TxDMV issues temporary permits for private or commercial vehicles subject to Texas registration laws, but not authorized to travel on Texas highways due to the lack of registration or lack of reciprocity with the state or country in which the vehicle is registered.
If the vehicle will travel out of state, please verify that the temporary permit is valid for operation in that state. The permit may only authorize the operation of the vehicle in Texas.
Order Online
- Order a 72-Hour Permit or 144-Hour Permit
- Order a Transit Permit - if you buy a car or truck and the seller keeps the Texas license plates, the Transit Permit allows you to legally drive the vehicle home or to your local county tax office.
TxDMV issues 72-Hour Permits and 144-Hour Permits for the movement of commercial laden trucks, truck-tractors, trailers, or semitrailers or motor buses on the highways of Texas. NOTE: A valid USDOT number is required to obtain either a 72-Hour Permit or 144-Hour Permit.
Purchase a 72-Hour Permit or 144-Hour Permit
You may purchase a 72-Hour Permit or 144-Hour Permit in the following ways:
- Purchase online now
- At your local county tax assessor-collector office
- At your nearest TxDMV Regional Service Center
Fee and Payment Information
- 72-Hour Permit - $25
- 144-Hour Permit - $50
A non-refundable processing and handling fee of $4.75 is assessed per permit. The fee covers the cost to process the permit.
Fees are payable by:
- MasterCard, VISA, Discover, or American Express, if purchasing the permit online or at a county tax office that accepts them. A service charge may be included
- Certified check or money order, payable to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, if purchasing at the Regional Service Center
- Funds deposited in a pre-established escrow account
- Cash
Note: Personal checks are not accepted.
You may purchase a 72-Hour Permit and 144-Hour Permit in advance of a proposed trip and several permits may be obtained at one time with the times of validity to run sequentially, having one permit become effective immediately upon the expiration of the preceding one.
Eligible Use
A 72-Hour Permit or 144-Hour Permit may only be issued to commercial vehicles and buses owned by residents of the United States, Mexico, or Canada.
These permits may be used to:
- Operate an unregistered commercial vehicle or bus in Texas.
- Engage in intrastate operations in Texas with out-of-state licensed commercial vehicles.
Texas residents may use these permits to operate:
- An unregistered commercial vehicle or bus in Texas.
- A Texas registered commercial vehicle with a heavier gross weight than registered. The heavier load may operate for only the period that the permit is valid unless the owner purchases additional permits.
- A vehicle registered with either Farm or Soil Conservation license plates when the vehicle is operating over the maximum weight allowed by law.
72-Hour Permits and 144-Hour Permits may not be issued to:
- Any vehicle that has been deemed salvage or nonrepairable.
- Any vehicle that has been apprehended.
- Any vehicle that will solely be operated outside of Texas.
Vehicles operating with a 72-Hour Permit or 144-Hour Permit may operate at the maximum weight allowed under Texas registration laws.
A 72-Hour Permit or 144-Hour Permit is valid only in Texas.
Insurance Requirements
Applicants must show proof of liability insurance that meets the Texas minimum liability limits of $30,000/$60,000/$25,000. Insurance is not required for trailers and semitrailers. An insurance company authorized to write insurance in Texas must provide the coverage. If the applicant is registered as a motor carrier with TxDMV’s Motor Carrier Division, a registration listing is acceptable instead of proof of liability insurance.
Vehicle Inspection
A vehicle displaying a 72-Hour Permit or 144-Hour Permit must pass a Texas Safety Inspection before being operated on the highways. If the vehicle displays current out-of-state license plates or the vehicle is mobile drilling or servicing equipment used in the production of gas or crude petroleum oil, a Texas Safety Inspection is not required.
Vehicles Registered in Combination
The following instructions apply when 72-Hour Permits or 144-Hour Permits are issued to trucks or truck-tractors with a gross weight in excess of 10,000 lbs. and semitrailers with gross weights in excess of 6,000 lbs. and the combined gross weight is greater than 18,000 lbs::
- A truck or truck-tractor displaying a 72-Hour Permit or 144-Hour Permit may not pull a semitrailer displaying a Token Trailer license plate. Token Trailer license plates are valid only when displayed on semitrailers pulled by vehicles registered with Combination, Forestry, Apportioned, or Seasonal Permit license plates for the combined gross weight of all the vehicles used in the combination. Therefore, if a pulling unit displays a 72-Hour Permit or 144-Hour Permit, each semitrailer operated in combination must also display a permit or trailer registration.
- If a truck or truck-tractor displaying a Combination license plate pulls a semitrailer displaying a 72-Hour Permit or 144-Hour Permit, the pulling unit should be registered for the combined gross weight of all the vehicles in the combination. If the vehicle is not registered for a sufficient combined gross weight, the owner must either increase the weight at the county or purchase a 72-Hour Permit or 144-Hour Permit for the pulling unit. The permit qualifies the combination for the maximum gross weight permitted under Texas registration laws..
- A vehicle displaying Truck license plates cannot legally pull a semitrailer displaying a Token Trailer license plate. The semitrailer would need to display a 72-Hour Permit or 144-Hour Permit. This allows the owner to legally operate the combination without exchanging registration.
- An out-of-state licensed power unit can legally pull a semitrailer displaying a Texas Token Trailer license plate. The power unit must be registered for the combined gross weight of the truck or truck-tractor, semitrailer, and load. The out-of-state vehicle must display a 72-Hour Permit or 144-Hour Permit on the pulling unit.
- An out-of-state power unit operating in Texas under the International Registration Plan (IRP) may operate interstate or intrastate in Texas while pulling a semitrailer displaying a Texas Token Trailer license plate or a 72-Hour Permit or 144-Hour Permit. The out-of-state power unit must be registered for the combined gross weight of the truck or truck-tractor, semitrailer, and load.
TxDMV issues One-Trip Permits for the temporary movement of an unladen vehicle subject to Texas registration laws. A One-Trip Permit is valid for a period of 15 calendar days from the effective date.
A One-Trip Permit is valid for one trip only between the point of origin and the point of destination and the intermediate point as shown on the receipt. The point of origin or destination must be in Texas.
Purchase a One-Trip Permit
You may purchase a One-Trip Permit in the following ways:
- At your local county tax assessor-collector office
- At your nearest TxDMV Regional Service Center
Fee and Payment Information
A One-Trip Permit costs $5, and the permit may be purchased before its effective date.
A non-refundable processing and handling fee of $4.75 is assessed per permit. The fee covers the cost to process the permit.
Fees are payable by:
- MasterCard, VISA, Discover, or American Express, if purchasing the permit at a county tax office that accepts them. A service charge may be included
- Certified check or money order, payable to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, if purchasing at the Regional Service Center
- Funds deposited in a pre-established escrow account
- Cash
Note: Personal checks are not accepted.
Eligible Use
One-Trip Permits may be issued for:
| Vehicle Type | Conditions |
|---|---|
| A bus for the transit of the vehicle only | The vehicle shall not at the time of transit be used for the transportation of property or passengers, unless it is operated for charter from another state |
| A charter bus from another state or country | May carry property and passengers |
| A private bus | May carry property and passengers |
| A commercial vehicle with a camper unit mounted thereon | The camper unit may be of the permanent or slide-in type |
| A commercial vehicle | The vehicle shall not at the time of transit be used for the transportation of property or passengers. The vehicle must be empty |
| A passenger vehicle | May carry property and passengers |
| An unladen truck or truck-tractor operating in combination with an unladen trailer or semitrailer | If both vehicles are unregistered, two permits must be issued, one for each unit |
| A travel trailer | A house trailer-type vehicle that is 400 square feet or less measured at the largest horizontal projections |
| A motorcycle | May carry property and passengers |
One-Trip Permits may not be issued for:
- Manufactured housing.
- A charter bus based in Texas that is transporting passengers.
- A commercial vehicle that is transporting the owner's household goods.
- A boat trailer that is carrying a boat.
- A laden luggage trailer or laden utility trailer.
- A vehicle carrying a fixed load, regardless of whether the vehicle is conventional or unconventional.
- A vehicle that has been apprehended for operating unregistered.
- A junk, salvage, or nonrepairable vehicle.
- A trip that originates and terminates outside Texas.
- The movement of a laden commercial vehicle of any type, including luggage and utility trailers.
Insurance Requirements
Applicants must show proof of liability insurance that meets the Texas minimum liability limits of $30,000/$60,000/$25,000. Insurance is not required for trailers and semitrailers. An insurance company authorized to write insurance in Texas must provide the coverage.
Vehicle Inspection
A vehicle displaying a current One-Trip Permit is exempt from Texas inspection requirements.
Permit Display
The One-Trip Permit must be displayed in the rear window of the vehicle. If the vehicle does not have a rear window, the operator must carry the permit in the vehicle at all times during the period in which the permit is valid. The receipt must always be carried in the vehicle at all times during the period in which the permit is valid.
TxDMV issues 30-Day Permits for the temporary movement of qualifying, non-commercial, or light commercial vehicles subject to Texas registration laws. 30-day Permits are not available to vehicles that will not be operated in the State of Texas. A 30-Day Permit is valid for a period of 30 calendar days and expires on the date reflected on the permit. A 30-Day Permit may be purchased up to 60 calendar days before its effective date.
The Application for Timed Temporary Permits (Form VTR-66) must be completed to obtain a 30-Day Permit. The following items must accompany a completed Form VTR-66 application:
- Proof of insurance
- Proof of a passing vehicle inspection that is current for the duration of the permit
- Current government-issued photo identification
NOTE: A Power of Attorney (POA) is required if the application is being submitted by anybody other than the applicant listed on the Form VTR-66, a dealer, or a leasing company.
Purchase a 30-Day Permit
You may submit the application and purchase a 30-Day Permit in the following ways:
- At your local county tax assessor-collector office
- At your nearest TxDMV Regional Service Center
Fee and Payment Information
A 30-Day Permit costs $25, and the permit may be purchased before its effective date.
A non-refundable processing and handling fee of $4.75 is assessed per permit. The fee covers the cost to process the permit.
Fees are payable by:
- MasterCard, VISA, Discover, or American Express, if purchasing the permit at a county tax office that accepts them. A service charge may be included
- Certified check or money order, payable to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, if purchasing at a Regional Service Center
- Funds deposited in a pre-established escrow account
- Cash
Note: Personal checks are not accepted.
Eligible Use
The 30-Day Permit is available for passenger vehicles, motorcycles, private buses, trailers, and semitrailers with a gross weight not exceeding 10,000 lbs., and for light commercial vehicles not exceeding a gross vehicle weight of 10,000 lbs. A commercial vehicle exceeding a gross weight of 10,000 lbs. is eligible for the permit if operating unladen..
- NOTE: 30-Day Permits may not be issued to any vehicle that has been issued a salvage or nonrepairable title.
Insurance Requirements
Applicants must show proof of liability insurance that meets the Texas minimum liability limits of $30,000/$60,000/$25,000. Insurance is not required for trailers and semitrailers. An insurance company authorized to write insurance in Texas must provide the coverage.
Vehicle Inspection
Applicants must provide proof of a passing Texas Safety Inspection before being issued a 30-Day Permit. The vehicle’s passing inspection must be current for the duration of the timed permit.
Permit Display
The 30-Day Permit must be displayed in the rear window of the vehicle. If the vehicle does not have a rear window, the operator must attach the permit to the vehicle or carry the permit in the vehicle at all times during the period in which the permit is valid. The receipt must always be carried in the vehicle at all times during the period in which the permit is valid.
If you buy a car or truck and the seller keeps the Texas license plates, the Vehicle Transit Permit allows you to legally drive the vehicle home or to your local county tax office.
The Vehicle Transit Permit is valid for 5 calendar days; the start date is the day the permit is printed. A Vehicle Transit Permit is valid for one trip between the point of origin and the destination, and any intermediate points specified in the permit.
Fee and Payment Information
There are no fees for obtaining a Vehicle Transit Permit.
Eligible Use
The Vehicle Transit Permit may only be used on passenger vehicles 6,000 pounds or less and light trucks with a gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds or less, and only one permit may be issued per vehicle. The Vehicle Transit Permit is valid for one trip between the point of origin and the destination, and any intermediate points specified in the permit.
A Vehicle Transit Permit may not be issued to any salvage or nonrepairable vehicle.
Insurance Requirements
Applicants must show proof of liability insurance that meets the Texas minimum liability limits of $30,000/$60,000/$25,000. Insurance is not required for trailers and semitrailers. An insurance company authorized to write insurance in Texas must provide the coverage.
Vehicle Inspection
A vehicle displaying a current Vehicle Transit Permit is exempt from current Texas inspection requirements.
Permit Display
The Vehicle Transit Permit receipt must always be carried in the vehicle at all times during the period in which the permit is valid.