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General Questions
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- Yes, you may by going to
Texas Online
then click on vehicle registration. You may only pay by Visa or Mastercard.
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- You may e-mail us at
www.taxoffice@smith-county.com
- You may telephone us at
(903)590-2900
- If you wish to correspond with our office, please address your letters to Gary Barber,
Tax Assessor-Collector, P.O. Box 2011, Tyler,Texas 75710. Our main office is located
at 1517 West Front in Tyler, Texas 75702.
- There are also three (3) substations located throughtout Smith County that can also
help you get your vehicle license renewed.
Click here for their locations and phone numbers
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- Texas law allows disabled residents to obtain either a) one set of plates with the
international symbol of access plus one placard, or b) two placards. A placard may
be displayed in any vehicle being used to transport the disabled person. If the
vehicle does not have disabled-person license plates, the law requires that the
placard be displayed on the rear-view mirror whenever the vehicle is parked in a
disabled-person parking space. A disability statement form is available from the
Smith County Tax office. The applicant's physician must complete the form VTR-214.
The physician's signature must be notarized unless a separate written original prescription
is submitted. The fee for a placard is five dollars ($5.00). Placards must be renewed
every four years. There is an exchange fee of $1.30 ($1.00 processing fee if done
through the mail) for a set of disabled-person license plates, if the registration
is current. Additional sets of disabled person plates may be obtained for vehicles
specially equipped for operation by a person who has lost the use of one or both
legs. For more information on disabled person placards and license plates, please
see the
Frequently Asked Questions About Disabled Person Placards/License Plates
provided by the Texas Department of Transportation.
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- You can obtain replacement plates at the Smith County Tax Office. If your plates
are damaged or you are only missing one plate, please turn in the remaining license
plate(s) to the Tax Office for proper disposal and recycling. Please also bring
with you your current registration receipt. There will be a $6.30 fee.
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- You can obtain a replacement windshield validation sticker at the Smith County Tax
Office. Please bring with you your current registration receipt. There will be a
$6.30 fee.
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- Yes, insurance must be on the vehicle the permit is for. Also, payment must be in
cash, cashier's check or money order.
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- You may obtain an Application for Personalized License Plates from the Texas Department
of Transportation. There is a charge in addition to the regular registration fee.
The amount charged for personalized and special plates varies according to the type
ordered. In some cases, the applicant must meet eligibility requirements before
applying for special plates. Follow the instructions on the forms. See the
Special License Plates Listing
for pictures of the specialty plates that are available in Texas.
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Title Questions
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Applicants for a Certified Copy of title may be the owner of record, lienholder,
or verifiable agent of either. Whether the application is submitted by mail or walk-in,
all applicants must provide:
- A properly completed Application for Certified Copy of Title (Form VTR-34), which
is available at all VTR Regional Offices, county tax assessor-collectors offices,
and on VTR’s Fax on Demand at 1-888-232-7033.
- The appropriate fee: $2.00 for mail-in applications and $5.45 for walk-in applications.
(If mailed, the fee should be in the form of a check, cashier’s check, or money
order made payable to the Texas Department of Transportation.) Please do not mail
cash.
- Photo ID (State or US-issued photo ID, such as Texas or other state driver’s license,
government identification card, U.S. Passport, or military identification) of the
person signing the Form VTR-34.
- If mailing by overnight or express mail through a mail service which requires a
physical address, mail to the VTR Regional Office nearest you, using the appropriate
street address on the back of the Form VTR-34.
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Verifiable Agent of Owner or Lienholder (Mail-in or Walk-in):
- In addition to the requirements above, a verified agent of the owner or lienholder
must also provide a letter of signature authority on original letterhead, or a business
card, or copy of the agent’s employee ID.
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If the Form VTR-34 is signed with a Power of Attorney (POA), the transaction must
have, in addition to the requirements above:
- Photo ID of recorded owner/lienholder signing the POA.
- Photo ID of individual signing the Form VTR-34
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NOTE: Businesses given POA will also be required to provide a letter of signature authority on original letterhead, business card, or a copy of employee ID
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- The seller must write the purchaser's name and address, the odometer reading and
date of sale in the title assignment.
- Purchaser and seller must each sign both the title and the title application form
(Form 130-U).
- Both signed documents must be given to the purchaser, along with the registration
receipt.
- The purchaser must then go to any Smith County Tax Office location and file the
title application. Proof of current insurance will be required. The fee is $33,
plus motor-vehicle sales tax (6.25 percent). There is also a $2.50 transfer of a
current registration fee. If the license is not current, there may be a registration
fee.
- When you purchase a vehicle from a licensed Texas dealer located in Smith County,
the dealer is required to complete all the paperwork necessary to title and register
the vehicle in your name. The dealer is also required to file the documents with
the Smith County Tax Office within 20 business days of the date you purchased the
vehicle.
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- The personal automobile policy for any other vehicle an individual owns provides
30-day coverage after an additional vehicle has been acquired. Therefore, a copy
of the personal automobile insurance policy or the card issued for the policy is
acceptable as proof of financial responsibility.
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- A statement of fact will be required. This statement must address the discrepancy
and must be acknowledged by both the seller and the buyer involved in the transaction
in which the error was made.
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- It is likely the new owner has not transferred title into his or her name. Contact
the Smith County Tax Office or
VTR Regional Office
and fill out the Motor Vehicle Transfer Notification (Form VTR-346). Upon receipt
of the fee and the form, the State will place a notation on the motor vehicle record
stating that the vehicle has been transferred. The fee for this service is five
dollars ($5.00). Checks or money orders should be made payable to the Texas Department
of Transportation.
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If a salvaged vehicle for which a salvage document has been issued is repaired and
placed in operable condition by a purchaser of such salvaged vehicle, the person
or firm who purchased and repaired the vehicle (Texas licensed salvage dealers excepted)
must apply for title and registration in their name. The following must support
the application for title:
- Salvage Document
- Form 61- Rebuilt Affidavit
- A $65 Rebuilt fee
- In any case when a negotiable title is issued and a Salvage Document is in evidence,
the negotiable title will contain a notation to indicate that the vehicle was previously
damaged. "Flood Damaged" will be shown, when applicable, or “Rebuilt Salvage” will
be shown. These notations are carried permanently in the master title records and
will appear on all subsequent titles.
- Valid proof of financial responsibility, covering the described vehicle, in the
applicant’s name.
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- The statement must certify to the correct information and must include a description
of the vehicle identification number and the date the statement was executed. Only
the seller is authorized to execute the Statement of Fact. However, if the Statement
of Fact is required for the odometer disclosure portion of the assignment, in addition
to the seller's signature, the buyer must also acknowledge the statement.
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License and Registration Questions
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The following vehicles may be operated upon the highway without registration:
- A farm trailer or farm semi-trailer used in farming operations that does not exceed
4,000 pounds gross weight.
- A farm tractor used in a farming operation and not "for hire", and
- Implements of husbandry (those devices used to till the soil and harvest crops)
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- Yes. You can renew you registration up to two months prior to your expiration month.
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- Before it can be registered, your vehicle must pass a State of Texas vehicle safety
inspection and a visual verification of the vehicle identification number. These
services are available at state-approved Safety Inspection Stations. If you are
leasing the vehicle you must have the vehicle inspected in Texas.
- The inspection facility will provide you with a Vehicle Identification Certificate
(Form VI-30-A). You must submit this form to the Smith County Tax Office along with
an Application for Texas Certificate of Title. You must also submit your out-of-state
title, or out-of-state registration, with the signed Application. In most cases,
a New Resident Fee of $90.00 will be due. Title and registration fees are due at
the time the application for title is made. You may do this in person at any Smith
County Tax Office or by mail.Proof of liability insurance is required in Texas in order for these services to be
provided. If you have out-of-state insurance you will need to bring the policy when registering the vehicle.
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- He or she can operate the vehicle for a period of thirty days after establishing
residence or entering gainful employment, after which time the vehicle must be registered
in Texas.
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- Your vehicle registration can be renewed at any of the Smith County Tax Office locations
by using your license receipt from the previous year, the title, or the license
plate number along with proof of insurance and identification. The Smith County
Tax Office is able to verify your registration, electronically, either by using
your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or your license plate number. Just call
the Smith County Motor Vehicle Registration Office at 903-590-2900 and we'll help
you correct the problem
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- The 20% penalty is required by law if a vehicle is driven on public highways with
expired registration after the five-day grace period and you were issued a ticket
by law enforcement.
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- Yes. A vehicle may be operated for five County working days after its registration
expires without penalty.
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- You do not have to pay a penalty as long as you have not been ticketed for driving
your vehicle with expired registration. You will pay for 12 months registration.
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