New Residency Rules for Texas Drivers License

[WildBill]

A new law taking effect May 7, 2012 requires Texans who apply for a new driver’s license or ID card to show proof that they have lived in the state at least 30 days.

http://blog.chron.com/newswatch/2012/05 ... enses-ids/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[smoothoperator]

Do you still have to register your vehicle before 30 days have passed or can you wait until you have proof you lived here at least 30 days.

[chasfm11]

Do you still have to register your vehicle before 30 days have passed or can you wait until you have proof you lived here at least 30 days.

According to the DPS website
http://www.txdmv.gov/vehicles/drivers/new_residents.htm you still only have 30 days to register your vehicle. Seems silly to me to not be able to get your Texas driver's license in less time than it takes to register your vehicle.

It was quite a few years ago but my wife and I arrived from another State on Sunday and took our Texas driver's license test (written only) on Monday. As soon as we passed, we were issued Texas driver's licenses and had to surrender our old ones. We didn't go to settlement on our new Texas house until the next day and the Title Insurance person was really surprised when we showed up with Texas driver's license. We had are cars both inspected and registered in Texas by Wednesday of the same week.

I see no reason at all or delaying your Texas driver's license for 30 days. You either are eligible to get it on day one or you are not.

[seamusTX]

The official rules are here:
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/DriverLice ... NonCDL.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Note:

You must prove your Texas residency by showing two acceptable documents that contain your name and residential address. One of the documents must prove that you have lived in Texas for at least 30 days, unless you are surrendering a valid, unexpired driver license from another state; then the 30 day requirement is waived.

As far as I can tell, this requirement was added by SB 9 in the 81st legislature (last year) to prevent illegal immigrants from obtaining driver licenses. SB 9 is a very complicated bill that added a lot of verbiage to the Transportation Code.

Don't forget the federal "Real ID" law never went away. Texas just delayed implementing it for a while.

- Jim

[puma guy]

Maybe this explains why I saw a New York license plate on a vehicle with a handicapped hang tag in the grocery parking lot today. Or not!