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
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
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
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.
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
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.
Abandoned
Seeing if it has a clean title and value of vehicle
Hi,
I am looking for a license plate with my name on the plate. Can i get that?
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.
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
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