Selling a personalised plate in Texas
In Texas only some plates can change hands at all. Whether a sale is possible depends on the plate itself, not on the buyer, and a plate that does not qualify never transfers to another person at any price. Which plates qualify, and what the transfer involves, is set out below, with the source.
What the transfer involves
Only auction plates — most Texas plates can never be sold
Texas permits transfer between people only where the number was originally won at a My Plates auction. An ordinary personalised Texas plate never transfers to another person, at any price. The transfer is filed on form VTR-900.
Before you pay, know this
- If the number was not bought at auction, the state will not transfer it to you. Ask the seller for the auction receipt.
- You inherit the remainder of the seller’s auction term, not a fresh one.
- TxDMV must approve the transfer — it is not automatic.
- You pay a TxDMV transfer fee plus ordinary Texas registration, and need a Texas-titled or leased vehicle to display it.
We recommend using an escrow service
Money and paperwork move between you and the other party, in whichever order you agree. An independent escrow service holds the funds until the transfer is actually done. TagsTrader never holds your money and is not part of the payment — arranging escrow is up to the two of you, and it is the single best protection either side has.
This is a description, not advice. We are a match-maker: we introduce a buyer and a seller who would otherwise never find each other. The transfer itself is between you, the other party and your state authority. We are not a party to your sale, we hold no funds, we cannot make your state approve anything, and we do not guarantee any outcome. Rules and fees change without notice to us. Confirm the current process with your own state authority — and, where money or tax is involved, with your own adviser — before you pay anyone anything. Our basis: 43 Tex. Admin. Code § 217.52(l)(2); TxDMV form VTR-900
What TagsTrader does and does not do
We are a match-maker: we introduce a buyer and a seller who would otherwise never find each other. Listing a plate is free. A buyer pays a fee to open contact with the seller, and nothing else.
We are not a party to your sale, we hold no funds, we cannot make your state approve anything, and we do not guarantee any outcome. The transfer itself is between you, the other party and your state authority. This page is a description, not advice: we publish no forms, templates or tax guidance.