Texas Statutes
Subchapter B. Certificate of Title Requirements
Section 501.030. Motor Vehicles Brought Into State

Sec. 501.030. MOTOR VEHICLES BROUGHT INTO STATE. (a) Before a motor vehicle that was last registered or titled in another state or country may be titled in this state, the county assessor-collector shall verify that the vehicle has passed the inspections required by Chapter 548, as indicated in the Department of Public Safety's inspection database under Section 548.251, or that the owner has obtained an identification number inspection in accordance with department rule.
(b) Before a motor vehicle that was not manufactured for sale or distribution in the United States may be titled in this state, the applicant must:
(1) provide to the assessor-collector:
(A) a bond release letter, with all attachments, issued by the United States Department of Transportation acknowledging:
(i) receipt of a statement of compliance submitted by the importer of the vehicle; and
(ii) that the statement meets the safety requirements of 19 C.F.R. Section 12.80(e);
(B) a bond release letter, with all attachments, issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency stating that the vehicle has been tested and shown to conform to federal emission requirements; and
(C) a receipt or certificate issued by the United States Department of the Treasury showing that all gas guzzler taxes due on the vehicle under 26 U.S.C. Section 4064(a) have been paid; or
(2) provide to the assessor-collector proof, satisfactory to the department, that the vehicle was not brought into the United States from outside the country.
(c) Subsections (a) and (b) do not apply to a motor vehicle lawfully imported into the United States by a distributor or dealer from the vehicle's manufacturer.
(d) If a motor vehicle has not been titled or registered in the United States, the application for title must be accompanied by:
(1) a manufacturer's certificate of origin written in English issued by the vehicle manufacturer;
(2) the original documents that constitute valid proof of ownership in the country where the vehicle was originally purchased, with an English translation of the documents verified as to the accuracy of the translation by an affidavit of the translator; or
(3) if the vehicle was imported from a country that cancels the vehicle registration and title for export, the documents assigned to the vehicle after the registration and title were canceled, with an English translation of the documents verified as to the accuracy of the translation by an affidavit of the translator.
(e) Before a motor vehicle that is required to be registered in this state and that is brought into this state by a person other than a manufacturer or importer may be bargained, sold, transferred, or delivered with an intent to pass an interest in the vehicle or encumbered by a lien, the owner must apply for a title in a manner prescribed by the department to the county assessor-collector for the county in which the transaction is to take place or to any assessor-collector who is willing to accept the application. The assessor-collector may not issue a title receipt unless the applicant delivers to the assessor-collector satisfactory evidence showing that the applicant is the owner of the vehicle and that the vehicle is free of any undisclosed liens.
(f) A county assessor-collector may not be held liable for civil damages arising out of the assessor-collector's failure to reflect on the title receipt a lien or encumbrance on a motor vehicle to which Subsection (e) applies unless the failure constitutes wilful or wanton negligence.
(g) Until an applicant has complied with this section:
(1) a county assessor-collector may not accept an application for title; and
(2) the applicant is not entitled to an appeal as provided by Sections 501.052 and 501.053.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
Amended by:
Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1296 (H.B. 2357), Sec. 19, eff. January 1, 2012.
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1291 (H.B. 2305), Sec. 10, eff. March 1, 2015.
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 969 (S.B. 2076), Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2017.
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 592 (S.B. 876), Sec. 3, eff. March 1, 2022.

Structure Texas Statutes

Texas Statutes

Transportation Code

Title 7 - Vehicles and Traffic

Subtitle A - Certificates of Title and Registration of Vehicles

Chapter 501 - Certificate of Title Act

Subchapter B. Certificate of Title Requirements

Section 501.021. Title for Motor Vehicle

Section 501.022. Motor Vehicle Title Required

Section 501.023. Application for Title

Section 501.0234. Duty of Vehicle Dealer on Sale of Certain Vehicles

Section 501.0235. Personal Identification Information for Obtaining Title

Section 501.0236. Issuance of Title and Permits When Dealer Goes Out of Business

Section 501.024. Title Receipt

Section 501.025. Manufacturer's Certificate Required on First Sale

Section 501.027. Issuance of Title

Section 501.0275. Issuance of Title for Unregistered Vehicle

Section 501.0276. Denial of Title Receipt, Title, or Record of Title for Failure to Provide Proof of Emissions Testing

Section 501.028. Signatures

Section 501.029. Acceptable Proof of Ownership

Section 501.030. Motor Vehicles Brought Into State

Section 501.0301. Certain Off-Highway Vehicles Purchased Outside This State

Section 501.031. Rights of Survivorship Agreement

Section 501.0315. Beneficiary Designation

Section 501.032. Identification Number Inspection Required

Section 501.0321. Identification Number Inspection

Section 501.0322. Alternative Identification Number Inspection

Section 501.033. Assignment and Reassignment of Identification Number by Department

Section 501.0331. Motor Number Required for Registration

Section 501.0332. Application for Motor Number Record

Section 501.034. Issuance of Title to Government Agency

Section 501.0341. Issuance of Title to Government Agency for Travel Trailer

Section 501.035. Title for Former Military Vehicle

Section 501.036. Title for Farm Trailer or Farm Semitrailer

Section 501.037. Title for Trailers or Semitrailers

Section 501.038. Certificate of Title for Custom Vehicle or Street Rod