Tex. Transp. Code Section 503.065
Buyer’s Out-of-state License Plates


(a)

The department may issue or cause to be issued to a person a temporary license plate authorizing the person to operate a new unregistered vehicle on a public highway of this state if the person:

(1)

buys the vehicle from a dealer outside this state and intends to drive the vehicle from the dealer’s place of business; or

(2)

buys the vehicle from a dealer in this state but intends to drive the vehicle from the manufacturer’s place of business outside this state.

(a)

The department may issue or cause to be issued to a person a temporary metal license plate authorizing the person to operate a new unregistered vehicle on a public highway of this state if the person:

(1)

buys the vehicle from a dealer outside this state and intends to drive the vehicle from the dealer’s place of business; or

(2)

buys the vehicle from a dealer in this state but intends to drive the vehicle from the manufacturer’s place of business outside this state.

(b)

The department may not issue a temporary license plate under this section to a manufacturer or dealer of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer or to a representative of such a dealer.

(b)

The department may not issue a license plate under this section to a manufacturer or dealer of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer or to a representative of such a dealer.

(c)

A person may not use a temporary license plate issued under this section on a vehicle transporting property.

(c)

A person may not use a license plate issued under this section on a vehicle transporting property.

(d)

A temporary license plate issued under this section expires not later than the 30th day after the date on which it is issued. The department shall place or cause to be placed on the license plate at the time of issuance the date of expiration and the type of vehicle for which the license plate is issued.

(d)

A license plate issued under this section expires on the 60th day after the date on which it is issued. The department shall place or cause to be placed on the license plate at the time of issuance the date of expiration and the type of vehicle for which the license plate is issued.

(e)

The fee for a temporary license plate issued under this section is $3. Only one license plate may be issued for each vehicle.

(e)

The fee for a license plate issued under this section is $3. Only one license plate may be issued for each vehicle.

(f)

A fee collected under this section shall be deposited to the credit of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles fund.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
Amended by:
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 793 (S.B. 1235), Sec. 11, eff. September 1, 2009.
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1287 (H.B. 2202), Sec. 34, eff. September 1, 2013.
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 668 (H.B. 718), Sec. 20, eff. July 1, 2025.

(a)

The department may issue or cause to be issued to a person a temporary license plate authorizing the person to operate a new unregistered vehicle on a public highway of this state if the person:

(1)

buys the vehicle from a dealer outside this state and intends to drive the vehicle from the dealer’s place of business; or

(2)

buys the vehicle from a dealer in this state but intends to drive the vehicle from the manufacturer’s place of business outside this state.

(a)

The department may issue or cause to be issued to a person a temporary metal license plate authorizing the person to operate a new unregistered vehicle on a public highway of this state if the person:

(1)

buys the vehicle from a dealer outside this state and intends to drive the vehicle from the dealer’s place of business; or

(2)

buys the vehicle from a dealer in this state but intends to drive the vehicle from the manufacturer’s place of business outside this state.

(b)

The department may not issue a temporary license plate under this section to a manufacturer or dealer of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer or to a representative of such a dealer.

(b)

The department may not issue a license plate under this section to a manufacturer or dealer of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer or to a representative of such a dealer.

(c)

A person may not use a temporary license plate issued under this section on a vehicle transporting property.

(c)

A person may not use a license plate issued under this section on a vehicle transporting property.

(d)

A temporary license plate issued under this section expires not later than the 30th day after the date on which it is issued. The department shall place or cause to be placed on the license plate at the time of issuance the date of expiration and the type of vehicle for which the license plate is issued.

(d)

A license plate issued under this section expires on the 60th day after the date on which it is issued. The department shall place or cause to be placed on the license plate at the time of issuance the date of expiration and the type of vehicle for which the license plate is issued.

(e)

The fee for a temporary license plate issued under this section is $3. Only one license plate may be issued for each vehicle.

(e)

The fee for a license plate issued under this section is $3. Only one license plate may be issued for each vehicle.

(f)

A fee collected under this section shall be deposited to the credit of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles fund.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
Amended by:
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 793 (S.B. 1235), Sec. 11, eff. September 1, 2009.
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1287 (H.B. 2202), Sec. 34, eff. September 1, 2013.
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 668 (H.B. 718), Sec. 20, eff. July 1, 2025.

Source: Section 503.065 — Buyer's Out-of-state License Plates, https://statutes.­capitol.­texas.­gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.­503.­htm#503.­065 (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

§ 503.065’s source at texas​.gov