Registration and Title Bulletin #012-08

These documents contain text of correspondence sent by TxDOT to the county tax assessor-collectors, statutory agents who provide vehicle registration and titling services for citizens in Texas. This information is provided to apprise the general public of issues affecting the state’s vehicle titling and registration process.

DETAILS
We are excited to announce the launch of Module 1. This module provides for processing online transactions that will benefit vehicle sellers and buyers, licensed motor vehicle dealers and law enforcement statewide. Providing for these Internet-based transactions was required by legislation enacted during the 80th Texas Legislature, 2007 (HB 310, HB 481 and SB 11).

The module functions will be phased in, with the initial implementation beginning May 1, 2008. Use of the system by motor vehicle dealers will be phased in during the summer, and more information will follow at that time.

Customers will be able to access the online functions from the TxDOT Web site at www.txdot.gov. On the Home Page, the customer can use the “Search” feature by entering the name of the application (Vehicle Transfer Notification or Vehicle Transit Permit) and then selecting the appropriate selection returned.

This first module of Vision 21 provides for:

• Vehicle Transfer Notification: Vehicle transfer notifications may be submitted online by vehicle sellers and motor vehicle dealers on behalf of their customers.
  • Placement of the “Vehicle Transferred” notation on the motor vehicle record for online transactions is fully automated and will occur within two business days after successful submission of an electronic vehicle transfer notification (i.e. when there is a successful match of all information provided: VIN, license plate and owner name).
  • See Attachments 1 and 2 for additional information
     
• Plate-to-Owner: As part of the Vehicle Transfer Notification process, an individual may notify the department that they kept the license plates and registration sticker when they sell their vehicle. A checkbox has been added to the Texas Motor Vehicle Transfer Notification form (VTR-346, Rev. 3/2008). This allows the customer to make both notifications in a single submission.
  • See Attachment 3 for additional information
  • Refer to RTB #53-07 for detailed information regarding the “Plate-to-Owner” process, including retention of license plates and the transfer of license plates
   
• Vehicle Transit Permit: Individual buyers in private sales may go online to print a no fee Vehicle Transit Permit that allows the buyer to move the vehicle when the seller keeps the license plates and registration sticker.
  • See Attachments 4 to 6 for further information
     
• Dealer Temporary e-Tag System: Provides an online system that licensed motor vehicle dealers are required to use when issuing Buyer’s Temporary Tags whenever they sell a vehicle, and Converter Tags or Dealer In-Transit Tags for movement or use of their vehicles.
  • Implementation will occur, after approval of the Motor Vehicle Division’s administrative rules by the Texas Transportation Commission, this summer
  • The $5 fee for the Buyer’s Tag will be collected and submitted to the county by the selling dealer
  • Detailed information regarding the Dealer Temporary Tag System will be distributed in the future
     
• New Vehicle & Owner Record Availability: Each Vehicle Transit Permit or Dealer Temporary Tag transaction will create a unique permit or tag number that can be used to identify the buyer and vehicle purchased, converter and vehicle being operated, dealer and vehicle being driven or dealer and dealer agent driving a vehicle.

  This information submitted online and the unique tag or permit numbers will be available within 2 hours to users accessing individual motor vehicle records through:

  • MVDI, the department’s internal mainframe motor vehicle record access system
  • MVInet, the Internet access system used by some county tax offices, other government agencies and subscribers
  • TLETS (Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunication System) used by law enforcement agencies statewide

  NOTE: Access to this information is not available through the Registration and Title Systems (RTS); however, future enhancements will provide for access to updated plate ownership information through RTS.

  Multiple records may display dependent on the type of transaction. For example, when a plate-to-owner transaction is conducted, the first record shown will be the “plate-to-owner” record, and the second will be the registration and title record of the vehicle from which the license plates were removed.

  The Vehicle Transfer Notification notation remains the same (Vehicle Transferred: yyyy/mm/dd) and will be added to the existing motor vehicle record. Information submitted on a transfer notification, such as the buyer’s name and address, continues to be available by submitting a written request for the information, or for law enforcement, by submitting a TLETS query to the department.

  COUNTY ACTION
  Review the attached information to become familiar with the new online transactions and information that will be available to the motoring public, licensed motor vehicle dealers, and law enforcement as a result of these new processes.

  As a reminder, registration may not be issued or renewed if a “Vehicle Transferred” notation is indicated on a motor vehicle record, except under certain conditions. See Attachment 1 for the requirements that must be met before registration may be issued.

  CONTACT
  If you have any questions or need any additional information, please contact your local Vehicle Titles and Registration Division Regional Office. You may also call Mike Craig, Deputy Director, or me at (512) 465-7570. Thank you.