i traded my old harley for a old buick . buick has out of state title. what do i need to do to get a texas title
Take it to the local tax collector office along with a current inspection green slip, proof of insurance, and the out of state title. If you don't want to register it at this time you don't have to have the inspection slip or insurance. Doing this lets you transfer the title to your name. You can register it later after you get it road worthy if it isn't that way now. You still have to pay the tax now.
The proof of insurance required is not for the car you are transferring but rather for any car or pickup you currently own if the car is not a driver. I believe there is a form required which verifies an inspection by an officer of the court that the car matches the paperwork. You still end up paying the sales tax, fees, etc. but you get a title and plates which is gold if you have to sell before you're done!
To get the Green Sheet inspection, just go to a local inspection station and tell them you need an out of state inspection.
If you are only transferring the title to your name, you do not have to have proof of any insurance or any inspection papers. You only pay the transfer fee for the paperwork, no taxes. I purchased a title from arkansas for a 46 Ford two door. Made a door plate with the vin # and attached it to the drivers door sill with pop rivets. The tax lady made no mention of having to have an officer verify the number or any other other identifications. She even asked me if the car was a two door sedan or a coupe. So she put coupe on the Texas title. She told me when I registered the car for tags, I would have to have it appraised and pay taxes on the appraised amount. Here is the state website for all title questions. http://www.dmv.org/tx-texas/title-transfers.php
I tried to do this today. Called 3 local inspection places, after the first one said I needed a complete safety inspection. None of the local places had ever heard of a 'Green Form' or 'VIN only inspection'. I finally called a local title service. They put me on hold, called TXDOT, then told me they could help, to bring the car. I signed the old title, showed them my proof of insurance, and signed the Title transfer form. They gave me registration, plates, and said the title would be in the mail in a couple weeks. Then they said since I probably wasn't expecting to pay the taxes on the car for registration, they wouldn't charge me their title and registration fees. So I paid them exactly what I woulda paid the County, but got MUCH better service. This after the County and 3 inspection places couldn't help. Keep looking for different solutions if it's not working.
If you register it as an antique, you don't need to have it inspected and you don't need proof of insurance to get the title. Just the title, and your YOM plates or buy their "Antique Vehicle" plates. I've never had any of my old cars inspected, they've never went out to look at the car or anything. As I've said in other posts...it's always gone like this for me: Me: Hi, I just bought this old car and I want to transfer the title in my name and register it as an antique with these old plates. Fat Lady Behind the Counter: Ok, that will be $xx.xx. Me: Thanks.
They told me this week, that you also have to have a VI-30 which is a Vin verification, if you are going to register it to drive now. The inspection people will do this.
At risk of sounding political. Sounds like gubment efficiency at work here, nutin another layer couldn't fix! This is another great reason to know and correspond with ALL our elected officials. Believe me your letters do get read. Happy to see you are on your way to getting your car rolling.
OK , but what if you want to get normal state issued plates for now till I can find a nice set of YOM plates?
OK. This is the stuff I've been sweating. Some guys "in the know" say,"It's no problem. You just gotta do this or that." Then another says,"No. You gotta do somethin else." I'm hoping what Texashardcore says is what works for me. If they just sell me the antique plates, and I don't have to sweat out a possible failed inspection, it would be a load off my mind. I'd just do that right now before it's even done to get it outta the way. I think my car is safe and well built, but you know how some people are. My ex-wife worked for the district atorney and got to asking about it for me. They directed her to a Texas Ranger. He said,"It's no problem. When he gets it done, I'll inspect it for him, and he can take me for a ride." Sounds good, but I'm not too excited about giving a ride to Ranger for an inspection. She said he was cool as hell, but.......
It's easy. As TexasHardcore said, get it registered as an antique and no inspection is needed. Take the signed out of state title in and it should be that easy. If you want just regular plates, different counties have different inspection requirements - therefore some counties have the green sheet. Thats why some may not be familiar with the green slips. I was in the car business for many years and did 90% of my business out of state. It's very simple. The only time I have seen a transfer require and inspection by an officer is if the VIN or registration is in question. They validate the VIN to ensure the vehicle has not been stolen and VIN altered. Ex: If we sold a car and it went to Houston (or out of the San Antonio area), we never inspected the cars before they left because the inspection would not be valid for that Texas county. All out state transfers only required the signed title and a bill of sale.
It has always gone like it did for Texas Hardcore for me except I have never bought special Antique Plate. I always call my insurance agent and get insurance on the car even if it is for two days only. Then I take that and the title to the court house. I have never been asked for proof of inspection. I was a state inspector for year and never heard of a green inspection and always told any one who had a out-of-state vehicle to get it registered with the state , then we inspected the vehicle when they returned . I have changed all kind of titles... labor leans, lost titles, OFS titles, new construction from scratch cars and even a "stop Stolen " title and all ever did was go to the court house for my county and Ask "what do I do...... and then follow their instructions.
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