No More Paper Tags: What Texas Used Car Buyers Need to Know About Metal Plates and New ID Rules

If you last bought a car in Texas a few years ago, you probably remember driving off the lot with a paper tag taped inside the back window. That has changed. Since July 1, 2025, Texas dealers no longer print most paper temporary tags. Under House Bill 718, passed by the 88th Texas Legislature, dealers now put metal license plates on your vehicle at the time of sale. A second change came in 2026: stricter photo ID rules for titling and registering a vehicle for the first time.

Here is what these changes mean if you are buying a used car in San Antonio, so you show up ready and drive home without surprises.

Why Texas Got Rid of Paper Tags

Paper temporary tags were easy to counterfeit, and fake tags were a long-running problem across the state. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) describes the move to metal plates as a way to reduce fraud and improve customer service. Plate assignments are now tracked electronically, and TxDMV says its systems are integrated with the statewide law enforcement network, so officers can see when a plate was issued, to whom and when it expires.

What Happens When You Buy From a Texas Dealer Now

According to TxDMV’s HB 718 page, licensed dealers must now issue metal plates to buyers at the time of sale and process title and registration through the state’s webDEALER system. In practice, that looks like this:

• You leave with real plates. In most cases the dealer issues the standard black-and-white general issue plates, registered in your name, and they must be secured on the front and rear of the vehicle.
• Keep your Buyer’s Receipt in the car. Until your registration is complete and your windshield sticker arrives, the Buyer’s Receipt is how you show law enforcement that the purchase and registration are pending. Keep it in the glove box.
• The sticker comes later. The registration sticker is issued by the county tax assessor-collector’s office (or a dealer that serves as a county deputy) when the title and registration are processed. Depending on the county and dealer, it may be mailed, delivered or picked up.
• No more coming back for plates. Under the old system, many buyers had to return to the dealership weeks later to pick up their plates. That extra trip is gone.

Plates Now Stay With the Vehicle

Another big change: in most cases, the general issue plate assigned to a vehicle stays with that vehicle if it is later sold to another Texas buyer. TxDMV notes exceptions for things like specialty and military plates. If you have specialty plates on your current car, you keep them.

Other Plate Types You Might See

HB 718 replaced six kinds of paper tags with a few limited-use metal plates:

• Buyer Provisional Plate: short-term use when a dealer doesn’t have the right plate type for your vehicle in stock.
• Out-of-State Buyer Plate: for vehicles sold to buyers who will register them in another state.
• Dealer Temporary Plate: for dealer business only, such as test drives, loaners and transport. TxDMV says these should not be used to deliver a vehicle to a buyer.
• Temporary Registration Plate: issued by county tax offices and TxDMV regional service centers, replacing the old paper 30-day and one-trip permits.

Buyer tip: If a seller offers to send you home on a dealer temporary plate or a paper tag, ask questions. For a normal retail sale to a Texas buyer, you should expect general issue plates (or a buyer provisional plate) and a Buyer’s Receipt.

What Is a Buyer Provisional Plate?

A buyer provisional plate is a metal plate a Texas dealer gives you when it doesn’t have the right plate type for your vehicle in stock, such as certain farm or other specialty-type plates. It’s a short-term stand-in for your permanent plate.

• Where it goes: on the rear of the vehicle, not in the window.
• How long it’s good for: TxDMV says it is valid until 7 days after your permanent plate is assigned.
• What to keep in the car: your Buyer’s Receipt, until your registration is complete and your windshield sticker arrives.

If you receive a buyer provisional plate, ask the dealer how and when your permanent plates will reach you.

Can You Still Drive on a Paper Tag in Texas?

Since July 1, 2025, Texas dealers can no longer print paper buyer tags for vehicles they sell. A normal dealer sale to a Texas buyer now comes with metal plates. If someone offers to send you home on a paper tag, or on a dealer temporary plate (which TxDMV says is for dealer business only, not for delivering a car to a buyer), stop and ask why.

Buying from out of state? Dealers can issue an Out-of-State Buyer Plate for vehicles that will be titled and registered in the buyer’s home state. Under Texas law, that temporary plate is valid for 60 days.

Buying From a Private Seller? The Process Hasn’t Changed

HB 718 applies to licensed dealers. TxDMV says private sales still work the way they always have:

1. The seller removes their plates and registration sticker when they hand over the vehicle.
2. The seller should file a Vehicle Transfer Notification with TxDMV within 30 days of the sale.
3. You, the buyer, must apply for title and registration at your county tax assessor-collector’s office and get new plates within 30 days of purchase.

That means a private-party car usually can’t legally be driven home with plates on it unless you arrange temporary registration through the county first. Plan for it before you hand over any cash.

New for 2026: Bring the Right Photo ID

Since March 5, 2026, TxDMV rules require a valid, unexpired photo ID that meets stricter standards for initial registration and title transfer transactions (Registration and Title Bulletin 001-26). For a standard initial registration, acceptable IDs include:

• A REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or ID card (look for the gold star)
• A non-REAL ID state license or ID card plus a U.S. birth certificate, Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship
• A valid U.S. passport or passport card
• A valid foreign passport with qualifying Department of Homeland Security documentation, such as an I-94 (without parole-only status), a permanent resident card or an unexpired immigrant visa
• A valid Texas License to Carry issued by DPS

Routine registration renewals aren’t covered yet. New ID requirements for renewals take effect January 1, 2027. If your license isn’t REAL ID-compliant, sort that out before you shop. DPS appointments can take a while.

Bexar County Emissions Testing Starts November 1, 2026

Starting November 1, 2026, gasoline vehicles 2 to 24 years old registered in Bexar County must pass an emissions test before initial registration or renewal (TxDMV Registration and Title Bulletin 003-26). The test is $18.50 at the inspection station, plus $2.75 paid at registration. Ask your dealer how this is handled for your purchase.

Quick Checklist for Your Next Used Car Purchase

• Bring an acceptable, unexpired photo ID (and supporting documents if your license isn’t REAL ID).
• Confirm the dealer will put metal plates on the car and give you a Buyer’s Receipt.
• Keep the Buyer’s Receipt in the vehicle until your windshield sticker arrives, then put the sticker on right away.
• Ask how your county and dealer will deliver your registration sticker.
• Buying privately? Budget time for a trip to the Bexar County tax office within 30 days, and don’t drive on the seller’s plates.
• Got a buyer provisional plate? Keep your Buyer’s Receipt in the car, and swap in your permanent plates as soon as they’re assigned.

Rules can change, so check TxDMV.gov or your county tax assessor-collector for the latest before you buy.

Ready to shop? At Trilux Motors in San Antonio, we handle the plates, title and registration paperwork for you, so you can drive away with confidence. Stop by our lot or contact Trilux Motors today to find your next used car.