You are required to keep and show current:TDDude wrote:Is "registration papers" the car's title or proof that your tags are up to date?
I don't see why an officer would want to see the title since they would have instant access to the state database. The officer probably knows who owns the car before he gets out. The only catch is if the car was recently purchased.
If the registration means the tags being current, the sticker on the windshield would prove current tags.
Having insurance makes both issues mute. If a person is going to spend the money on insuring himself and a specific car, who cares who owns it as long as it hasn't been stolen?
* registration (for in-state vehicles it's just the sticker, however it's a good idea to keep the rest of the sheet that had the sticker on it handy)
* inspection (again, the window sticker is proof enough in-state)
* insurance (the little card or, in my case, 8.5x11" sheet of paper with your policy, insured drivers and covered vehicles showing you would be covered driving the car you're in)
Out of state, fleet and commercial vehicles often do not have any windshield stickers, so some other form of proof of registration is needed. Nine times out of ten a Texas resident will have no issues out-of-state; the officer will look at the sticker and say OK, you're current.