Vehicle Requirements for Military Personnel

To help make the process easier, we have created a military packet summarizing the steps you should take to title or register your vehicle. This packet can also be used by friends and family who may be submitting title and registration forms on your behalf.

Non-residents serving in Texas are not required to register their vehicle in Texas.

Renewing Your Vehicle Registration

If you are a Texas resident serving out of the state, your registration options include:

• registering online (not all counties participate in online registration), or
• designating a representative to register for you by providing them:
  • a Power of Attorney form,
  • a copy of your auto insurance, and
  • a copy of your driver license.

Your representative can renew your registration in person at the county tax office or by mailing the required paperwork. Applicable registration fees are due at this time.

Importing a Vehicle

If you plan to import a vehicle from another country, you must submit special paperwork to ensure the vehicle can be titled and registered in Texas. Our military packet provides more information about importing vehicles.

A vehicle sales tax of 6.25 percent of the sales price will be due at the time of title application. For more information about the vehicle sales tax, please visit the Comptroller of Public Accounts.

Information for Disabled Veterans

Some disabled veterans may qualify for a discounted registration fee and free disabled veterans license plates. Visit our specialty license plates page for more information or contact your county tax office.

Parking Privileges

If your vehicle has military or disabled veteran license plates, you may be entitled to certain parking privileges:

• Vehicles with disabled veteran license plates may park in any space designated for disabled parking.
• Vehicles with military license plates may park for free in state-maintained parking lots and state-maintained parking meters if your vehicle displays one of these plates:
   
  • Disabled Veteran
  • Purple Heart
  • Prisoner of War
  • Congressional Medal of Honor
  • Pearl Harbor Survivor
  • Legion of Valor (Air Force Cross, Distinguished Service Cross, Army Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross or Medal of Honor)
  • Legion of Merit

These license plates do not exempt you from parking fees at federal, city or private parking facilities.

For more information, read our FAQs.