The state’s dealerships will hand over ready‑to‑ride metal plates at the point of sale, a shift designed to shut down widespread paper‑tag fraud.
Texas drivers who buy a new or used vehicle from a dealership after July 1, 2025 will leave the lot with the same aluminum license plates they’ll use for years to come. Gone are the flimsy paper tags that were so easy to duplicate—and so attractive to criminals.
Permanent tags aim to curb fraud that plagued paper license plates statewide
Lawmakers sounded the alarm in 2023 when an estimated 1.8 million counterfeit paper plates flooded Texas roads. Grand Prairie Police Chief Daniel Scesney blamed one fake tag for the crash that killed Officer Brandon Tsia. By issuing metal plates immediately, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) expects to choke off the black‑market trade in bogus paper sheets and give officers instant confidence that a plate is legitimate.
Wondering what happens to the window sticker? Dealers will still register the car online, but the sticker arrives by mail a few days later—no guesswork for the new owner.
Dealers get four color‑coded temporary plates for special cases and transfers
Not every transaction fits neatly into the “sold and plated” bucket, so the Legislature created four short‑term metal designs dealers can bolt on when needed:
| Color on plate | Official name | Typical use case |
|---|---|---|
| Purple | Buyer provisional plate | Dealer lacks a regular plate in inventory |
| Green | Buyer out‑of‑state plate | Vehicle headed for registration outside Texas |
| Blue | Dealer temporary plate | Test drives, loaner cars, moves between lots |
| Red | 72‑hour/144‑hour plate | Issued by TxDMV or county for brief operation |
In most situations, however, the buyer leaves with a permanent set, and the dealer removes any existing plates for reassignment or return to the seller.
What private sellers and individual car owners need to remember right now
Selling your vehicle on Facebook Marketplace or to a neighbor? Nothing changes. You must still:
- Remove your current plates and the registration sticker before handing over the keys.
- File a Vehicle Transfer Notification with TxDMV within 30 days.
- Advise the buyer to visit the county tax assessor‑collector to apply for new plates.
If you sport personalized or specialty plates, keep them—they can go on your next ride.
Why this matters beyond the tag on your bumper
Paper plates weren’t just a cosmetic nuisance. They masked stolen cars, enabled toll fraud, and, in extreme cases, cost lives. By replacing them with hard‑to‑copy metal at the point of sale, officials hope to save time for honest drivers and headaches for law enforcement.
First‑time buyer, seasoned commuter, or weekend car‑show buff—everyone benefits when the plate on the back of a vehicle actually belongs there. Are you ready to ditch the paper for good?