What’s new in 2025, legislative changes affecting Harris County residents and dealers !

webDEALER Access, Use, and Training Deadline: Dealers are required by Texas Administrative Code rules to complete webDEALER training by April 30, 2025, unless they have been active webDEALER users for more than six months and submitted more than 100 transactions as of October 1, 2024.

webDEALER Requirement: HB 718 requires Texas motor vehicle dealers to use webDEALER for processing title and registration applications electronically. IMPORTANT: Dealers without webDEALER accounts on July 1, 2025, will not be able to complete motor vehicle sales transactions. Dealers should coordinate with county tax assessor-collectors' offices for system access to webDEALER ahead of the deadline.

webDEALER Training: To support dealers and county staff in meeting the training requirement, TxDMV offers multiple webDEALER training sessions monthly, available both online and in person. On-demand video training in English and Spanish is also available. Check the TxDMV calendar page at www.TxDMV.gov/calendar for dates and registration information for monthly training sessions.

Pursuant to Transportation Code, Sec. 502.041. Initial Registration.

In accordance with Attorney General's Opinion 0-1023, every person who holds legal title or has the legal right of possession or control of a vehicle is required to register and must annually register the vehicle in the county in which the individual resides or any county willing to accept the application. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the tax assessor-collectors and their deputies to establish the applicant's residence prior to the issuance of registration.

Effective January 1, 2024, proof of residency will be required for all individuals applying for registration in Texas, applying for an ownership change, or renewing Texas registration. The forms of proof that will be accepted are:

• Utility bill (not cell phone)
• Drivers license or Identification with Harris County address
• Mortgage/lease agreement*

*A lease agreement will be accepted for leased vehicles.

Effective January 1, 2024, proof of Limited/Use tax on all salvage titles on un-repaired vehicles if purchased by a dealer will be required. You will also need to show receipts of parts used to repair the vehicle.

Purchases of unrepaired salvage motor vehicles are subject to Texas limited sales and use tax. The seller will collect and remit the state and local sales tax directly to the Comptroller.The TAC has no responsibility to ensure sales tax was paid. Refer to Publication 98-776 County Tax Assessor-Collectors Important Information About Taxes on Un-repaired Salvage Vehicles.

If the purchaser of an unrepaired salvage motor vehicle applies for title after repairing the motor vehicle, no motor vehicle tax is due. Once a person rebuilds a previously damaged motor vehicle and applies for a regular motor vehicle title, the person will need to show documentation on the repair work and pay the titling fee to return the vehicle to a rebuilt salvage vehicle.

TxDMV Form VTR-61, Rebuilt Vehicle Statement, indicates who rebuilt the vehicle. Future sales of the vehicle as rebuilt salvage are once again subject to motor vehicle tax.

Salvage vehicle Frequently asked questions

In an effort to improve customer service and long wait times, we have reevaluated our current commercial process. Effective May 2, 2022, all commercial must resume dropping off transactions at the following three locations ONLY.

In listening to the concerns from our valued customers, we understand the constraints that everyone is facing. Our goal is to limit the amount of time it is currently taking to process transactions.

The drop off days and times are Monday and Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Each branch will have dedicated staff who will be assigned to work commercial packages only. Dealers will drop off six (6) packages containing no more than ten transactions per dealer and will only be allowed to drop at only one location per approved scheduled days. Title services will drop off two (2) packages containing no more than ten transactions per title service (6 per authorized dealer) and will only be allowed to drop at only one location per approved scheduled days.

Please continue to use the Convenience package form MV-501 including customer/vehicle information on all packages.

Customers will check packages in themselves using one of the kiosk in the lobby. A receipt will generate that should be presented when picking up completed packages.

When the packages have been completed you will be notified that the packages are ready to be picked up by automatic e-mail. If you provide a cell phone you will also receive a text when the packages have been completed.

In an effort to avoid delayed waiting time for transactions that have been previously dropped off and rejected, we created resubmit drop off days. Transactions that were previously dropped off and were rejected can be resubmitted Thursday – Friday, from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Place these transactions in a SEPARATE drop-off envelope containing no more than five (5)rejections per envelope with the completed MV-501-R with the notation: RESUBMITTED REJECTION These will NOT count as one of your packages. Please do not mix regular title transfers with Resubmitted Rejections - the regular title transfers will be returned to you unprocessed. All original rejections being resubmitted must include the original Title Transfer Checklist(Form MV-451). Submitted rejections should not include any rejections pertaining to incomplete or missing Title Service Forms such as TS - 5's, TS - 8's, or TS - 12's.

The webDEALER system, which is operated by the TxDMV, was developed in order to allow dealers to process title applications and new registrations online. The Harris County Tax Office assists Harris County dealers in setting up access to this system.

If you are interested in signing up for webDEALER, please contact our office at AutoTDMV@hctx.net. We will send you a list of the requirements necessary for using webDEALER in Harris County, the manual, and request information from you in order to begin the process. Further information regarding webDEALER is also available on the TxDMV website at www.txdmv.gov/dealers/webdealer.

Procedures and hours for picking up supplies at the Distribution Center

Dealers may pick up inventory supplies at the Distribution Center by filling out form MV-056, Dealer Order Form. Dealers will receive their inventory at the time of submitting their completed form MV-056 at the Distribution Center: 11525 Todd Road Houston, TX 77055 or 4290 Cypress Hill Dr, Spring, TX 77388.

Dealers can pick up forms: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday

9:30 am – 4:30 pm (12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. closed for lunch)

CLOSED: Wednesdays

Dealers can pick up Plates (only webDEALER users under contract): Thursdays and Fridays

8:00 am – 4:30 pm (12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. closed for lunch)