Texas license plates are aimed at keeps track of the vehicle and the owner it belongs to. This record of information is so that in case the car is involved in an accident, criminal activities, trespassing or abandoned, the car owner can be traced. License plate records need to be regularly updated and this is done by ensuring your vehicle’s tags are always renewed, regular smog checks completed, and keeping your auto insurance current.
There are some different types of license plates in Texas depending on your needs. For example, if you own a vehicle your plates will be different from those of a motorcycle or truck. If the plates are for a particular organization, they can decide to apply for plates that are a bit customized. People with disabilities can also apply and get special plates. These types of plates are known as the disability parking plates.
Texas Commercial License Plates
Commercial license plates in Texas are issued by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) and are required for any vehicle used for commercial purposes or is in a weight class that is deemed a commercial vehicle. There are four main types of Texas commercial license plates, including:
- Standard Commercial License Plates: These plates are issued to vehicles used for commercial purposes, such as delivery trucks, buses, and tow trucks.
- Farm and Ranch License Plates: These plates are issued to vehicles used for agricultural purposes, such as farm tractors and trailers.
- Apportioned License Plates: These plates are issued to vehicles that travel across state lines and are used for commercial purposes.
- Specialty License Plates: These plates are issued for specific types of commercial vehicles, such as antique trucks or mobile homes.
To register your commercial vehicle in Texas, you will need to complete an application with the TxDMV and provide proof of vehicle ownership, liability insurance, and other required documents. The fees for commercial license plates vary depending on the type of plate and the weight of the vehicle and it’s intended uses.
Texas Vehicle Statistics
- There are over 8 million registered vehicles with Texas license plates in the US, as of 2020
- Texas has the 2nd most registered vehicle in the United States, California has the most with over 14 million
- According to the Texas DOT, there are approximately 500,000 accidents per year
- There are over 90 thousand DUI arrests happened in 2021, according to the Texas DOT
- There are 4.2 million registered pickup trucks in Texas, the most in the nation
- Texas has 80 thousand registered electric vehicles according to the US Department of Energy
- Over 250 million people ride public transportation, according to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
- There are over 328 thousand registered motorcycles in Texas as of 2020
- Over 65 thousand vehicles were stolen in 2021 according to the Texas DMV, and nearly 200 thousand were burglarized
Accidents, DUIs, traffic citations, vehicle title information, safety issues and recalls are all part of the public record in Texas that anyone can looking online with a license plate number or vehicle identification number. Some vehicle owner information may be limited depending on the reasons as outlined in the DPPA and state regulations.
Texas Highway Accident Statistics
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, there were 404,307 motor vehicle accidents in Texas in 2020, which resulted in 3,675 fatalities and 14,522 serious injuries. Texas license plate information is recorded for all drivers involved in a vehicle accident in Texas. If a vehicle has been totalled or incurred serious damage then the vehicle title may be recorded as junked, or salvaged if it was repaired and sold again.
Here are some additional statistics on Texas highway accidents from 2020:
- 27,159 crashes involving alcohol, resulting in 1,184 fatalities and 2,223 serious injuries.
- 25,634 crashes involving distracted driving, resulting in 364 fatalities and 2,200 serious injuries.
- 37,960 crashes in urban areas and 135,317 crashes in rural areas.
- The majority of highway accidents in Texas are a result of excessive speed, distracted driving, and not yielding.
- Passenger cars and sedans were involved in the majority of accidents, followed by pickup trucks and SUVs.
- Texas counties with the highest number of accident fatalities were in Harris County, Dallas County, and Tarrant County.
- The most dangerous time of day for these accidents in Texas were between 3-7pm, and the most dangerous day of the week to drive is Saturday.
What to Do When You See a Drunk Driver in Texas
- Stay at a Safe Distance: If you see a driver swerving on the road, or driving erratically or drifting between lanes, make sure to keep as far away from them as possible. Do not try to pass them or try and get a closer look.
- Do Not Try to Confront The Driver: Never confront a drunk driver on the road, this is a job for the highway patrol or police. This can put you and other drivers on the road in danger. Drunk drivers can be very unpredictable
- Call 911 When It’s Safe: If you or your passenger can safely call 911 and report the drunk driver it’s a good idea, this can help keep dangerous drivers off the road. Be ready to give the dispatcher as much information as possible, such as the vehicle’s make and model, license plate number, highway or road, and direction of travel.
- Provide a Description: Describe in detail what is happening with the vehicle in question but make sure to stay a safe distance from the dangerous situation.
- Stay on the Phone: Stay on the phone with the 911 operator until they have all the information they need. If the drunk driver causes an accident, be prepared to provide information to law enforcement about what you saw. Again, do not interact or engage with a drunk driver on the road
- Follow Up: You may be asked for your information to follow up questions with law enforcement and other agencies depending on if there was an accident.
If you see a drunk driver on the road in Texas, it’s very important to take immediate action to protect yourself and others on the road. Reporting a drunk driver can save lives and prevent accidents. It is important to take action if you see a driver exhibiting signs of intoxication on the road in Texas.
The Texas Automotive Industry
The Texas automotive industry is a significant piece of the Texas economy, the industry employs tens of thousands of people and generates billions of dollars in revenue for the state each year. Many automotive companies call Texas home, and numerous suppliers, dealerships, and automotive specialty companies.
General Motors, one of the largest automotive companies in the world, calls Texas home. They operate a multitude of automotive production plants and other companies in the state. The GM Arlington Assembly Plant, in Arlington, Texas, is one of the largest automotive plants in the world. It’s responsible for the manufacture of many different makes and models of SUVs, like the Chevy Tahoe, Chevy Suburban, and GMC Yukon. GM also has a manufacturing plant in San Antonio that makes Chevy and GMC pickup trucks.
Toyota is another large brand that produces a lot of vehicles in Texas. They also have a large manufacturing plant in San Antonio that makes the Tundra and Tacoma pickup trucks. Toyota also operates a large R&D center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, but many of its Texas employees work in sales, marketing, and engineering.
Ford also produces it’s F-150 pickup truck in Texas, along with Navstar that makes commercial vehicles and trucks and school busses.
The automotive industry is thriving in Texas. Some of the other manufacturers that call this state home are Visteon, Magna International, Continental AG and a variety of automotive aftermarket part manufacturers.
Texas plays a leading role in the automotive industry and has a long history of making cars, trucks, SUVs for America and the World. Even though Texas doesn’t manufacture any motorcycles, it has a strong presence of motorcycle brands and dealerships, including: Harley Davidson, Indian Motorcycles, BMW and Triumph to name a few.
Additional Statewide License Plate Search Resources
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
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- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
My car was stolen in 2014. My social security card was stolen as well. It was a white 1994 Acura Integra. The last location it was located in was Victoria, Texas. I even remember my SSN as well. I\’m happy to prove it. I have my birth certificate and birthplace as well. I genuinely want to get the situation resolved and get the thief taken into custody. I appreciate it, thank you. The first three letters of the license plate were CMU. It was stolen in Jacksonville, Florida. That\’s where I\’m located now.
Adam, we are sorry to hear about having your vehicle stolen. Unfortunately our Texas license plate lookup does not have a vehicle trace capability. Our resources only reference the information that is on record and we do not offer tracing services. If you haven’t filed a police report then this should be done as well as letting your auto insurance company know and the Texas DMV. Our resources are solely for referencing public information online. Please reach out if we can be of further assistance.
What to do if your vehicle was stolen in Texas
1. Contact your local Texas police department and file a report
2. Notify your auto insurance company about your stolen vehicle
3. Let the Texas DMV know about your vehicle being stolen
4. Cancel any bank cards that may have been in the vehicle
Received a toll violation for a vehicle sold in 2015. Please verify what vehicle is registered with the personal Texas plate DNTTRP and who the owner is. Thank you
William, you will want to reach out to the Texas Toll Road Authority in the county you received this notice from. They will be able to sort this out for you. It’s possible that the title of the vehicle was not transferred by the new owner. You should have also filed a release of liability for that vehicle you sold in Texas in 2015. That will be evidence that you are not liable for the toll charges if you encounter and friction with the Toll Authority. This situation has happened numerous times so there is a surely a precedence for this department to follow.
How to Dispute a Texas Toll Road Violation
You can dispute a Texas Toll Road Violation by filing a “Contest of Notice” of your toll road violation. The contest of the toll road violation should be mailed to you shortly after your Texas toll road violation. Include an explanation of your contest as well as any evidence that shows you are not at fault or not the driver of the vehicle
My wife\’s car has tag #cjp 3434 and we have toll tag. Driver of a 2015 Chevy truck has tag #cpj3434 and somehow NTTA is getting them mixed up and I am paying some of his tolls. Just want to know if he lives near me to argue with NTTA.
Richard, that is very unfortunate but can be fixed relatively easy, especially if those NTTA violations have the photo cameras. That would definitively show that you are not the driver or perpetrator of those toll road violations.
How To Fight a Texas NTTA Violation
To fight a Texas NTTA violation you must not pay your violation. Paying your NTTA toll road violation will automatically be a plead of guilty. Instead, hire a North Texas traffic lawyer that can assist you with these toll road violations. The cost of a lawyer can be less than the violation and increase in your auto insurance.
Abandoned
Lee, in order to report an TX abandoned vehicle you will want to contact your local Texas police station and file a report.
How To Report an Abandoned Vehicle in Texas
To report an abandoned vehicle in Texas you can report this to your local Texas police department or law enforcement agency. If this vehicle is located on your property you can have the police remove it for a $10 fee 10 days after you report the vehicle and the police have attempted to contact the registered owner.
Seeing if it has a clean title and value of vehicle
Mona, thanks for leaving a comment on our Texas license plate lookup blog. To find out if this vehicle has a clean title you can run a vehicle history report, these will cost you a few dollars however it can uncover issues that you might not be aware of. find out the value of the vehicle , a good option is the Kelley Blue Book website ( KBB.com ). There you can find out the value of a vehicle based on it’s condition, mileage and car history.
Hi,
I am looking for a license plate with my name on the plate. Can i get that?
If you’re looking for a Texas vanity license plate , then you will want to contact the Texas DMV as they are the issuing state agency for license plates. See below on additional instructions on how to obtain a Texas vanity license plate.
How to Get a Texas Vanity License Plate
1. Visit the Texas DMV website
2. Visit the specialty license plate page
3. Select a category for your vanity license plates
4. Then search your vanity plate title for availability
5. Then order your selected vanity plate through MyPlates.com
6. Enter all your registration information and pay
7. Your vanity plates will be mailed to you when ready
My vin number was scan by a AAA roadside technician. Is this common practice and with out asking for my I.D. ?
If the technician was not authorized by AAA to scan my vehicle’s door vin number in what ways can he use it for to violate laws?
Want to buy a pickup but the guy said it was his dad’s pickup and he died and he doesn’t have the title
Darren, you can buy a vehicle without a Texas title but it can sometimes be difficult depending on the situation. You will need at least a bill of sale stating the ownership details of the vehicle. That said, you might want to ask the seller to get a duplicate title before making the sale. You can also go to the Texas DMV and ask them what to do in this situation before proceeding.
my car was a vw nothback i sold in california in 2003 to a person in texas and want to locate it. I only have a license plate number from california.
Rene, there are only certain allowable reasons you can run a Texas license plate lookup or California license plate search. You will need to read through the terms of this search and what is allowed by the DPPA and CPPA for vehicle record resources
A trailer was left on my property and I need to contact the owner for them to remove it.
A car backed into mine at a store and I want to know the owner do the owner can deal with my insurance company cause I was told it was on private property so the police won’t do nothing
Royce, you may want to consult with your auto insurance company to determine what the next step is to get your car fixed. In some cases, an auto insurance company will help guide you in a hit and run scenario if you have the license plate number of the other vehicle
My neighbor snagged my bumper with his Texas pickup truck in the parking lot. The plate is…..PKW 1923 …Texas, but has no date tag on it. I would like the full name of the registree. Plus this tag used to be on a Chevy. Now it’s on a Dodge.
Can I use this service to search temporary plates?
This person tried break check me then wouldn\’t let me into the right turn lane.
Looking to mabye purchase avehicle that says no title but there are plates on it. Tried searching numbers but keeps coming back can\’t find.1KT Z84 TX.
Larry, unfortunately we cannot assist you with your TX license plate search. If you have the 17 digit VIN for the vehicle in question you can run a vehicle history report that will tell you a lot about the vehicle’s history as well as seeing if the TX vehicle title is clean
I I need to get my license plate number because my car was stolen
Shanna, we cannot lookup Texas license plate numbers by name however you can contact your local Texas DMV to inquire about your TX license plate information
I am trying to find previous owners from Texas on this car for parts I need in restoration.
I am thinking was in Austin or Houston
Ron, unfortunately we cannot assist you with a Texas license plate search for the reasons you have outlined. You might consider contacting the Texas DMV for more information about your inquiry
I found a license plate in my yard with Texas tag # HZX-4167. I am just looking for the name of the owner of the vehicle so that I can return it to them. I live in a smaller sized town and most everyone knows one another, I just need a name in order to return it to its proper owner
Michael, we cannot give out that information. Your best option is to give it to a police officer or drop it off at the DMV directly.
Motor cycle
Denver, how can we assist you with your Denver license plate search?
I TRIED DOING A REVERSE PLATE LOOKUP ON A FORD GT(DARK GREY) THAT KEEP RUNNING VARIOUS RED LIGHTS(EXCHANGE SERVICE RD EVERY TIME) NEARLY EVERY EVENING(ALONG WITH SPEEDING ON AVERAGE 70~80MPH IN A 45) ALONG LOOP 12 BETWEEN DUNCANVILLE RD AND S HAMPTON RD EAST-BOUND. 1020~1040PM TIME FRAME. PLATE ‘GTR-8788’ BUT I KEEP GETTING NO RESULTS IS THIS JUST ONE OF THOSE NON-REGISTERED SPEEDERS.
It’s uncertain if this is an unregistered vehicle with a fake license plate or not. Unfortunately it’s not possible for us to know
My car was stolen from home and don’t know my plates number to report it stolen
James, unfortunately we cannot lookup you Texas license plate number by name. The police should be able to locate this information when you file your police report for your stolen vehicle
I had a accident wit a car in round rock Texas the tags on the car say the insurance Valid but they insurance company says it not there car there comes back to the same make and model as the one I had the accident with the car that hit me show in the picture that it has damage the insurance car has no damage rounds rock police say the tags match a leased vehicle could someone help me figure out this mess I have pictures of the car that hit me I need to know what going on can texas give to cars the same set of tags if you will txt me a answer I will send you the pictures of the car or tell me who to contact
Don, you will need to reach out to the police or the Texas DPS directly to inquire about this misleading information. Unfortunately we will not be able to directly assist you with this issue. It sounds like there is some fraudulent tag information based on what you’ve told us. You might also want to contact your auto insurance company to followup with this situation so that you can be properly compensated for the repairs you need to fix your vehicle.
Where online can I go to find my temporary license plate number with my vin number. My vehicle was storm but I don\’t remember my temp plat number
Ms. GG, you can contact your DMV directly and make this inquiry to find out your Texas temporary license plate number, you can also go online to the Texas DMV website and make your TX license plate number inquiry there.
I’m trying to find out my plate number
Ivette, unfortunately we cannot lookup Texas license plate numbers by name. Your license plate number should be listed on your vehicle registration, vehicle title and auto insurance card.
The person in this charcoal grey subaru plate number MVC 2115 WAS SEEN THROWING A BABY KITTEN\’INTO A BUSY STREET DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC DONT KNOW IF THE KITTEN WAS SAVED OR NOT…..
That is terrible. You should report this to the police or highway patrol, they can follow up on this. We are merely a public records website
DX1B413 MOTORHOME YAG FROM 2011
Doyle, thank you for inquiring about this Texas license plate number however we do not have RV or Motorhome information available with our resources. Please reach out if we can assist you with any vehicle records in the future.
Need to tag my trailer I bought cant find bill of sale but plates on say DBH S65 FARM TRAILER TEXAS
I\’m being followed
Jackie, if you feel you’re being followed by another vehicle then try and take note of their license plate number and report this to the police. It’s illegal for someone to harass you and if you feel in danger then contacting the police is a good first step.
i am looking who owns or has the vehicle been sold to plate Bh68753. Thank you . I am co-owner and i think they sold it without my signature.
Marita, unfortunately we cannot lookup who a vehicle was sold to however you can visit the Texas DPS directly and lookup a vehicle history report to verify this information. Then you might want to find out if it’s possible for someone to sell a vehicle that was in your name.
Verifying a car
Thank you for reaching out about our Texas license plate lookup blog. Please let us know what you’re interested in finding out. We offer a full vehicle history report for a nominal fee where you can verify all the information you’ll need about a vehicle from Texas.
This is the plate of car that hit my big rig
If you experienced a hit and run from a car accident, where the other driver hit you and drove off without exchanging information, you will want to contact the Texas police and file a hit and run report to protect yourself and get proper compensation. Then you can notify your insurance company and hand them the police report. This typically expedites you getting compensated and getting your vehicle repaired.
I\’m trying to find out who my vehicle was previously registered to because it was stolen by a drug dealer who is now in jail and sold my truck to someone else\’s is on drugs and I\’m just trying to get it back all I have is a license plate and a bill of sale it was handwritten and a photo of my truck and my travel trailer that\’s it
Heather, if your vehicle has been stolen then you should contact your local Texas police department and file a stolen vehicle report. Then contact your insurance company about the situation and give them your report number when you file your claim.
Hey I was rear ended the guy and I exchanged numbers (it\’s was really late) I took pics of the plate but it was a paper tag 2014 ford F150 54510P8 his name was Hector he wont answer or return calls, so I\’m trying to see if I can search him for insurance info, before he tries to switch the plates. Thanks for your help
Your best option is to contact the Texas police and file a Hit and Run report and give them all the information you’ve collected. Then report this to your auto insurance company with and give them the police report number.
Car is parked on my property
Terri, thanks for reaching out about our Texas License Plate Lookup. In this situation we typically advise people to leave a note or call the police if the problem persists. Unfortunately we cannot run a Texas license plate number lookup for these reasons.
Whos name is on title
To find out more information about vehicle titles please visit our blog … How to Perform a Vehicle Title Search
I need the year make and model of an old care of mine I am trying to sell. The License plate # is DLR1788.
Bridgette, thank you for reaching out about our Texas license plate lookup. We show this vehicle license plate belongs to a 2001 Isuzu Rodeo with the corresponding VIN 4S2CK58D114356645
I bought a cargo t trailer from the son of the owner who died. The tag is from the year 2010, I received a bill of sale, but N.M, will not issue a title.Can I get a name and address of the owner from the Texas tag 52XNXM?
Unfortunately we do not have trailer information. Our vehicle records are for motor vehicles only. That being said you can reach out to the Texas DMV and inquire with them about how to go about transferring the title of the trailer over to you. You will need your Texas driver’s license as well as the bill of sale of the trailer and any other documentation you might have.
Seeking to contact owner for plates I found today while walks the woods. Both plates a a ford symbot i recoveres. Texas Drivers Plate (truck) HWO 954 oe HW0 954..
You will want to hand those lost TX license plates in to the Texas DMVTexas DMVTexas DMV and they will be able to find the last owner of these license plates. Unfortunately we cannot assist you with these lost plates as it does not comply with our terms and conditions.
A teenager hit us in the back while we were at an RR crossing. He said his mother just got the car insured for him. He did not know any more than that. We have his mothers name and phone number, but she will not respond. How can I find out if she has insurance? The plate number is CT6B301, I might have mistaken the 6 for a 0.
It may be CT0B301. Can you tell me how to get that information?
You will want to file a Texas police report with the relevant city or county in Tennessee and give them all the information you have, including the Texas license plate number and make and model of the vehicle. Additionally it’s best practice to follow up with your insurance company and they will assist you in recovering the loss and damages from the vehicle accident.
Question. My co-worker was had his car hit while driving and the person drove off. He was only able to get the last 4 numbers of the plate. the police said they could not help him. Is it possible to local, or at least narrow down the person that him? He know make and model.
Unfortunately you need a complete license plate number to perform a license plate lookup with our resources. The police are your best option in this scenario and from the sounds of it they don’t have, or won’t relinquish, that information. Your co-worker’s best course of action is to report the hit and run to the police and their auto insurance company.
Texas JXK3125
In order to perform a Texas license plate lookup or vehicle records search you will need to agree to the terms and conditions of the search. Please run the information you’ve provided through our Texas license plate search and read and agree before proceeding.
can you tell me the address of the owner of a trailer with Texas tag 814 663J ?
Unfortunately we only have vehicle information available in our Texas vehicle record database. You will need to contact the Texas DMV for trailer information.
I was hit in the parking lot at gym by a black mustang texas licesne plate 803 YMK. When i put the number in the querry it comes up as a honda which is incorrect.
You should file a police report and contact the DMV and file a report with them as well. This is not a matter we can assist you with unfortunately.
Hll8349 was in Road rage a pole in front of me and slammed on his brakes I want around him and he come straight up on my ass and I’ll put my brakes on and stop he’s cutting through the neighborhood delete shouldn’t be cutting through envelope here for 35 years I’ve never had anybody do that to me before
It is unclear what you are looking for. The information you provided is difficult to understand. Can you let us know if you need assistance with a Texas public records search?
The license plate of the vehicle is either a Honda Accord JHW 0350 or a Toyota Corolla BZ9 Y539 the reason I couldn’t remember because they were both white cars and they were parked together hence I had a trouble time remembering but the lady was Middle Eastern
Hi squarryadministrator I understand this might go a little off topic but I want to know from you do you think this woman must’ve called the police on me. It happened on June 2 when I was coming out of a grocery store after I put the bags in my vehicle I decided to place the cart in an empty parking space because I couldn’t find any place to put the cart and the moment I placed the cart in an empty parking space coincidentally this lady parked her car in that empty spot where she was about to hit me in the leg. As I sat in my vehicle I reversed blew the horn and flipped her off because I was pissed off and decided to park my vehicle in the other side of the parking lot because my mom was shopping in that area. Moments later the lady walked all the way to that parking lot knocked on my window and asked me “Did you just flip me off”? I said yes then she said “You have to be nice” this is where I got out of my vehicle and started arguing with her and told her that you need to watch where you are driving and look out for pedestrians. She apologized and said she was on her phone which is why she couldn’t pay attention to where she was driving I then told her to get out of my face and she said “Okay I’m calling the police I began to apologize and I told her that “You need to watch where you are driving” instead of listening she decided to take multiple pictures of my vehicle. In retaliation I walked up to her car and took photos of her vehicle though I couldn’t remember which one but she was driving a white car. One car was Honda Accord which the license plate said JHW 0350 and the other one was a Toyota Corolla and the license plate said BZ9 Y359. I want to know from you did this lady call the police on me I’ve been pissed for so many months which is why I needed to know if she called the police on me. The police didn’t come to my house I told my friends they said when there is no case the police doesn’t come I just wanted to know from you that do you think this lady called the police on me? Thank you
It doesn’t sounds like there is a case at all for the police to respond to. We would have no idea if they were called unless an arrest or incarceration took place. Unfortunately we don’t have any affiliation with the Texas law enforcement. If you want to be certain that no police action was taken then you should contact your local Texas police department to verify this information. It sounds like your friends gave you some pretty accurate advise.
this person threatened violence against me
Hello Brandi,
You should contact the police immediately. Unfortunately we cannot assist you with this situation. Below is a link to our Free Police Department Finder.
https://www.searchquarry.com/police-and-sheriff-department-finder/texas/
Best Regards,
The Search Quarry Team
owner of cadillac liscence plate jfh1954