To register an out-of-state vehicle in Texas, your vehicle must meet all federal and state import requirements before being titled and/or registered in Texas. This process involves four main steps:
Step 1: Properly Import Your Vehicle.
Your vehicle must meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). More information on customs issues is available from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Step 2: Pass Applicable Vehicle Inspections.
Have a Texas vehicle safety inspection (commercial vehicles) performed at any inspection station in your new county of residence. If you live in one of the counties requiring emissions inspections, you will need to pass a vehicle emissions inspection prior to registering your vehicle: Brazoria, Collin, Dallas, Denton, El Paso, Ellis, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Johnson, Kaufman, Montgomery, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Travis, Williamson. You will need to provide proof of vehicle insurance at the time of inspection. You can have your vehicle inspected at any official Texas State Inspection Station. The inspection station will provide you with an original, inspector-signed Vehicle Inspection Report (VIR).
Step 3: Verify the VIN.
The vehicle must be inspected by a trained auto theft investigator who is a law enforcement officer of this state or a political subdivision of this state. Contact your local law enforcement agency to determine if they have a trained auto theft investigator or contact the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority Grantee to locate a trained investigator. Note: A commissioned employee of the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) may also perform these inspections. Upon completion of this VIN inspection, you will be provided with an original, investigator-signed Law Enforcement Identification Number Inspection Report (Form VTR-68-A).
Step 4: Apply for Texas Title/Registration.
Once your vehicle has cleared customs, federal and state inspections, take the following forms, along with proof of insurance, to your county tax office: U.S. Department of Transportation Form HS-7 or any other documents that confirms entry/customs clearance and compliance or exemption from federal safety standards; if the imported vehicle is under bond, the original bond release letter from the U.S. Department of Transportation; Vehicle Inspection Report (VIR), if applicable; inspection report on the bottom portion of Form VTR-68-A completed by a law enforcement agency’s auto theft unit. Note: U.S. Military personnel, including immediate family members, returning to Texas military bases are not required to submit a completed Form VTR-68-A. Completed Application for Texas Certificate of Title and/or Registration (Form 130-U); provide the vehicle’s odometer reading if required; present proof of ownership. You must provide a certified English translation of any documents printed in a language other than English.
