According to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, online renewals will be unavailable until January due to the elimination of inspections starting next year.
Some Texans are encountering an error when attempting to renew their vehicle registration online, as they prepare for upcoming changes to the state’s registration laws.
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles has stated that you have the option to renew your registration online. You can do this starting 90 days before your tag’s expiration date, or up to 12 months after expiration if you have not received a citation for an expired registration. However, a new law has caused some confusion regarding this process.
When individuals attempt to register online, they encounter an error message stating: “The vehicle was not found. Corrected Vehicle Information may be required.”
According to the DMV, there is no requirement to register early. However, individuals with tags expiring in January, February, or March will need to wait until the new year to renew online, as this is when the new law comes into effect.
Houston Bill 3297, which was passed in 2023, is set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2025. This significant legislation will eliminate the vehicle safety inspection program for non-commercial vehicles.
In Texas, emissions inspections are still required in 17 counties, including Harris County, if the vehicle is registered there.
These are the counties where you will still need to undergo an emissions test before renewing your registration:
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- Harris County
- Montgomery County
- Fort Bend County
- Galveston County
- Brazoria County
- Dallas County
- Rockwall County
- Denton County
- Tarrant County
- Johnson County
- El Paso County
- Travis County
- Kaufman County
- Ellis County
- Williamson County
- Collin County
- Parker County