Fraudulent temporary Texas plates are a serious problem for law enforcement, and they’re beginning to crack down on these paper tags—but you can still get a legitimate temporary license plate from the dealer you bought your car from.

It’s illegal to drive a vehicle without a license plate in Texas, but in some circumstances, getting those plates might take longer than expected. That’s why the Lone Star State allows licensed dealers to issue temporary license plates to buyers. But with fraud on the rise, getting the temporary plates or permits might be confusing.

That’s where

Jerry

comes in. As a licensed broker and the #1 rated

car insurance

app, Jerry has all the information you need on temporary license plates and how to lower your

Texas car insurance costs

Does Texas issue temporary plates?

Yes—the Texas DMV allows licensed dealers to issue temporary license plates, also known as temporary tags or paper tags, to buyers. These provisional paper license plates allow buyers to drive a vehicle legally for 45 days while the dealer completes the title and registration process.

The only way to get temporary plates in Texas is to go through a licensed dealer, since only dealers are authorized to use the

webDEALER | eTAG system

What’s the problem with temporary Texas license plates?

Although they might seem like a great idea, Texas temporary tags have received a lot of negative attention in the last ten years due to widespread fraud. Criminals have been using fake temporary tags to avoid being identified by law enforcement, costing the state of Texas upwards of $200 million in lost revenue since 2018.

Here’s how it works: in order to access the temporary tags system, criminals pay $900 to register online as licensed dealers. These fake shell dealerships allow criminals to print out and sell temporary tags, creating a massive shady criminal enterprise that’s stumped law enforcement—until now.

As of 2022, new bills have authorized TxDMV to:

Limit the number of temporary tags any dealership can issue in a single year

Revoke the license of any dealership caught issuing fraudulent temporary plates

MORE:

Car Loan in Texas 2022

Make safe driving pay

Get rewarded for safe driving. Earn points and unlock benefits. Totally free.

Start earning now

How to get a temporary license plate in Texas

Of course, there are times when you might need temporary license plates for legitimate reasons. If that’s the case, remember that you can only get valid temporary plates from a licensed Texas dealer. Any online ads you may find are a criminal scheme—and you can report the misuse of temporary tags to the TxDMV

here

Ideally, you won’t need temporary plates at all—but if you do, you should only get them from the dealer you bought your vehicle from. If the title and registration process still isn’t complete after your 45-day temporary plates expire, you can report the dealership to the DMV.

Temporary registration permits in Texas

In certain circumstances, you may need a temporary registration for a vehicle in Texas. You can get a temporary registration permit for 72 hours, 144 hours, 30 days, or one trip if:

Your vehicle is not registered

Your vehicle is registered in a different state or country without a reciprocity agreement with Texas

Your vehicle is not registered for its maximum weight

Further eligibility restrictions apply to each type of permit, so

read the instructions

carefully to determine what kind of permit is right for you.

Here’s what each type of permit costs, not including a $4.75 processing fee:

72-hour: $25

144-hour: $50

30-day: $25

One-trip: $5

Can I drive a car without plates if I just bought it in Texas?

If you buy a car in Texas and the seller keeps the plates, you can

print a transit permit

based on the car’s VIN. This permit legally authorizes you to drive the vehicle home or to your local county tax assessor’s office for registration. But beware! It’s only valid for five days—after that, you won’t be able to drive the car without plates.

MORE:

Texas car insurance laws

"I’m earning

awesome rewards

every week, just for driving safe!”

How to find affordable car insurance in Texas

Finding a legitimate temporary license plate in Texas can be a challenge—but finding affordable car insurance doesn’t have to be! Download the

Jerry

app to get access to competitive quotes from top providers in just 45 seconds.

With Jerry, shopping for car insurance is as simple as sending a text. Just enter your information and sit back while Jerry, a licensed broker and the #1 rated insurance app on the App Store, finds you a set of customized quotes. Find one you like? Just give it a tap, and Jerry’s team of experts will set to work getting you switched over with a minimum of paperwork, time, and effort.

For a process this quick and painless, you might not expect outsized savings—but that’s exactly what Jerry could win you. On average, Jerry users save over $800 a year on car insurance.

“
Jerry
is excellent. I saved $50 with my new Nationwide plan. They did everything so fast, making for a stress-free experience!” —Donna B.

RECOMMENDED

Thousands of customers saved on average $887/year on their car insurance with Jerry

This app is great, but the customer service is even better! Not to mention convenient! My husband and I got the lowest rate (much lower than the rates I was finding online through my own searches), quickly, and pretty much all through text message! Thank you so much for a hassle free experience👍

Gabriella R.

Find insurance savings

4.7/5 Rating on App Store

Are you overpaying for car insurance?

Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.

Try Jerry