Vehicle Registration Exemptions - Texas

Certain off-highway vehicles

The department may not register an off-highway vehicle, with or without design alterations, for operation on a public highway.

The department may register an off-highway vehicle that is owned by the state, county, or municipality for operation on a public beach or highway to maintain public safety and welfare.

“Off-highway vehicle” means:

• An all-terrain vehicle or recreational off-highway vehicle;
• A sand rail; or
• A utility vehicle.

“Utility vehicle” means a motor vehicle that is not a golf cart or lawn mower and is:

• Equipped with side-by-side seating for the use of the operator and a passenger;
• Designed to propel itself with at least four tires in contact with the ground;
• Designed by the manufacturer for off-highway use only; and
• Designed by the manufacturer primarily for utility work and not for recreational purposes.

“Sand rail” means a vehicle that:

• Is designed or built primarily for off-highway use in sandy terrains, including for use on sand dunes;
• Has a tubular frame, an integrated roll cage, and an engine that is rear-mounted or placed midway between the front and rear axles of the vehicle; and
• Has a gross vehicle weight of:
  • Not less than 700 pounds; and
  • Not more than 2,000 pounds.

Off-highway former military vehicles

Generally, a person may not register a former military vehicle designated for off-highway use, with or without design alterations, for operation on a public highway.

However, a former military vehicle may be registered for on-road use if the vehicle:

• Is a high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle designated for off-highway use; and
• It has a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 10,000 pounds.

A former military vehicle issued specialty license plates under Section 504.502 may be operated on a public highway in accordance with that section.

Other vehicles exempted

An owner may not register the following vehicles for operation on a public highway:

• Power sweepers;
• Motorized mobility devices;
• Electric personal assistive mobility devices; and
• Electric bicycles, as defined by Section 664.001.

Vehicles operated on highway separating real property of vehicle owner

Where a public highway separates real property under the control of the owner of a motor vehicle, the operation of the motor vehicle by the owner or the owner’s agent or employee across the highway is not a use of the motor vehicle on the public highway.

Vehicles operated by certain nonresidents

A nonresident owner of a privately owned passenger car that is registered in the state or country in which the person resides and that is not operated for compensation may operate the car in Texas for the period in which the car’s license plates are valid.

For purposes of this exemption, “nonresident” does not include a person engaged in gainful employment or is engaged in business or an occupation, except as may otherwise be provided by any reciprocal agreement with another state or country.

This exemption allows:

• A nonresident owner of a motor vehicle to operate the vehicle in Texas for the sole purpose of marketing farm products raised exclusively by the person; or
• A resident of an adjoining state or country to operate in Texas a privately owned and registered vehicle to go to and from the person’s place of regular employment and to make trips to purchase merchandise, if the vehicle is not operated for compensation.

These privileges may be allowed only if, under the laws of the appropriate state or country, similar privileges are granted to vehicles registered under the laws of Texas and owned by residents of Texas.

These privileges do not affect the right or status of a vehicle owner under any reciprocal agreement between Texas and another state or country.

Vehicle used only temporarily on the highway

An owner is not required to register a vehicle that is used only temporarily on the highways if the vehicle is:

• A farm trailer or farm semitrailer with a gross weight of more than 4,000 pounds but not more than 34,000 pounds that is used exclusively:
  • To transport seasonally harvested agricultural products or livestock from the place of production to the place of processing, market, or storage;
  • To transport farm supplies from the place of loading to the farm; or
  • For the purpose of participating in equine activities or attending livestock shows, as defined by Section 87.001, Civil Practice and Remedies Code;
• Machinery used exclusively for the purpose of drilling water wells;
• Oil well servicing or drilling machinery and if at the time of obtaining the license plates, the applicant submits proof that the applicant has a permit under Section 623.142; or
• Construction machinery.

The vehicles described in this temporary use exemption are exempt from the inspection requirements of Subchapters B and F, Chapter 548.

Farm vehicles

An owner is not required to register a vehicle that is:

• A farm trailer or farm semitrailer owned by a cotton gin and used exclusively to transport agricultural products without charge from the place of production to the place of processing, market, or storage;
• A trailer used exclusively to transport fertilizer without charge from a place of supply or storage to a farm; or
• A trailer used exclusively to transport cottonseed without charge from a place of supply or storage to a farm or place of processing.

This exemption applies to a vehicle owned by a farmers’ cooperative society incorporated under Chapter 51, Agriculture Code, or a marketing association organized under Chapter 52, Agriculture Code, and used by members of the society or association for a fee if the vehicle otherwise meets the requirements for the exemption.

Except for the exemption for a vehicle owned by a farmers’ cooperative society, the farm vehicle exemption does not apply to a farm trailer or farm semitrailer that:

• Is used for hire;
• Has metal tires operating in contact with the highway;
• Is not equipped with an adequate hitch pinned or locked so that it will remain securely engaged to the towing vehicle while in motion; or
• Is not operated and equipped in compliance with all other laws.

Vehicles operated under a special registration permit

Special registration permits are recognized as legal registration for the movement of motor vehicles not authorized to travel on Texas public highways for lack of registration or for lack of reciprocity with the state or country in which the vehicles are registered.

Permit Categories: The department will issue the following categories of special registration permits.

• Additional weight permits. The owner of a truck, truck tractor, trailer, or semitrailer may purchase temporary additional weight permits for the purpose of transporting the owner's own seasonal agricultural products to market or other points for sale or processing in accordance with Transportation Code, § 502.434. In addition, such vehicles may be used for the transportation without charge of seasonal laborers from their place of residence, and materials, tools, equipment, and supplies from the place of purchase or storage to a farm or ranch exclusively for use on such farm or ranch.
• Annual permits. Transportation Code, 502.093 authorizes the department to issue annual permits to provide for the movement of foreign commercial vehicles that are not authorized to travel on Texas highways for lack of registration or for lack of reciprocity with the state or country in which the vehicles are registered.
• 72-hour permits and 144-hour permits. In accordance with Transportation Code, 502.094, the department will issue a permit valid for 72 hours or 144 hours for the movement of commercial motor vehicles, trailers, semitrailers, and motor buses owned by residents of the United States, Mexico, or Canada.
• Temporary agricultural permits.
  • Transportation Code, 502.092 authorizes the department to issue a 30-day temporary nonresident registration permit to a nonresident for any truck, truck tractor, trailer, or semitrailer to be used in the movement of all agriculture products produced in Texas:
    • From the place of production to market, storage, or railhead not more than 75 miles from the place of production; or
    • To be used in the movement of machinery used to harvest Texas-produced agricultural products.
  • The department will issue a 30-day temporary nonresident registration permit to a nonresident for any truck, truck tractor, trailer, or semitrailer used to move or harvest farm products, produced outside of Texas, but:
    • Marketed or processed in Texas; or
    • Moved to points in Texas for shipment from the point of entry into Texas to market, storage, processing plant, railhead or seaport not more than 80 miles from such point of entry into Texas.
  • The number of temporary agricultural permits is limited to three permits per nonresident owner during any one vehicle registration year.
  • Temporary agricultural permits may not be issued to farm licensed trailers or semitrailers.
• One-trip permits. Transportation Code, 502.095 authorizes the department to temporarily register any unladen vehicle upon application to provide for the movement of the vehicle for one trip, when the vehicle is subject to Texas registration and not authorized to travel on the public roadways for lack of registration or lack of registration reciprocity.
• 30-day temporary registration permits. Transportation Code, 502.095 authorizes the department to issue a temporary registration permit valid for 30 days for a $ 25 fee. A vehicle operated on a 30-day temporary permit is not restricted to a specific route. The permit is available for:
  • Passenger vehicles;
  • Motorcycles;
  • Private buses;
  • Trailers and semitrailers with a gross weight not exceeding 10,000 pounds;
  • Light commercial vehicles not exceeding a gross weight of 10,000 pounds; and
  • A commercial vehicle exceeding 10,000 pounds, provided the vehicle is operated unladen.

Reciprocal agreements with other jurisdictions. In accordance with Transportation Code, § 502.091, and Chapter 648, the executive director of the department may enter into a written agreement with an authorized officer of a state, province, territory, or possession of a foreign country to provide for the exemption from payment of registration fees by nonresidents, if residents of this state are granted reciprocal exemptions. The executive director may enter into such agreement only upon:

• The approval of the governor; and
• Determining that the economic benefits to the state outweigh all other factors considered.

Border commercial zones

• Texas registration required.
• A vehicle located in a border commercial zone must display a valid Texas registration if the vehicle is owned by a person who:
  • Owns a leasing facility or a leasing terminal located in Texas; and
  • Leases the vehicle to a foreign motor carrier.
• Exemption for trips of short duration. Except as provided by paragraph (1) of this subsection, a foreign commercial vehicle operating in accordance with Transportation Code, Chapter 648 is exempt from the display of a temporary registration permit if:
  • The vehicle is engaged solely in the transportation of cargo across the border into or from a border commercial zone;
  • For each load of cargo transported the vehicle remains in this state for:
    • Not more than 24 hours; or
    • Not more than 48 hours, if:
      • Nhe vehicle is unable to leave this state within 24 hours because of circumstances beyond the control of the motor carrier operating the vehicle; and
      • All financial responsibility requirements applying to this vehicle are satisfied;
  • The vehicle is registered and licensed as required by the country in which the person that owns the vehicle is domiciled or is a citizen as evidenced by a valid metal license plate attached to the front or rear exterior of the vehicle; and
  • The country in which the person who owns the vehicle is domiciled or is a citizen provides a reciprocal exemption for commercial motor vehicles owned by residents of Texas.
• Exemption due to reciprocity agreement. Except as provided by paragraph (1) of this subsection, a foreign commercial motor vehicle in a border commercial zone in this state is exempt from the requirement of obtaining a Texas registration if the vehicle is currently registered in another state of the United States or a province of Canada with which this state has a reciprocity agreement that exempts a vehicle that is owned by a resident of this state and that is currently registered in this state from registration in the other state or province.

Citations

• Tex. Transp. Code 502.040 Registration Required; General Rule
• Tex. Transp. Code 502.001 Definitions
• Tex. Transp. Code 502.140 Certain Off-Highway Vehicles
• Tex. Transp. Code 551A.001 Definitions
• Tex. Transp. Code 502.141 Off-Highway Former Military Vehicles
• Tex. Transp. Code 502.143 Other Vehicles
• Tex. Transp. Code 502.144 Vehicles Operated on Public Highway Separating Real Property Under Vehicle Owner’s Control
• Tex. Transp. Code 502.145 Vehicles Operated by Certain Nonresidents
• Tex. Transp. Code 502.146 Certain Farm Vehicles and Drilling and Construction Equipment. [Effective until January 1, 2025]
• Tex. Transp. Code 502.146 Certain Farm Vehicles and Drilling and Construction Equipment. [Effective January 1, 2025]
• 43 TAC 217.40 Special Registrations