Registration and Title Bulletin #032-07

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.

PURPOSE
To inform you of the provisions of House Bill 2992 (copy attached), enacted by the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007.

DETAILS
House Bill 2992, effective September 1, 2007, amends Texas Transportation Code, Section 502.167(j)(1) by eliminating the 50 trailer minimum eligibility requirement to register trailers for five consecutive years. All owners of token trailers now have the option to register/renew trailers for one year, five years or a portion of the years remaining in the five year period.

For example, the current five year period for five year token trailers expires March 2010. If an owner of a token trailer applies for token trailer registration in September, 2007, one of the following types of token trailer registration may be purchased:

• One year registration through the county tax assessor-collector’s office (no change in procedure); or
• Three years of registration through the Vehicle Titles and Registration (VTR) Division regional office. The owner will pay three years of registration fees and applicable local fees, and be issued a five year token trailer plate with March 2010 expiration.
• Beginning April, 2010, five years of registration may be purchased with an expiration of March 2015.

Programming accommodations in the Registration and Title System will not be completed by September 1, 2007. Once programming is complete, the county tax assessor-collector offices and the VTR regional offices will have the ability to issue five year token trailer registration. In addition, owners residing in a participating county may renew registration through the Internet Vehicle Title Registration System for one year or five years (or portion thereof).

COUNTY ACTION
Until programming is complete, please refer customers who wish to purchase token trailer registration for a portion of the current five year period with an expiration of March 2010, to their local VTR regional office.

DEPARTMENT ACTION
The VTR regional offices will process new accounts and supplemental applications in TxIRP for five year token trailer license plates. In the near future, VTR regional offices will receive a VTR Directive with detailed procedures for processing five year token trailer registration in TxIRP.

CONTACT
If you have any questions or need any additional information, please contact your local Vehicle Titles and Registration Division Regional Office.

In some cases the Registration and Title Bulletins (RTB) contain attachments. If you require a copy of the original signed RTB and the attachments, please e-mail us and include the RTB number. Repeat requests are subject to charges in accordance with Open Record policies.