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TEXAS DRIVER’S LICENSE
Once you’ve set up residency in the Houston area and have a local address, one of your first stops will be to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to apply for a Texas driver’s license and to register your vehicle. According to the DPS, new residents are required to get a Texas driver’s license within 90 days of moving to Texas. New residents with a valid out-of-state driver’s license and who own a vehicle and would like to obtain a Texas driver’s license will need to provide proof of Texas registration, proof of liability insurance, a Social Security number and an out-of-state license. The only examination required is the vision test.
If the out-of-state license has expired, a new resident will have to take a written and a driving examination as well as the vision test. Those who do not own a vehicle will not have to show proof of insurance but will be required to complete an affidavit of nonownership. At the time of application, new residents will be required to surrender their valid or expired out-of-state driver’s license. The fee for an original driver’s license for people over 18 is $24, and it expires in six years. For a full list of fees, visit the website at www.txdps.state.tx.us/DriverLicense/.
All original applicants for a driver’s license or an identification certificate must present proof of identity satisfactory to the DPS, as well as take written, driving and vision tests. For information about documents that may be presented as acceptable proof of identity, go to the Texas DPS website at www.txdps.state.tx.us.
Call the Texas DPS Driver’s License Office in Houston at (713) 681-6187 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday for information on locations and to obtain a booklet on Texas driving regulations. Bureaus are located throughout the area.
AUTO REGISTRATION/TAGS
According to the Texas DPS and the Department of Motor Vehicles, new Texas residents are required within 30 days of moving to Texas to get a vehicle inspection and register and title their vehicle. New residents must have their vehicles pass inspection before having it registered and titled. After having it inspected, owners should take the following to their county tax office:
Members of the U.S. Armed Forces and nonresident students attending accredited Texas schools on a full-time basis are not considered state residents. Fees for registration and certificate of title, which must be paid in cash, can include registration (front and back license plates), title application, use tax and a new-resident fee.
Other fees might include the safety inspection of your vehicle (varies with year and model), any needed repairs and any notary fees. The newcomer’s county tax assessor will have the most recent information. Registration and license tags also must be renewed every 12 months. Texas residents can renew registration and tags by mail, in person or online. For more information about fees, visit the Texas Department Motor Vehicles website at www.txdmv.gov/vehicles/registration/register.htm.
Once you’ve set up residency in the Houston area and have a local address, one of your first stops will be to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to apply for a Texas driver’s license and to register your vehicle. According to the DPS, new residents are required to get a Texas driver’s license within 90 days of moving to Texas. New residents with a valid out-of-state driver’s license and who own a vehicle and would like to obtain a Texas driver’s license will need to provide proof of Texas registration, proof of liability insurance, a Social Security number and an out-of-state license. The only examination required is the vision test.
If the out-of-state license has expired, a new resident will have to take a written and a driving examination as well as the vision test. Those who do not own a vehicle will not have to show proof of insurance but will be required to complete an affidavit of nonownership. At the time of application, new residents will be required to surrender their valid or expired out-of-state driver’s license. The fee for an original driver’s license for people over 18 is $24, and it expires in six years. For a full list of fees, visit the website at www.txdps.state.tx.us/DriverLicense/.
All original applicants for a driver’s license or an identification certificate must present proof of identity satisfactory to the DPS, as well as take written, driving and vision tests. For information about documents that may be presented as acceptable proof of identity, go to the Texas DPS website at www.txdps.state.tx.us.
Call the Texas DPS Driver’s License Office in Houston at (713) 681-6187 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday for information on locations and to obtain a booklet on Texas driving regulations. Bureaus are located throughout the area.
AUTO REGISTRATION/TAGS
According to the Texas DPS and the Department of Motor Vehicles, new Texas residents are required within 30 days of moving to Texas to get a vehicle inspection and register and title their vehicle. New residents must have their vehicles pass inspection before having it registered and titled. After having it inspected, owners should take the following to their county tax office:
- Inspection certification
- Proof of liability insurance
- Vehicle’s odometer reading if it is less than 10 years old
- Original out-of-state title, proof of registration, proof of sales tax payment or current foreign or military ownership document
- Completed Form VTR 130-U
- Following fees:
- Registration fee
- Title application fee of $28 or $33 depending on the county
- New resident tax of $90
Members of the U.S. Armed Forces and nonresident students attending accredited Texas schools on a full-time basis are not considered state residents. Fees for registration and certificate of title, which must be paid in cash, can include registration (front and back license plates), title application, use tax and a new-resident fee.
Other fees might include the safety inspection of your vehicle (varies with year and model), any needed repairs and any notary fees. The newcomer’s county tax assessor will have the most recent information. Registration and license tags also must be renewed every 12 months. Texas residents can renew registration and tags by mail, in person or online. For more information about fees, visit the Texas Department Motor Vehicles website at www.txdmv.gov/vehicles/registration/register.htm.
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