Tex.
Transp. Code Section 502.093
Annual Permits
(a)
The department may issue an annual permit in lieu of registration to a foreign commercial motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer that is subject to registration in this state and is not authorized to travel on a public highway because of the lack of registration in this state or the lack of reciprocity with the state or country in which the vehicle is registered.(b)
A permit issued under this section is valid for a vehicle registration year to begin on the first day of a calendar month designated by the department and end on the last day of the last calendar month of the registration year.(c)
A permit may not be issued under this section for the importation of citrus fruit into this state from a foreign country except for foreign export or processing for foreign export.(d)
A person may obtain a permit under this section by:(1)
applying in the manner prescribed by the department;(2)
paying a fee in the amount required by Subsection (e) in the manner prescribed by the department, including a service charge for a credit card payment or escrow account; and(3)
furnishing evidence of financial responsibility for the motor vehicle that complies with Sections 502.046 (Evidence of Financial Responsibility)(c) and 601.168 (Insurance Policy or Bond; Limits)(a), the policies to be written by an insurance company or surety company authorized to write motor vehicle liability insurance in this state.(e)
The fee for a permit under this section is the fee that would be required for registering the vehicle under Section 502.253 or 502.255 (Truck-tractor or Commercial Motor Vehicle Combination Fee; Semitrailer Token Fee), except as provided by Subsection (f).(f)
A vehicle registered under this section is exempt from the token fee and is not required to display the associated distinguishing license plate if the vehicle:(1)
is a semitrailer that has a gross weight of more than 6,000 pounds; and(2)
is used or intended to be used in combination with a truck tractor or commercial motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of more than 10,000 pounds.(g)
A vehicle registered under this section is not subject to the fee required by Section 502.401 (Optional County Fee for Road and Bridge Fund) or 502.403 (Optional County Fee for Child Safety).(1)
is owned by a resident of the United States, Canada, or the United Mexican States;(2)
is subject to registration in this state; and(3)
is not authorized to travel on a public highway because of the lack of registration in this state or the lack of reciprocity with the state or province in which the vehicle is registered.(b)
A permit issued under this section is valid for the period stated on the permit, effective from the date and time shown on the receipt issued as evidence of registration under this section.(c)
A person may obtain a permit under this section by:(1)
applying to the county assessor-collector or the department;(2)
paying a fee of $25 for a 72-hour permit or $50 for a 144-hour permit in the manner prescribed by the department that may include a service charge for a credit card payment or escrow account;(3)
furnishing to the county assessor-collector or the department evidence of financial responsibility for the vehicle that complies with Sections 502.046 (Evidence of Financial Responsibility)(c) and 601.168 (Insurance Policy or Bond; Limits)(a); and(4)
submitting a copy of the applicable federal declaration form required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration or its successor in connection with the importation of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment subject to the federal motor vehicle safety, bumper, and theft prevention standards.(d)
A county assessor-collector shall report and send a fee collected under this section in the manner provided by Section 502.198 (Disposition of Fees Generally). The board by rule shall prescribe the format and content of a report required by this subsection.(e)
A vehicle issued a permit under this section is subject to Subchapters B and F, Chapter 548 (Inspection of Vehicles), unless the vehicle:(1)
is registered in another state of the United States, in a province of Canada, or in a state of the United Mexican States; or(2)
is mobile drilling or servicing equipment used in the production of gas, crude petroleum, or oil, including a mobile crane or hoisting equipment, mobile lift equipment, forklift, or tug.(e)
A vehicle issued a permit under this section is subject to Chapter 548 (Inspection of Vehicles), unless the vehicle:(1)
is registered in another state of the United States, in a province of Canada, or in a state of the United Mexican States; or(2)
is mobile drilling or servicing equipment used in the production of gas, crude petroleum, or oil, including a mobile crane or hoisting equipment, mobile lift equipment, forklift, or tug.(f)
A commercial motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or motor bus apprehended for violating a registration law of this state:(1)
may not be issued a permit under this section; and(2)
is immediately subject to registration in this state.(g)
A person who operates a commercial motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer with an expired permit issued under this section is considered to be operating an unregistered vehicle subject to each penalty prescribed by law.(h)
The department may establish one or more escrow accounts in the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles fund for the prepayment of a 72-hour permit or a 144-hour permit. Any fee established by the department for the administration of this subsection shall be administered as required by an agreement entered into by the department.(b)
A permit issued under this section is valid for:(1)
one trip, as provided by Subsection (c); or(2)
30 days, as provided by Subsection (d).(c)
A one-trip permit is valid for one trip between the points of origin and destination and those intermediate points specified in the application and registration receipt. Unless the vehicle is a bus operating under charter that is not covered by a reciprocity agreement with the state or country in which the bus is registered, a one-trip permit is for the transit of the vehicle only, and the vehicle may not be used for the transportation of any passenger or property. A one-trip permit may not be valid for longer than 15 days from the effective date of registration.(d)
A 30-day permit may be issued only to a passenger vehicle, a private bus, a trailer or semitrailer with a gross weight of not more than 10,000 pounds, a light truck, or a light commercial vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of more than 10,000 pounds that will operate unladen. A person may obtain multiple 30-day permits. The department may issue a single registration receipt to apply to all of the periods for which the vehicle is registered.(e)
A person may obtain a permit under this section by:(1)
applying as provided by the department to:(A)
the county assessor-collector of the county in which the vehicle will first be operated on a public highway; or(B)
the department in Austin or at one of the department’s vehicle title and registration regional offices;(2)
paying a fee, in the manner prescribed by the department including a registration service charge for a credit card payment or escrow account of:(A)
$5 for a one-trip permit; or(B)
$25 for each 30-day period; and(3)
furnishing evidence of financial responsibility for the vehicle in a form listed under Section 502.046 (Evidence of Financial Responsibility)(c).(f)
A registration receipt shall be carried in the vehicle at all times during the period in which it is valid. The temporary tag must contain all pertinent information required by this section and must be displayed in the rear window of the vehicle so that the tag is clearly visible and legible when viewed from the rear of the vehicle. If the vehicle does not have a rear window, the temporary tag must be attached on or carried in the vehicle to allow ready inspection. The registration receipt must be carried in the vehicle at all times during the period in which it is valid.(g)
The department may refuse and may instruct a county assessor-collector to refuse to issue a temporary registration for any vehicle if, in the department’s opinion, the vehicle or the owner of the vehicle has been involved in operations that constitute an abuse of the privilege granted by this section. A registration issued after notice to a county assessor-collector under this subsection is void.(b)
A license plate issued under this section is valid for:(1)
one trip, as provided by Subsection (c); or(2)
30 days, as provided by Subsection (d).(c)
A one-trip license plate is valid for one trip between the points of origin and destination and those intermediate points specified in the application and registration receipt. Unless the vehicle is a bus operating under charter that is not covered by a reciprocity agreement with the state or country in which the bus is registered, a one-trip license plate is for the transit of the vehicle only, and the vehicle may not be used for the transportation of any passenger or property. A one-trip license plate may not be valid for longer than 15 days from the effective date of registration.(d)
A 30-day license plate may be issued only to a passenger vehicle, a private bus, a trailer or semitrailer with a gross weight of not more than 10,000 pounds, a light truck, or a light commercial vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of more than 10,000 pounds that will operate unladen. A person may request from the department an extension of the period a 30-day license plate is valid. The department may issue a single registration receipt to apply to all of the periods for which the vehicle is registered.(e)
A person may obtain a license plate under this section by:(1)
applying as provided by the department to:(A)
the county assessor-collector of the county in which the vehicle will first be operated on a public highway; or(B)
the department in Austin or at one of the department’s vehicle title and registration regional offices;(2)
paying a fee, in the manner prescribed by the department including a registration service charge for a credit card payment or escrow account of:(A)
$5 for a one-trip license plate; or(B)
$25 for each 30-day license plate; and(3)
furnishing evidence of financial responsibility for the vehicle in a form listed under Section 502.046 (Evidence of Financial Responsibility)(c).(f)
The department shall prepare the design and specifications of a license plate issued under this section. The license plate must contain all pertinent information required by this section and must be displayed as prescribed by department rule. The registration receipt must be carried in the vehicle at all times during the period in which it is valid.(g)
The department may refuse and may instruct a county assessor-collector to refuse to issue a license plate for any vehicle if, in the department’s opinion, the vehicle or the owner of the vehicle has been involved in operations that constitute an abuse of the privilege granted by this section. A license plate issued after notice to a county assessor-collector under this subsection is void.(h)
A vehicle operated with a license plate under this section is exempt from the inspection requirements of Chapter 548 (Inspection of Vehicles).
Source:
Section 502.093 — Annual Permits, https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.502.htm#502.093 (accessed Apr. 20, 2024).
