To avoid tickets and fines, newcomers
must tend promptly to several details to satisfy Texas'
driver requirements. Even moving across the street means
filling out forms and updating information. This list should
help you meet the state's mandates, whether you're moving
to the area from Anchorage or Austin.Driver's license.
If you're new to Texas, a trip to a Department of Public
Safety office is necessary. A list of offices can be found
on the agency's Web site, www.txdps.state.tx.us.
Bring your out-of-state license
if you have one and proof of Social Security number, which
can be a Social Security card or one of many other official
documents. Also, proof of Texas vehicle registration and
liability insurance is required if you own a vehicle.
If the out-of-state license
is valid, the only required exam will be an eye test. If
the license is expired, a written exam and driving test
will also be administered.
The standard fee for a Texas
license is $24. Under a new state law, though, bad drivers
– those who accumulate at least three major moving
violations or who cause two or more accidents – will
have to pay a surcharge to renew their licenses.
If moving within the state,
you have 30 days to report the address change to the DPS.
The paperwork can be obtained by visiting any DPS office,
by e-mailing customerservicedl@txdps.state.tx.us and requesting a form or by downloading
the document from the DPS Web site and mailing it to the
state. A $10 fee will be charged.
Vehicle inspection
Texas requires that vehicles
undergo annual inspections in the county in which they're
registered. These often can be done when getting an oil
change or tire rotation, though it is a good idea to call
ahead to make sure a garage is licensed to do the checks.
The inspection cost for most
passenger cars or small trucks in the Dallas-Fort Worth
area is $39.50.
Vehicle registration
To register your vehicle
in Texas, go to your county tax assessor/collector's office
with proof of vehicle ownership, inspection and insurance.
If the vehicle's title is not in your name, proof of purchase
must be provided.
After the proper documentation
is shown and forms filled out, a fee will be assessed based
on the vehicle's year, make and model or, if a truck, its
weight. A registration sticker and license plates will be
issued.
Even if you have only moved
within the state, you must notify authorities. Some counties
allow electronic filing, while others require a stop at
the tax assessor/collector's office.
Jason
Lasseter, an employee at Inspections
Only in Plano, checks for holes underneath a vehicle.
Ariane Kadoch Swisa/DMN
