Texas eliminates paper license plates as House Bill 718 takes effect, requiring permanent metal plates for new vehicles.
HOUSTON — Starting Tuesday, July 1, paper license plates will officially become a thing of the past in Texas. That’s when House Bill 718, a law passed two years ago and signed by Gov. Greg Abbott in June 2023, finally goes into effect.
What’s changing?
Under the new law, when drivers purchase a vehicle in Texas, they’ll leave the lot with permanent metal plates already installed, eliminating the need for temporary paper plates. Dealerships will now keep metal tags on hand for immediate installation at the time of sale.
Why is this happening?
The change comes after years of concern over criminals exploiting paper tags. A tragic example came in August 2021, when a New Orleans police officer visiting Houston was shot and killed near The Galleria. The suspect’s getaway car was using fake paper tags, a loophole tied to fraudulent car dealerships printing and selling temporary plates.
How law enforcement expects criminals to adapt
Houston Police Department Auto Theft Crimes Task Force Sgt. Tracy Hicks says while the law closes one door, criminals may now target metal plates instead.
“Without paper tags, crooks are going to need some way to hide the identity of their car, and stealing a hard tag is one way. More than likely, we’re going to see more of a rise of the stolen hard tags,” Hicks said.
How drivers can protect their plates
Hicks recommends installing tamper-resistant screws, also known as Torx screws, to help prevent plate theft. These screws require a special tool to remove and are often sold as one-way designs or with a custom bit for added security.
“Hopefully, the crook won’t have the one that matches your plate. Make him go somewhere else,” Hicks said.
- Parking close to a wall
- Keeping your vehicle inside your garage when possible
- Checking your license plates regularly to make sure they haven’t been swapped
“This is just one piece of the puzzle. There’s a lot of things we can do, obviously using our garage, we’re all guilty. We have our garage full of our junk and then we leave our most valuable possession, our vehicle, out in the driveway,” Hicks said.
Where to find tamper-resistant screws
Hicks says tamper-proof screw sets can be found online or at most hardware stores.