- Texas is getting rid of temporary paper license plates starting next week.
- It’ll now move to metal plates only, each with a name and address linked to it.
- Lawmakers believe that this measure will make policing motorists easier.
Temporary paper license plates are convenient, but can also be problematic. While they’re easy for dealers to use, they’re also child’s play for criminals to forge. That’s why Texas is about to switch from paper tags to metal ones. The shift starts now and could help reduce crime in and out of the Lone Star State.
Beginning on July 1, 2025, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles will no longer issue paper tags. Instead, it and dealers in the state will issue one of four different metal tags every time a car is sold.
More: Over 30 Dealers Shut Down For Allegedly Printing Fraudulent Paper License Plates
Blue metal plates will go on dealer vehicles used for things like test drives, loaner vehicles, or transporting vehicles. Green plates are for cars sold to out-of-state buyers. Red plates are the new de facto temp tag, good for 30 days. Purple tags will stand in for other types if the dealer doesn’t have the correct plate type in its inventory.
Drivers with legal paper tags issued before July 1 can continue to use them. Those selling a car to another private party will keep their plates with them, or they can meet at a DMV with the buyer and have the administration change the registration on the plate. Those trading a car into a dealer will also keep their plate, but the dealer can also simply re-register it for the new vehicle.
Interestingly, this has been in the works for several years. Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill into law in 2023 that required this change. Since then, the state has been working to set up the new plate distribution and tracking system. With everything in place, state officials are hopeful that the transition will be seamless, but concede there’s a chance it may not.
Speaking to NBC, the DMV said: “Given the complexity of the process changes, unique operational challenges may emerge following implementation. However, the processes and systems have been designed with flexibility, allowing the department to quickly and efficiently address any challenges as they arise.” Should the online registration system go down, dealers have a form they can send with buyers to legitimize the sale.
Moreover, authorities believe it’ll make policing easier. Fake paper tags allow criminals to print them at home and then drive a vehicle that appears legitimate but isn’t. The new system will effectively link every plate to a specific person and address moving forward, so it should make bad actors’ lives harder.