(a) Purpose. Transportation Code, Chapter 502, Subchapter L and Chapter 504, Subchapter K, provide for the removal of the license plates and registration insignia when a motor vehicle is sold or transferred. Motor vehicles eligible for this process are limited to a passenger car or a light truck, as those terms are defined in Transportation Code, §502.001.
(b) Disposition of removed license plates. License plates removed from a motor vehicle by a licensed motor vehicle dealer or by a motor vehicle owner in a private transaction as provided in Transportation Code, §502.491, may be:
  (1) transferred to another vehicle:
    (A) that is titled or will be titled in the same owner name as the vehicle from which the license plates were removed;
    (B) that is of the same vehicle classification (passenger car or light truck) as the vehicle from which the license plates were removed; and
    (C) upon acceptance of a request to transfer the license plate by the county tax assessor-collector in which the application is filed as provided by Transportation Code, §501.023 or §502.040, whichever applies;
  (2) disposed of in a manner that renders the license plates unusable or that ensures the license plates will not be available for fraudulent use on a motor vehicle; or
  (3) retained by the owner of the motor vehicle from which the license plates were removed.
(c) Vehicle transit permit.
  (1) Obtaining a vehicle transit permit. A person who obtains a motor vehicle in a private transaction may obtain one vehicle transit permit (temporary single-trip permit), through the department's website at www.txdmv.gov if the seller or transferor has removed the license plates and registration insignia.
  (2) Restrictions. The permit, which is valid only for the period shown on the permit, may be used for operation of the motor vehicle only as provided in Transportation Code, §502.492, and must be carried in the vehicle at all times. The permit may only be used on passenger vehicles 6,000 pounds or less and light trucks with a gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds or less.

Source Note: The provisions of this §217.53 adopted to be effective March 12, 2015, 40 TexReg 1096; amended to be effective August 8, 2016, 41 TexReg 5777