- A Texas law that takes effect today bans paper temporary license plates
- Dealers will issue metal plates
- Private party sellers can transfer their plates
It’s one of the most common complaints about car-buying: you leave the dealership with paper temporary license plates and a promise that your metal plates are coming. Some dealers are good about getting permanent plates to buyers.
Others are not.
That problem is going away in Texas. Today, A new law lets dealers give permanent metal license plates with every new car purchase. The state will no longer issue or allow temporary paper tags.
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The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) says the move will “enhance security, prevent fraud, and strengthen traffic enforcement.”
Dealers will issue permanent plates in most cases, but have temporary metal plates on hand for limited uses like transferring cars between dealerships or delivering vehicles to out-of-state buyers.
When Texas residents sell their car privately, they can transfer the plate to the new owner, and most notify the DMV within 30 days.
Related: How to Protect Yourself When Selling a Car Privately
CBS News notes that paper tags issued before today “will expire within 60 days, meaning they should all be gone from the roads by September 1.”
