Vehicle registration, temporary permits

General requirements for permits

• You may be required to have your vehicle inspected before applying for a permit. Please review the information for the type of permit you need to determine if an inspection is required. 
• You will need proof of insurance that meets Texas minimum requirements ($30,000 per person bodily injury, $60,000 per accident bodily injury and $25,000 property damage liability). Your insurance must cover the entire length of the permit. 
• You will need an identification and it must match the name on your proof of insurance.
• You must pay in cash to receive a permit from the tax office. No credit cards accepted.

Permit Disqualifications

• Vehicles impounded by law enforcement for expired registration and/or junk, salvage or non-repairable title status.

Timed permits

One-trip permits

• Issued for the temporary movement of an empty vehicle or trailer
• You may only use it to travel in Texas, but you do not need to be a Texan to purchase the permit
• The permit is good only from where you start (point of origin) to where you end (point of destination) in Texas
• You do not need an inspection for a one-trip permit
• You can apply for a maximum of three, one-trip permits per vehicle

Vehicles eligible for one-trip permits:

• Bus
• Charter bus from another state 
• Private bus carrying passengers and property 
• Commercial vehicle 
• Passenger vehicle
• Truck or truck-tractor
• Park model trailer
• Motorcycle

Required documents and fees

• Proof of insurance that is valid until the expiration of the permit (not required for trailers or semi-trailers)
• One-trip permit fee: $9.75 cash only.

30-day permits

• Issued for the temporary movement of a vehicle carrying cargo or passengers.
• The permit begins on the date of purchase and expires in 30 calendar days. 
• A maximum of three, 30-day permits allowed per vehicle.
• 30-day and one-trip permits not available online.

Vehicles eligible for 30-day permits:

• Passenger vehicles (cars and trucks)
• Motorcycles
• Private bus
• Trailer
• Semitrailer 
• Light commercial vehicles
• Commercial vehicle exceeding 10,000 pounds of gross vehicle weight (GVW) 

Required documents and fees:

• Completed Application for Timed Temporary Permits (VTR-66)
• Proof of insurance that is valid until the expiration of the permit
• Proof of current passing vehicle inspection (unless the vehicle displays current out-of-state license plates or the vehicle is mobile drilling or servicing equipment used in the production of gas or oil)
• Current government-issued photo identification matching the policyholder or listed driver
• 30-day permit fee: $29.75 cash only 

Additional requirements for licensed title services other than a dealer:

If you are a licensed title service other than a dealer, Power of Attorney is required.

72- and 144-hour permits

• 72- or 144-hour permits available for commercial vehicles and buses owned by residents of the United States, Mexico or Canada.
• Vehicles using 72- or 144-hour permits may only operate at the maximum weight of 80,000 pounds.

Vehicles eligible for 72- and 144-hour permits:

• Trailer and semi-trailer
• Truck-tractor
• Trailer and semi-trailer
• Motor bus
• Laden truck

Required documents and fees:

• Proof of insurance that is valid until the expiration of the permit.
• Proof of current passing vehicle inspection (unless the vehicle displays current out-of-state license plates or the vehicle is mobile drilling or servicing equipment used in the production of gas or oil)
• 72-hour permit fee: $29.75 or 144-hour permit fee: $54.75

72- and 144-hour permits available online from Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV). Other options for purchasing these permits include your local TxDMV Regional Office; title service companies Fry’s Auto Title or Auto Title Services of Oak Hill (these private companies charge an additional fee for their service); or at one of our four tax office locations where we require payment in cash.