(a) Purpose.
  (1) Transportation Code, Chapters 501 and 502, charge the department with the responsibility for issuing titles and registering vehicles operating on the roads, streets, and highways of the state.
  (2) To provide a more efficient, cost-effective system for registering and titling vehicles, submitting title and registration records to county tax assessor-collectors and the department, maintaining records, improving inventory control of accountable items, and collecting and reporting of applicable fees consistent with those statutes, the department has designed:
    (A) an automated system known as the registration and title system. This system expedites registration and titling processes, provides a superior level of customer service to the owners and operators of vehicles, and facilitates availability of the department's motor vehicle records for official law enforcement needs. Automated equipment compatible with the registration and title system is indispensable to the operational integrity of the system; and
    (B) a web-based system known as webDEALER. This system expedites registration and titling processes, provides a superior level of customer service to the owners and operators of vehicles, and facilitates availability of the department's motor vehicle records for official law enforcement needs.
  (3) This subchapter prescribes the policies and procedures under which the department may make the automated equipment available to a county tax assessor-collector as designated agent of the state for processing title and vehicle registration documents and the policies and procedures for users who opt to use webDEALER.
(b) Definitions. The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
  (1) Automated equipment--Equipment associated with the operation of the registration and titling system, including, but not limited to, microcomputers, printers, software, and cables.
  (2) Department--The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.
  (3) Executive director--The executive director of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.
  (4) Fair share allocation--The amount of automated equipment determined by the department to be effective at providing a reasonable level of service to the public. This amount will be determined on transaction volumes, number of county substations, and other factors relating to a particular county's need.
  (5) RTS--The department's registration and title system.
  (6) Title application--A form as defined by §217.2 of this title (relating to Definitions), and includes the electronic process provided by the department that captures the information required by the department to create a motor vehicle title record.
  (7) webDEALER--The department's web-based titling and registration system used to submit title applications to county tax assessor-collectors and the department. This term includes any other web-based system which facilitates electronic submission of title applications, including webSALVAGE and webLIEN.

Source Note: The provisions of this §217.71 adopted to be effective March 12, 2015, 40 TexReg 1096; amended to be effective March 1, 2018, 43 TexReg 1146