Unless otherwise exempted by law or this chapter, the owner
of any motor vehicle that is required to be titled, including any
motor vehicle required to be registered in accordance with Transportation
Code Chapter 502, shall apply for a Texas title in accordance with
Transportation Code Chapter 501 or 731, or this subchapter.
(1) Motorcycles, autocycles, and mopeds. The title
requirements for a motorcycle, autocycle, and moped are the same requirements
prescribed for any motor vehicle.
(2) Farm vehicles.
(A) Farm tractors owned by agencies exempt from registration
fees in accordance with Transportation Code §502.453, are required
to be titled and registered with "Exempt" license plates issued in
accordance with Transportation Code §502.451.
(B) Tractors used as road tractors to mow rights of
way or used to move commodities over the highway for hire are required
to be registered and titled.
(3) Neighborhood electric vehicles. The title requirements
of a neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV) are the same requirements
prescribed for any motor vehicle.
(4) Trailers, semitrailers, and house trailers. If
a trailer or semitrailer with a gross weight of 4,000 pounds or less
has been titled previously, any subsequent owner shall apply for a
Texas title for the trailer or semitrailer. Travel trailer-type vehicles
must meet the criteria outlined in subparagraph (C) of this paragraph
to be titled:
(A) The rated carrying capacity will not be less than
one-third of its empty weight.
(B) Mobile office trailers, mobile oil field laboratories,
and mobile oil field bunkhouses are not designed as dwellings, but
are classified as commercial semitrailers and must be registered and
titled as commercial semitrailers if operated on the public streets
and highways.
(C) House trailer-type vehicles and camper trailers
must meet the following criteria in order to be titled.
(i) A house trailer-type vehicle that is less than
eight feet six inches in width or less than 45 feet in length is classified
as a travel trailer and shall be registered and titled.
(ii) A camper trailer shall be titled as a house trailer
and shall be registered with travel trailer license plates.
(iii) A recreational park model type trailer that is
primarily designed as temporary living quarters for recreational,
camping or seasonal use, is built on a single chassis, and is 400
square feet or less when measured at the largest horizontal projection
when in the set up mode shall be titled as a house trailer and may
be issued travel trailer license plates.
(5) Assembled vehicles. The title requirements for
assembled vehicles are prescribed in Subchapter L of this title (relating
to Assembled Vehicles).
(6) Not Eligible for Title. The following are not eligible
for a Texas title regardless of the vehicle's previous title or registration
in this or any other jurisdiction:
(A) vehicles that are missing or are stripped of their
motor, frame, or body, to the extent that the vehicle loses its original
identity or makes the vehicle unsafe for on-road operation as determined
by the department;
(B) vehicles designed by the manufacturer for on-track
racing only;
(C) vehicles designed or determined by the department
to be for off-highway use only, unless specifically defined as a "motor
vehicle" in Transportation Code Chapter 501; or
(D) vehicles assembled, built, constructed, rebuilt,
or reconstructed in any manner with:
(i) a body or frame from a vehicle which is a "nonrepairable
motor vehicle" as that term is defined in Transportation Code §501.091(9);
or
(ii) a motor or engine from a vehicle which is flood
damaged, water damaged, or any other term which may reasonably establish
the vehicle from which the motor or engine was obtained is a loss
due to a water related event.
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| Source Note: The provisions of this §217.3 adopted to be effective March 12, 2015, 40 TexReg 1096; amended to be effective March 9, 2016, 41 TexReg 1721; amended to be effective August 8, 2016, 41 TexReg 5766; amended to be effective December 4, 2016, 41 TexReg 9335; amended to be effective November 14, 2017, 42 TexReg 6382; amended to be effective June 22, 2020, 45 TexReg 4058; amended to be effective December 30, 2020, 45 TexReg 9581; amended to be effective November 14, 2024, 49 TexReg 8980 |
