Texas VIN Lookup

Texas's used car market is highly competitive, with over 1,400 used car dealerships in 289 cities and towns statewide. It is also one of the most expensive in the country, with an average used car price in Texas coming in at just over $35,000. While there is a strong demand for quality used vehicles in Texas and an established infrastructure for buying and selling pre-owned cars, buyers must still proceed carefully to mitigate risks.

Although Texas does have a lemon law protecting new car buyers, the law only applies to used cars in very limited circumstances, like when the vehicle is still under the original manufacturer’s warranty (not an extended service contract). As a result, Texas used car buyers utilize Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) lookups to avoid buying a “lemon” and end up with a faulty vehicle.

A VIN is a unique 17-character identifier assigned to every car. A VIN check can help prospective buyers thoroughly research a vehicle’s history, including accident reports, inspection records, vehicle recalls, and lien information, thus ensuring that they are making an informed purchase.

Why Performing a Texas VIN Check Is Important

Performing a VIN check is a critical step in purchasing a used car. By performing a Texas VIN lookup before you buy a used car, you may be able to protect yourself from scams. When you conduct a Texas VIN check, you may have access to the following information about the car you are considering:

• Registration and Title Verification: Under state law, most vehicles must be registered with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV). Texas requires that new residents register their vehicles within 30 days of moving to the state, and used buyers must register them within 30 days of purchase. While the base fee to register a car in Texas is $50.75 annually, plus taxes and local charges, failure to register your vehicle within the allowable window can result in significant late fees of up to $250. A Texas VIN check allows you to verify a car’s registration status and title, helping to confirm that the person selling the used vehicle is authorized to do so.
• Mileage Verification: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 450,000 vehicle sales annually involve cars with falsified odometer readings. VIN lookups can confirm that the odometer reading on a used car for sale is accurate. This helps buyers protect themselves from falling victim to scammers and ensures they’re paying a fair price for the vehicle.
• Title Brandings: In Texas, there are generally two types of “branded” titles: a salvage (or “blue”) title, which indicates that the car is damaged beyond repair and has been written off as a total loss, and a rebuilt salvage title, which means that the salvaged vehicle has been rebuilt per state law. A VIN check is critical to assess whether a used car’s title has been branded.
• Theft Checks: Car theft affects roughly 400 in 100,000 residents across Texas, making it the state with the second-highest number of vehicle thefts by volume. A VIN lookup will help you confirm that the used car you are considering has never been reported stolen. Purchasing a vehicle that has been reported stolen can subject the buyer to significant legal and financial risk.
• Auto Fraud Prevention: Texas has one of the country's highest rates of auto fraud, with more than 475 cases per 100,000 people. Therefore, used car buyers in the state are more likely to be scammed. VIN checks help ensure that buyers don’t become victims.

How To Perform a Texas VIN Check

Although Texas offers a step-by-step title check feature through the TxDMV website, it ultimately directs users to pay for a third-party VIN check from a list of approved private search providers. However, there are other governmental VIN check resources available in Texas, including:

• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): The NHTSA’s VIN Decoder provides general information such as the vehicle manufacturer, model year, plant location, transmission information, engine details, safety features, safety ratings, and any recalls. Users can perform a VIN check based on a full or partial VIN.
• The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB): The NICB’s VINCheck lets users find out if a car has been reported as stolen or salvaged. To use this service, interested parties must have the vehicle’s full VIN and are only allowed five searches daily.

Free vs. Paid VIN Check Services in Texas

VIN checks through government agencies and nonprofits rarely offer the comprehensive vehicle information necessary to protect yourself when purchasing a used car in Texas. Platforms like CarFax, GoodCar, and AutoCheck have all become recognized as a go-to source for VIN checks in Texas. For a small fee, these platforms offer detailed vehicle histories that include:

• Title information, including any brands
• Sale history
• Ownership history
• Vehicle specs
• Odometer readings
• Accident reports
• Rebuild records
• Inspection reports
• Service records
• Maintenance records
• Recall information
• Crash test ratings

What Used Car Scams Are Common in Texas?

According to officials, car scams are on the rise in Texas. In Bexar County alone, online car buyers were duped out of nearly $60,000 collectively over just two weeks. This highlights the need for used car buyers in Texas to remain vigilant to avoid being duped.

Commonly used car scams in Texas include:

Curbstoning:

This is a practice in which used cars are sold by someone without a dealer’s license, typically posing as a private seller as a way to skirt state regulations, fees, and licensing requirements.

Title Washing:

This illegal practice involves removing a vehicle’s negative history, such as “rebuilt” or “salvage” status, from its title.

Odometer Rollbacks:

In this common type of auto fraud, scammers tamper with a car’s odometer to lower the displayed mileage to increase its market value.

VIN Cloning:

Copying one vehicle’s VIN and using it on another to disguise a car, usually because it is stolen or has a branded title, is known as VIN cloning.

Falsifying Vehicle Histories:

Fake accident reports or false maintenance records are often created by scammers and used to make a vehicle appear more valuable and well-maintained than it is.

Texas’s used car market is rife with such scams, resulting in significant losses for used car buyers nationwide. Therefore, Texas buyers must remain alert when purchasing a used car. Here are some of the steps Texans can take to avoid becoming the victim of a scam:

1. Determine the type of vehicle you’d like to buy, its features, and its estimated cost.
2. Avoid deals that seem too good to be true.
3. Ask for all the relevant documentation and review it carefully.
4. Avoid buying cars without a written warranty.
5. Use a platform like GoodCar to conduct a VIN check before purchasing.

How Do I Check the Status of My Vehicle's Title in Texas?

The TxDMV’s title check feature helps vehicle owners access their vehicle records online, including title and registration, through approved third-party VIN check platforms, allowing car owners to determine their vehicle's status or verify lienholder information. Fees vary greatly by service. Car owners can also check the status of their vehicle’s title by going, in person, to any TxDMV office where they can provide information such as whether the title is clean, has liens, or is processing.

How To Register a Brand New Car in Texas

In Texas, like in many other states, when you purchase a vehicle from a licensed dealer, they typically handle the title and registration process with the state. However, there may be situations, like buying a car from a private individual, where you must handle the process yourself. Registering a new car in Texas is done through your local county tax office.

The base registration fee for registering a brand-new car in Texas is $50.75. However, with additional fees and taxes, including a $1 fee for TexasSure, the state's electronic insurance verification program, 6.25% of the purchase price (minus trade-in allowances), and local fees, the cost could be as high as $200.

What Are the Requirements for Registering a New Car in Texas?

Texas has nearly 26 million registered vehicles, all of which undergo the same general registration process through one of the state’s many county tax offices. Here’s what’s generally required to register a new car in Texas:

• Proof of insurance.
• The vehicle's title, which serves as proof of ownership, along with an application for Texas registration (Form 130-U).
• Money to pay all associated fees and taxes.

In certain instances, you might also need the following:

• A Form VTR-272 which is used to register a vehicle from another state or country in Texas or when moving to the state with a vehicle titled elsewhere

Every vehicle registration in Texas is required by law to be renewed annually. Although the base registration fee for most cars is $50.75 plus a $1 insurance verification fee and a $4.75 processing fee, some counties add up to $20 in local fees to support infrastructure. In counties requiring emissions testing, you must also pay an emissions fee.

Does Texas Mandate Vehicle Inspection?

As of January 1, 2025, Texas law (HB 3297) eliminates a previous mandate on vehicle inspections for non-commercial vehicles. However, some counties in Texas still require emissions testing to comply with federal rules to reduce pollution. This makes VIN checks even more crucial for buyers to protect themselves when buying a used car in Texas.

How Do I Get a Replacement VIN in Texas?

TxDMV and law enforcement handle VIN replacements in Texas. To apply for a replacement VIN, you must submit a completed Form VTR-68-A from an authorized inspector to a TxDMV Regional Service Center. A bonded title may be required to establish ownership of assembled or homemade vehicles. If law enforcement can determine the original manufacturer's identification number, but it has been removed, altered, or indistinguishable, the TxDMV may be able to reassign it.

Does Texas Require a VIN Inspection for an Out-of-State Vehicle?

Texas requires all car dealers in the state to self-certify the VIN for all vehicles they sell, including out-of-state cars. Ultimately, the dealer is responsible for verifying a car's identity and ensuring all the documentation is correct and in order.