Moving to Texas: Insurance, Registration and License Deadlines
New residents usually face two different deadlines handled by two different agencies.
- Register your vehicle within
- 30 days
Register with your county tax assessor-collector within 30 days of establishing residency. Late registration can bring penalty fees.
- Get a state license within
- 90 days
Obtain a Texas driver license from DPS within 90 days of moving.
- Safety inspection
- No longer required
Texas abolished safety inspections for non-commercial vehicles on January 1, 2025 (HB 3297). A $7.50 inspection program replacement fee still applies at registration.
- Emissions inspection
- Required in listed counties
Emissions testing still applies in Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Montgomery, Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Travis, Williamson and El Paso counties. Bexar County was added in 2026.
- Handled by separate agencies
- Yes
Registration goes through the county tax assessor-collector; the driver license goes through DPS. Two separate stops, two separate deadlines.
What changed
January 1, 2025
Safety inspections abolished for non-commercial vehicles
HB 3297 ended the Vehicle Safety Inspection Program for non-commercial vehicles. A $7.50 inspection program replacement fee is now collected at registration instead. Emissions testing still applies in designated counties.
Texas DPS