(a) When a metal license plate, symbol, tab, or other registration device is lost, stolen, mutilated, or needs to be replaced for cosmetic or readability reasons, a metal license plate replacement may be obtained from any county tax assessor-collector upon:
  (1) the payment of the statutory replacement fee prescribed by Transportation Code, §502.060 or §504.007; and
  (2) the provision of a signed statement, on a form prescribed by the department, that states:
    (A) the license plate, symbol, tab, or other registration device furnished for the described vehicle has been lost, stolen, mutilated, or needs to be replaced for cosmetic or readability reasons, and if recovered, will not be used on any other vehicle; and
    (B) the replaced license plate, symbol, tab, or other device will only be used on the vehicle to which it was issued.
(b) If the owner remains in possession of any part of the lost, stolen, or mutilated metal license plate, symbol, tab, or other registration device, that remaining part must be removed and surrendered to the department on issuance of the replacement and request by the county tax assessor-collector.

Source Note: The provisions of this §217.32 adopted to be effective March 12, 2015, 40 TexReg 1096; amended to be effective August 8, 2016, 41 TexReg 5777; amended to be effective July 12, 2020, 45 TexReg 4358