No More Paper Tags: Texas Rolls Out New Plate Law

Texas drivers, heads up, your next trip to the dealership is about to look very different.

In just a few weeks, temporary paper license plates will be a thing of the past. Starting July 1, 2025, all car dealerships in Texas will be required to issue metal license plates on the spot, cutting paper tags out of the process entirely.

This change comes as fake paper tags have made it easier for criminals to avoid law enforcement by making counterfeit tags. By switching to metal plates from day one, the state hopes to put a serious dent in that trend.

So, what does this mean for you? If you're buying a new (or new-to-you) vehicle from a dealership after July 1, you'll get real plates right then and there. No more waiting for tags in the mail. Dealerships will keep a stockpile of metal plates ready to go, so you can drive off legally plated and ready.

There's a new process when buying a car.

The new law also includes another big shift: your license plate will now travel with you. If you trade in your car, you simply remove the plate from your old one and attach it to the new vehicle. The DMV will update all the necessary ownership info behind the scenes.

Read More: Texas Says Goodbye to Temporary Paper License Plates This July

Private sales work a little differently.

Buyers will keep the plates that are already on the car, and then head to their local tax office to get everything officially transferred. Sellers, don’t forget: you still need to file a Vehicle Transfer Notification within 30 days.