.

(d)

A dealer shall obtain 24-hour Internet access at its place of business, but if the dealer is unable to access the Internet at the time of the sale of a vehicle, the dealer shall complete and sign a form, as prescribed by the department, that states the dealer has Internet access, but was unable to access the Internet at the time of sale to enter the buyer’s information into the database as required by Subsection (c). Not later than the next business day after the time of sale, the dealer shall submit the information required under Subsection (c).

(d-1)

The forms prescribed by the department under Subsections (c) and (d) must contain a notice to the buyer describing the procedure by which the vehicle’s registration insignia will be provided to the buyer.

(d-2)

Until a vehicle displaying a license plate or set of license plates issued under Section 503.063 (Buyer’s Temporary Tags) is registered to the buyer, the buyer shall keep in the vehicle the original copy of the form provided by the dealer as required by, as applicable, Subsection (c) or (d).

(e)

The department shall adopt rules and prescribe procedures as necessary to implement this section.

(f)

The dealer may charge a reasonable fee not to exceed $20 for costs associated with complying with this section.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 258 (S.B. 11), Sec. 8.06, eff. September 1, 2007.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1336 (S.B. 1786), Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2007.
Amended by:
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 668 (H.B. 718), Sec. 17, eff. July 1, 2025.
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 668 (H.B. 718), Sec. 18, eff. July 1, 2025.
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 768 (H.B. 4595), Sec. 21.002, eff. September 1, 2023.

Source: Section 503.0631 — Buyer's Temporary Tag Database, https://statutes.­capitol.­texas.­gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.­503.­htm#503.­0631 (accessed Apr. 29, 2024).

503.001
Definitions
503.002
Rules
503.003
Display or Sale of Nonmotorized Vehicle or Trailer
503.004
Buying, Selling, Exchanging, or Manufacturing Vehicles
503.005
Notice of Sale or Transfer
503.006
Notice of Change of Address
503.007
Fees for General Distinguishing Number
503.008
Fees for License Plates
503.009
Procedure for Certain Contested Cases
503.010
Term of General Distinguishing Number, License, or License Plate
503.011
Prorating Fees
503.012
Collected Money
503.013
Dealer Transfer of Certain Assembled Vehicles Prohibited
503.021
Dealer General Distinguishing Number
503.022
Wholesale Motor Vehicle Auction General Distinguishing Number
503.023
Drive-a-way Operator License
503.024
Exclusions for Dealer
503.025
Wholesale Motor Vehicle Auction Exception
503.026
Requirement for Each Type of Dealer Vehicle
503.027
Requirements Relating to Dealer Location
503.028
Requirements Relating to Wholesale Motor Vehicle Auction Location
503.029
Application for Dealer General Distinguishing Number
503.030
Application for Wholesale Motor Vehicle Auction General Distinguishing Number
503.031
Application for Drive-a-way In-transit License
503.032
Established and Permanent Place of Business
503.033
Security Requirement
503.034
Issuance and Renewal or Denial of Dealer or Wholesale Motor Vehicle Auction General Distinguishing Number
503.035
Issuance and Renewal of Drive-a-way In-transit License
503.036
Reassignment of Evidence of Ownership
503.037
Rights of Wholesale Motor Vehicle Auction
503.038
Cancellation of General Distinguishing Number
503.039
Public Motor Vehicle Auctions
503.040
Sales of Certain Used Motor Vehicles Constitute Private Disposition
503.061
Dealer’s License Plates
503.062
Dealer’s Temporary Tags
503.063
Buyer’s Temporary Tags
503.064
Manufacturer’s License Plates
503.065
Buyer’s Out-of-state License Plates
503.066
Application for Dealer’s or Manufacturer’s License Plates
503.067
Unauthorized Reproduction, Purchase, Use, or Sale of Temporary Tags
503.068
Limitation on Use of Dealer’s License Plates and Tags
503.069
Display of License Plates and Tags
503.070
Removal of Out-of-state License Plates
503.071
Notice of Driving or Towing from out of State
503.091
Enforcement Agreement
503.092
Action to Enforce Chapter
503.093
Action to Enforce Subchapter
503.094
Criminal Penalty
503.095
Civil Penalty
503.096
Towing of Vehicles
503.0295
Independent Mobility Motor Vehicle Dealers
503.0296
Independent Motor Vehicle Dealer Education and Training Requirement
503.0615
Personalized Prestige Dealer’s License Plates
503.0618
Converter’s License Plates
503.0625
Converter’s Temporary Tags
503.0626
Dealer’s and Converter’s Temporary Tag Database
503.0631
Buyer’s Temporary Tag Database
503.0632
Department Regulation of Temporary Tags and Access to Temporary Tag Databases
503.0633
Department Regulation of Dealer-issued License Plates and Access to Database of Dealer-issued License Plates
503.0671
Unauthorized Use or Distribution of Dealer-issued License Plate

Accessed:
Apr. 29, 2024

§ 503.0631’s source at texas​.gov