Texas Register

TITLE 43 TRANSPORTATION
PART 10TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES
CHAPTER 217VEHICLE TITLES AND REGISTRATION
SUBCHAPTER BMOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION
RULE §217.58Digital License Plate Eligibility
ISSUE 06/26/2020
ACTION Final/Adopted
Preamble Texas Admin Code Rule

(a)Vehicles eligible for a digital license plate. The following vehicles are eligible for a digital license plate, subject to the exceptions in subsection (b) of this section:

  (1)any vehicle owned or operated by a governmental entity; or

  (2)a vehicle owned or operated by a person other than a governmental entity if the vehicle is:

    (A)part of a commercial fleet, as defined by Transportation Code, §502.001; or

    (B)a truck, motorcycle, moped, trailer, semitrailer, sport utility vehicle, or other vehicle that is required to be registered under Transportation Code, Chapter 502.

(b)Vehicles not eligible for a digital license plate.

  (1)Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, a vehicle is not eligible for a digital license plate if the vehicle is not required to display a license plate on the rear of the vehicle, including:

    (A)truck-tractors; or

    (B)trucks with combination registration under Transportation Code, §502.255.

  (2)Notwithstanding subsection (a)(2)(B) of this section, a vehicle registered as a passenger vehicle is not eligible for a digital license plate.

(c)Requirements for Eligibility Verification and Issuance of Digital Plates.

  (1)An applicant for a digital license plate may not obtain a digital license plate from a digital license plate provider if the vehicle for which a digital license plate is being sought is not registered. The individual must first submit a complete initial application for registration and the accompanying documents and fees at the county tax assessor-collector's office, or at the department for vehicles that must be registered directly through the department under this chapter. After receipt of the necessary documentation and fees, the department will issue one or two metal license plates, in accordance with this chapter, to the applicant for the digital license plate, depending on the type of vehicle. After the department issues the metal license plate or plates to the applicant, the applicant may then proceed with obtaining a digital license plate from a digital license plate provider.

  (2)A digital license plate provider must obtain the following information from a digital license plate applicant before it verifies the vehicle's eligibility for a digital license plate:

    (A)the last four digits of the vehicle identification number; and

    (B)the existing metal license plate number.

  (3)A digital license plate provider may not issue a digital license plate for a vehicle that has not been issued Texas registration in the name of the applicant for the digital license plate.

  (4)Any metal license plate issued for the rear of the vehicle and any associated plate sticker issued for a rear metal license plate must be carried in or on the vehicle at all times when using a digital license plate.

The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the adoption and found it to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on June 11, 2020

TRD-202002357

Tracey Beaver

General Counsel

Texas Department of Motor Vehicles

Effective date: July 12, 2020

Proposal publication date: April 17, 2020

For further information, please call: (512) 465-5665



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