Section 217.46 - [Effective 7/1/2025] Commercial Vehicle Registration(a) Eligibility. A motor vehicle is required to be registered as a commercial motor vehicle if it meets the definition of a commercial motor vehicle under Transportation Code, §502.001(7).(b) Commercial vehicle registration classifications.(1) Apportioned license plates. Apportioned license plates are issued in lieu of Combination, Motor Bus, or Truck license plates to Texas carriers who proportionally register their fleets in other states, in conformity with § 217.56 of this title (relating to Registration Reciprocity Agreements).(2) City bus license plates. A street or suburban bus shall be registered with license plates bearing the legend "City Bus."(3) Combination license plates.(A) Specifications. A truck or truck-tractor with a gross weight in excess of 10,000 pounds used or to be used in combination with a semitrailer having a gross weight in excess of 6,000 pounds, may be registered with combination license plates. Such vehicles must be registered for a gross weight equal to the combined gross weight of all the vehicles in the combination, but not less than 18,000 pounds. Only one combination license plate is required and must be displayed on the front of the truck or truck-tractor. When displaying a combination license plate, a truck or truck-tractor is not restricted to pulling a semitrailer licensed with a Token Trailer license plate and may legally pull semitrailers displaying other types of Texas license plates or license plates issued out of state; however, a truck or truck-tractor displaying a combination license plate issued under Transportation Code, §502.255 may only pull a semitrailer issued a license plate from another state to the extent authorized under a registration reciprocity agreement under Transportation Code, §502.091. The following vehicles may not be registered in combination: (i) trucks or truck-tractors having a gross weight of 10,000 pounds or less or trucks or truck-tractors to be used exclusively in combination with semitrailers having gross weights not exceeding 6,000 pounds;(ii) semitrailers with gross weights of 6,000 pounds or less, or semitrailers that are to be operated exclusively with trucks or truck-tractors having gross weight of 10,000 pounds or less;(iii) trucks or truck-tractors used exclusively in combination with semitrailer-type vehicles displaying Machinery, Permit, or Farm Trailer license plates;(iv) trucks or truck-tractors used exclusively in combination with travel trailers and manufactured housing;(v) trucks or truck-tractors to be registered with Farm Truck or Farm Truck Tractor license plates;(vi) trucks or truck-tractors and semitrailers to be registered with disaster relief license plates;(vii) trucks or truck-tractors and semitrailers to be registered with Soil Conservation license plates;(viii) trucks or truck-tractors and semitrailers to be registered with U.S. Government license plates or Exempt license plates issued by the State of Texas; and(ix) vehicles that are to be issued special registration permits, such as 72-Hour Permits, 144-Hour Permits, or special registration license plates, such as One Trip license plates, or 30-Day license plates in accordance with Transportation Code, §502.094 and §502.095.(B) Converted semitrailers. Semitrailers that are converted to trailers by means of auxiliary axle assemblies will retain their semitrailer status, and such semitrailers are subject to the combination and token trailer registration requirements.(C) Axle assemblies. Various types of axle assemblies that are specially designed for use in conjunction with other vehicles or combinations of vehicles may be used to increase the load capabilities of such vehicles or combinations. (i) Auxiliary axle assemblies such as trailer axle converters, jeep axles, and drag axles, which are used in conjunction with truck-tractor and semitrailer combinations, are not required to be registered; however, the additional weight that is acquired by the use of such axle assemblies must be included in the combined gross weight of the combination.(ii) Ready-mixed concrete trucks that have an auxiliary axle assembly installed for the purpose of increasing a load capacity of such vehicles must be registered for a weight that includes the axle assembly.(D) Exchange of Combination license plates. Combination license plates shall not be exchanged for another type of registration during the registration year, except that: (i) if a major permanent reconstruction change occurs, Combination license plates may be exchanged for Truck license plates, provided that a corrected title is applied for;(ii) if the department initially issues Combination license plates in error, the plates will be exchanged for license plates of the proper classification;(iii) if the department initially issues Truck or Trailer license plates in error to vehicles that should have been registered in combination, such license plates will be exchanged for Combination and Token Trailer license plates; or(iv) if a Texas apportioned carrier acquires a combination license power unit, the Combination license plates will be exchanged for Apportioned license plates.(4) Cotton Vehicle license plates. The department will issue Cotton Vehicle license plates in accordance with Transportation Code, §504.505 and § 217.45 of this title (relating to Specialty License Plates, Symbols, Tabs, and Other Devices).(5) Forestry Vehicle license plates. The department will issue Forestry Vehicle license plates in accordance with Transportation Code, §504.507 and § 217.45 of this title.(6) Motor Bus license plates. A motor bus as well as a taxi and other vehicles that transport passengers for compensation or hire, must display Motor Bus license plates when operated outside the limits of a city or town, or adjacent suburb, in which its company is franchised to do business.(7) Token Trailer license plates. (A) Qualification. The department will issue Token Trailer license plates for semitrailers that are authorized to be registered in combination.(B) Validity. A Token Trailer license plate is valid only when it is displayed on a semitrailer that is being pulled by a truck or a truck-tractor that has been properly registered with Forestry Vehicle (in accordance with Transportation Code, §504.507), Combination (in accordance with Transportation Code, §502.255), or Apportioned (in accordance with Transportation Code, §502.091) license plates for combined gross weights that include the weight of the semitrailer, except as authorized under Transportation Code, Chapters 621 through 623.(C) House-moving dollies. House-moving dollies are to be registered with Token Trailer license plates and titled as semitrailers; however, only one such dolly in a combination is required to be registered and titled. The remaining dolly (or dollies) is permitted to operate unregistered, since by the nature of its construction, it is dependent upon another such vehicle in order to function. The pulling unit must display a Combination or Apportioned license plate.(D) Trailers. The department shall not issue a Token Trailer license plate for a trailer.(8) Tow Truck license plates. A Tow Truck license plate must be obtained for all tow trucks operating and registered in this state. The department will not issue a Tow Truck license plate unless the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation has issued a permit for the tow truck under Occupations Code, Chapter 2308, Subchapter C.(c) Application for commercial vehicle registration. (1) Application form. An applicant shall apply for commercial license plates through the appropriate county tax assessor-collector or the department, as applicable, upon forms prescribed by the director and shall require, at a minimum, the following information: (A) owner name and complete address;(B) complete description of vehicle, including empty weight; and(C) vehicle identification number or serial number.(2) Empty weight determination.(A) The weight of a Motor Bus shall be the empty weight plus carrying capacity, in accordance with Transportation Code, §502.055.(B) The weight of a vehicle cannot be lowered below the weight indicated on a Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin unless a corrected Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin is obtained.(C) In all cases where the department questions the empty weight of a particular vehicle, the applicant should present a weight certificate from a public weight scale or the Department of Public Safety.(3) Gross weight.(A) Determination of Weight. The combined gross weight of vehicles registering for combination license plates shall be determined by the empty weight of the truck or truck-tractor combined with the empty weight of the heaviest semitrailer or semitrailers used or to be used in combination therewith, plus the heaviest net load to be carried on such combination during the motor vehicle registration year, provided that in no case may the combined gross weight be less than 18,000 pounds.(B) Restrictions. The following restrictions apply to combined gross weights.(i) After a truck or truck-tractor is registered for a combined gross weight, such weight cannot be lowered at any subsequent date during the registration year. The owner may, however, lower the gross weight when registering the vehicle for the following registration year, provided that the registered combined gross weight is sufficient to cover the heaviest load to be transported during the year and provided that the combined gross weight is not less than 18,000 pounds.(ii) A combination of vehicles is restricted to a total gross weight not to exceed 80,000 pounds; however, all combinations may not qualify for 80,000 pounds unless such weight can be properly distributed in accordance with axle load limitations, and distance between axles, in accordance with Transportation Code, §621.101 or another section in Transportation Code, Chapters 621 through 623.(4) Vehicle identification number or serial number. Ownership may be established by a court order or by securing a bond if no vehicle identification number or serial number can be identified. Once ownership has been established, the department will assign a number upon payment of the fee.(5) Accompanying documentation. Unless otherwise exempted by law, completed applications for commercial license plates shall be accompanied by:(A) prescribed registration fees;(B) prescribed local fees or other fees that are collected in conjunction with registering a vehicle;(C) evidence of financial responsibility as required by Transportation Code, §502.046; however, if the applicant is a motor carrier as defined by § 218.2 of this title (relating to Definitions), proof of financial responsibility may be in the form of a registration listing indicating that the vehicle is registered in compliance with Chapter 218, Subchapter B of this title (relating to Motor Carrier Registration);(D) an application for Texas Title in accordance with Subchapter A of this chapter, or other proof of ownership;(E) proof of payment of the Federal Heavy Vehicle Use Tax, if applicable;(F) an original or certified copy of the current permit issued in accordance with Occupations Code, Chapter 2308, Subchapter C, if application is being made for Tow Truck license plates; and(G) other documents or fees required by law.(d) Renewal of commercial license plates. (1) Registration period. The department will establish the registration period for commercial vehicles, unless specified by statute. Commercial license plates are issued for established annual registration periods.(2) Registration Renewal Notice. The department will send a registration renewal notice, indicating the proper registration fee and the month and year the registration expires, to each vehicle owner approximately six to eight weeks prior to the expiration of the vehicle's registration.(3) Return of registration renewal notices. Except for authorized online renewals, registration renewal notices should be returned by the vehicle owner to the department or the appropriate county tax assessor-collector, as indicated on the registration renewal notice. Unless otherwise exempted by law, registration renewal notices may be returned either in person or by mail, and shall be accompanied by: (A) statutorily prescribed registration renewal fees;(B) prescribed local fees or other fees that are collected in conjunction with registration renewal;(C) evidence of financial responsibility as required by Transportation Code, §502.046; and(D) other prescribed documents or fees.(4) Lost or destroyed registration renewal notice. If a registration renewal notice is lost, destroyed, or not received by the vehicle owner, the vehicle may be registered if the owner presents personal identification acceptable to the county tax assessor-collector. Failure to receive the notice does not relieve the owner of the responsibility to renew the vehicle's registration.(e) Transfer of commercial vehicle license plates. (1) Transfer between persons. With the exceptions noted in paragraph (3) of this subsection, when ownership of a vehicle displaying commercial vehicle license plates is transferred, application for transfer of such license plates shall be made with the county tax assessor-collector in the county in which the purchaser resides or a county tax assessor-collector who is willing to accept the application. If the purchaser does not intend to use the vehicle in a manner that would qualify it for the license plates issued to that vehicle, such license plates must be exchanged for the appropriate license plates.(2) Transfer between vehicles. Commercial vehicle license plates are non-transferable between vehicles.(3) Transfer of Apportioned and Tow Truck license plates. Apportioned and Tow Truck license plates are non-transferable between persons or vehicles, and become void if the vehicle to which the license plates were issued is sold.(f) Replacement of lost, stolen, or mutilated commercial vehicle license plates. An owner of lost, stolen, or mutilated commercial vehicle license plates may obtain replacement license plates by filing an Application for Replacement Plates and remitting the prescribed fee to the county tax assessor-collector or from the department.43 Tex. Admin. Code § 217.46
Adopted by Texas Register, Volume 40, Number 10, March 6, 2015, TexReg 1101, eff. 3/12/2015; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 41, Number 32, August 5, 2016, TexReg 5773, eff. 8/8/2016; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 43, Number 09, March 2, 2018, TexReg 1281, eff. 3/4/2018; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 45, Number 08, February 21, 2020, TexReg 1230, eff. 3/1/2020; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 47, Number 08, February 25, 2022, TexReg 0971, eff. 3/3/2022; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 49, Number 45, November 8, 2024, TexReg 9003, eff. 7/1/2025