Fingerprinting Requirements

Fingerprinting Requirements:

On June 30, 2022, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles adopted rules requiring certain new applicants and existing dealer license holders to be fingerprinted (43 Tex. Admin. Code § 211.6). Applications submitted on or after September 1, 2022, will be subject to the new fingerprint requirement.

General Process Overview

Important Note: Do NOT go to the vendor to get your fingerprints taken UNTIL you receive confirmation from the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) that fingerprints are required and related instructions.

  • Step 1: Submit your completed application to TxDMV for processing.

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  • Step 2: MVD will conduct an initial review of your application, including a payment review, to ensure it meets requirements.
    • Under 43 Tex. Admin. Code § 215.83, an application for a new license, license amendment, or license renewal filed with the department must be accompanied by the required fee, drawn from an account held by the applicant or license holder, or drawn from a trust account of the applicant’s attorney or certified public accountant.

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  • Step 3: MVD’s Background and Fraud Unit will review your application to determine whether fingerprints are required, and, if so, who on your application needs to be fingerprinted.
    • Do NOT go to the vendor to get your fingerprints taken UNTIL you receive confirmation from MVD that fingerprints are required.

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  • Step 4: MVD will notify you via email when fingerprints are required and who on your application needs to be fingerprinted. Additional instructions, including the TxDMV Service Code, will be provided in that email.
    • NOTE: Once MVD sends you notification by email that fingerprints are required, we encourage that those identified as requiring fingerprints go to the vendor, IdentoGO, as quickly as possible. This will help facilitate timely processing of your application.

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  • Step 5: All individuals requiring fingerprints must have their fingerprints live-scanned or submitted via mailed ink cards to the approved vendor, IdentoGO. Results of the fingerprinting will be sent directly to TxDMV from both the Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Records Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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  • Step 6: MVD’s Background and Fraud Unit will review the information received and may request additional documentation or statements of explanation.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who is required to be fingerprinted?

  • Applicants for and holders of the following dealer license types (also known as General Distinguishing Numbers or GDNs):
    • Franchised motor vehicle dealer
    • Independent motor vehicle dealer
    • Wholesale Motor Vehicle Dealer
    • Motorcycle Dealer
    • House Trailer Dealer (“House Trailer” includes “Travel Trailer” and “Towable Recreational Vehicle”)
    • Trailer or Semi-Trailer dealer; and
    • Independent Mobility Motor Vehicle Dealer
  • Within the license types listed above, the following persons must be fingerprinted:
    • Owner(s)
    • President
    • Managing partner(s)
    • Persons acting in a representative capacity for an applicant or holder of a license, including the applicant or holder’s:
      • Officers
      • Directors
      • Members
      • Managers
      • Trustees
      • Partners
      • Principals; or
      • Managers of business affairs

2. Why do I have to get fingerprinted?

As part of TxDMV’s efforts to prevent and deter fraud, the board adopted 43 Tex. Admin. Code § 211.6 on June 30, 2022, requiring applicants for and holders of all types of dealer general distinguishing numbers, including franchised dealers, issued under Transportation Code Chapter 503 to be fingerprinted. All persons acting in a representative capacity for an applicant or holder of a dealer license must also be fingerprinted.

3. I was already fingerprinted by another government agency. Can I use those fingerprint results for my dealer license issued by TxDMV?

No. Even if you have been previously fingerprinted for another license, or by another government agency, you are still required to submit to TxDMV a set of new fingerprints that have not been used in connection with another license. Per Title 28, Code of Federal Regulations Section 50.12, fingerprinting reports may only be used for the purposes requested. Thus, TxDMV is unable to access fingerprint results that were submitted to another agency.

4. I currently hold an active dealer license, when will I be required to get fingerprinted?

You will be required to meet fingerprinting requirements at the time of your license renewal or if you submit an amendment application to change ownership, whichever comes first.

5. I hold more than one license subject to fingerprinting, will I have to be fingerprinted for each license?

No. You will only be required to be fingerprinted once if an active license is maintained.

6. Will I have to be fingerprinted every time I renew my license?

No. The fingerprint requirement is a one-time requirement if an active license is maintained. However, if you fail to submit a timely renewal or allow your license to be closed, you will be required to submit new fingerprints if you apply for a subsequent license in the future.

7. How do I get fingerprinted?

Fingerprinting services are provided through IdentoGO by IDEMIA, for a fee payable directly to the vendor. Results of the fingerprinting will be sent directly to the TxDMV from both the Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Records Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

8. How much does it cost to get fingerprinted?

As of July 27, 2022, the cost of fingerprinting with IdentoGO is $38.25.

9. How long will it take for MVD to receive the results of fingerprinting from the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation?

Because the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are separate government agencies outside of TxDMV’s control, we are unable to predict with certainty how long it will take for MVD to receive the results of fingerprinting. Thus, to make the licensing process as expeditious as possible, MVD strongly recommends that all persons requiring fingerprints obtain them as quickly as possible after receiving MVD’s notification of required fingerprinting (see “Step 4” in the General Process Overview, above.)

10. What if I’m located in an area that’s very far away from an IdentoGO location?

If you cannot schedule an appointment at a Live Scan IdentoGO location, you must be fingerprinted in ink on a standard FD-258 fingerprint card at a local law enforcement agency or other agency certified for fingerprinting. Additional instructions regarding this method of submission will be included in your instructional email from MVD.

11. What if I’m located out-of-state?

If you cannot schedule an appointment at a Live Scan IdentoGO location, you must be fingerprinted in ink on a standard FD-258 fingerprint card at a local law enforcement agency or other agency certified for fingerprinting. Additional instructions regarding this method of submission will be included in your instructional email.

12. Can I submit my fingerprints in more than one way to expedite the process (e.g., submit hard copy fingerprints AND complete live scan fingerprinting at IdentoGO)?

No. Multiple methods of submission will delay the fingerprinting process, as the fee paid to IdentoGO allows for either a live scan or a mailed submission of fingerprint cards. An applicant or Texas licensee should complete their fingerprints by either arranging an appointment at an approved IdentoGO location or by mailing IdentoGO one completed fingerprint card with the completed IdentoGO confirmation document containing a bar code. If fingerprints are submitted using multiple methods or if an applicant completes their fingerprints at a different IdentoGO location than identified for their appointment, the applicant will be responsible for contacting IdentoGO directly to identify the correct submission method. TxDMV does not have access to the IdentoGO system and is not able to amend or verify an applicant’s submission method. Applicants should not mail fingerprint cards to the TxDMV.

13. Can I submit hard copy fingerprints on a standard FD-258 directly to TxDMV?

No. You must be fingerprinted in ink on a standard FD-258 fingerprint card at a local law enforcement agency or other agency certified for fingerprinting. Additional instructions regarding this method of submission will be included in your instructional email. Applicants should not mail fingerprint cards to the TxDMV.

14. My fingerprints were rejected. Can I immediately request new fingerprint cards?

Applicants are informed of their fingerprints being rejected by IdentoGO prior to that information being sent to the TxDMV. Fingerprints can be rejected by either DPS or the FBI. TxDMV will not communicate that a reprint is needed until we receive your unique reference code, which you may then use on the IdentoGO site to waive the fee for a required reprint.