The tags on my Texas plated truck have been expired for almost two years as they are not required down here. One of the perks of living in Paradise. Now I need to take the truck up to the states for a while and need valid tags. I know it has to be done thru the issuing office in Lavon, Tx. For some reason I can't find any contact info in the internet for the Lavon transportation office. Can locate all the offices around there, but not that one.
Can anyone tell me what needs to be done to get new tags? I know I need insurance, but what else? Is any sort of vehicle inspection needed and if so where do I get it done etc?
Also, can someone give me the contact info for the Lavon tag renewal office?
As I may be up that way more often I think I am going to bite the bullet and keep the truck up to date with tags and annual insurance. Any advice on what the cheapest insurance is and where to get it. I will only need the insurance for the few days a year i actually drive the truck in the states.

 

The county tax assessor is responsible for registration and license plates. Since the vehicle has been expired for some time, you probably have to pay some for of penalty. Contact the county tax office for whatever county you are claiming residence.

 

Yep, you'll need an inspection sticker (annual inspections are a Texas requirement) to be legal. To renew your registration in person, you have to show a valid Texas driver's license and proof of insurance. I don't know what additional problems (if any) you'll run into with registration that's been expired for 2 years - they may ask for proof of inspection, but I'm not sure.

FYI, I renew my Texas vehicle registration at the Customer Service desk of the Kroger's store in my neighborhood, but that's using the renewal notice sent out by the state.

Rusty

 

This is where I am having a problem. It is Collin county, but I can't find their cntact info.

 

Lavon is in Collin County, Texas.

Website for Collin County Tax Assessor's Office

~Rob

 

just get a tag from south america and slap it on there. and if they pull you over tell them to call it in. i had a friend that did this for years.

 

Thanks hotdram for the contact info. Have sent them an email and now wait.
Plates from South America eh? Hmmm, sounds like a good idea, but maybe playing with fire?
Will see what I have to do to get the new tags. I am sure I can do it OK, but the insurance thing worries me. It may be cheaper to just get insurance at the border for the amount of days I will be in the states. This is what I have done for years. The last time I renewed my tags I was told that a 3 day policy was not acceptable. I challenged them to prove it. They checked all their books and nowhere could they find that an insurance policy needs to be in force for any time period, just valid for when I get the tags.
RustyJC, are you sure I need a TEXAS drivers licence? So far nobody has asked me for a drivers licence, not when I bought the truck or when I renewed the tags. My US and Canadian DL have all expired and all I use now is a Mexican DL. It even works fine for car rentals in the state and Canada.
My biggest concern is driving from the border to Lavon. I know that I can get 30 day tags in Laredo, but they want a 30 day insurance policy which is PRICEY!!!! Once in Lavon I do not anticipate a problem.

 

I don't know if it's because Texas registration = Texas owner or if they're just using the Texas driver's license for identification. All I know is they ask me for it at the same time they ask for the proof of insurance. I guess it might be a question to ask the Collin County Tax A/C's office.

Rusty

 

you have probably already been here, but i will post it anyways:

http://www.dot.state.tx.us/vtr/vtrreginfo.htm

 

There must be a good reason not plate it in Mexico? Just curious... I used to see Mexican plates all the time in AZ, NM and TX.

 

As long as you are a legal resident of Mexico then you abide with Mexican laws. Since the US agrees to allow Mexican drivers on our highways then you're OK with the Mexican DL. Insurance is a different matter and I don't know about tags. I would think however that if you meet Mexican requirements then you should be OK in the US. I see many cars with BC (Baja California) tags in SoCal. Do they have something similar in Mexico proper?

Edwin