To get replacement license plates in Texas, file Form VTR-60 with your county tax assessor-collector’s office and pay $6.50. The process covers plates that are lost, stolen, damaged, or no longer readable. There is no temporary plate issued while you wait, and delivery typically runs about three weeks, so filing quickly matters.
What to Gather Before You File
The form you need is the Application for Replacement License Plate(s) and/or Vehicle Registration Sticker, Form VTR-60. Download it from the TxDMV website or pick one up at any county tax assessor-collector’s office.1TxDMV.gov. Application for Replacement License Plates and/or Registration Sticker (Form VTR-60)
The form asks for your name, address, email, and phone number; the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), year, make, and body style of the vehicle; and your current Texas plate number. Check the box for what you’re replacing: the license plate, the plate registration sticker, or the windshield registration sticker.
Bring a valid government-issued photo ID such as a Texas driver’s license or state ID card. Have proof of current registration and liability insurance available as well.2Texas.gov. Texas Vehicle Registration
The fee is $6.00 plus a $0.50 automation fee, totaling $6.50, and it is nonrefundable.3TxDMV.gov. License Plates
When you sign Form VTR-60, you are certifying under penalty of law that your plates are lost, stolen, damaged, or need replacement for readability. You are also certifying that you have turned in any plates still in your possession and that you will not use or display recovered plates on any vehicle. Falsifying this information is a third-degree felony under Texas law.1TxDMV.gov. Application for Replacement License Plates and/or Registration Sticker (Form VTR-60)
If Your Plates Were Stolen
File a police report before anything else. You’ll need the case number for your replacement application, and the report creates a paper trail if someone uses your stolen plate to run tolls or commit other offenses. Keep a photo of the case number on your phone.
A few follow-up steps protect you while your replacements are on the way:
- Log into your TollTag or TxTag account and check for unauthorized charges.
- Notify your auto insurer and ask whether any action is required on your policy.
- Monitor your financial accounts, since stolen plates can be tied to broader identity fraud.
- Glance at your plates when you leave and return to your parked car so you catch a theft early.
How to Submit the Application
In Person at the County Tax Office
Most people file in person. Bring the completed VTR-60, your photo ID, and payment. If you still have the damaged plates, bring them too, since the form requires you to surrender any plates still in your possession. Payment methods vary by county; most accept cash, check, and card. If you’re also replacing your registration sticker, the office can often issue the new sticker on the spot.
By Mail
You can mail the completed VTR-60 with a copy of your photo ID and payment by check or money order. Do not mail cash.1TxDMV.gov. Application for Replacement License Plates and/or Registration Sticker (Form VTR-60) Some county offices offer secure drop boxes if you prefer to deliver the paperwork without waiting in line. Check your county tax office’s website for the mailing address and any local instructions.
Through Someone Else
A third party can submit the application for you using Form VTR-271, the Limited Power of Attorney for Eligible Motor Vehicle Transactions. Both of you must sign in black or blue ink with original signatures, and no alterations are allowed on the completed form. Each party must include a photocopy of a photo ID.4TxDMV.gov. Limited Power of Attorney for Eligible Motor Vehicle Transactions (Form VTR-271)
Specialty and Personalized Plates
Specialty and personalized plates follow a different track. TxDMV notes that specialty plates are custom manufactured based on your order and no refunds are available.3TxDMV.gov. License Plates Contact your county tax office or TxDMV directly to confirm the cost and timeline for your plate type, since both may differ from the standard $6.50 replacement.
Specialty plates also run on one-, three-, or five-year terms. If your term is close to expiring, renewing and receiving new plates may make more sense than paying for a separate replacement.
While you wait for specialty plates to arrive by mail, the county office can issue a Temporary Registration Insignia so you can legally drive.5TxDMV.gov. House Bill 718 Implementation That option is not available for standard replacement plates.
Processing Time and Driving in the Meantime
Expect roughly three weeks from submission to receiving your replacement plates in the mail. You can also arrange to pick them up at the county tax office.
TxDMV does not issue temporary tags for standard replacement plates. During those three weeks, you may be driving without valid plates on the vehicle. If an officer stops you, a copy of your VTR-60 receipt, and the police report if the plates were stolen, can help show you’ve applied for replacements. File as soon as you notice the problem rather than putting it off.
When the new plates arrive, mount them immediately. Texas requires plates on both the front and rear of the vehicle. If you still have the old plates, deface them with permanent black ink or similar so the numbers are unreadable, then dispose of them. If you already surrendered the old plates at the county office, you’re done.
Penalties for Driving Without Valid Plates
Driving without a license plate in Texas is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $200. A court can dismiss the charge if you fix the problem before your first court appearance and pay a reimbursement fee of no more than $10.6State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code TRANSP 504.943
Plates that are illegible, obscured, or altered carry their own penalties. Displaying a plate with blurred text, a reflective coating, or a cover that distorts visibility is a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $200 for a first offense. Covering or obscuring the plate numbers or color can draw fines between $200 and $300 on a first offense, rising to $600 for a second offense and a Class B misdemeanor for a third.7State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code TRANSP 504.945
Courts can dismiss charges for illegible or obscured plates if you remedy the defect before your first court appearance and pay up to $10. That’s a gamble worth avoiding when the entire replacement process costs $6.50 and a trip to the county tax office.