Tex. Codes » Transportation Code · TITLE 7. VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC · SUBTITLE A. CERTIFICATES OF TITLE AND REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES · CHAPTER 502. REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES
Texas Codes

Tex. Transp. Code § 502.473 (2026)

Operation Of Vehicle Without Registration Insignia

✓ current as of May 2026
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Sec. 502.473. OPERATION OF VEHICLE WITHOUT REGISTRATION INSIGNIA. (a) A person commits an offense if the person operates on a public highway during a registration period a motor vehicle that does not properly display the registration insignia issued by the department that establishes that the license plates have been validated for the period.

(b) A person commits an offense if the person operates on a public highway during a registration period a road tractor, motorcycle, trailer, or semitrailer that does not display a registration insignia issued by the department that establishes that the vehicle is registered for the period.

(c) This section does not apply to a dealer operating a vehicle as provided by law.

(d) A court may dismiss a charge brought under Subsection (a) if the defendant pays a reimbursement fee not to exceed $10 and:

(1) remedies the defect before the defendant's first court appearance; or

(2) shows that the motor vehicle was issued a registration insignia by the department that was attached to the motor vehicle, establishing that the vehicle was registered for the period during which the offense was committed.

Transferred, redesignated and amended from Transportation Code, Section 502.404 by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1296 (H.B. 2357), Sec. 157, eff. January 1, 2012.

Amended by:

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1135 (H.B. 2741), Sec. 73, eff. September 1, 2013.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1352 (S.B. 346), Sec. 2.63, eff. January 1, 2020.

Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 919 (S.B. 1923), Sec. 11, eff. September 1, 2021.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 6 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 2014–2023 · leading case: In re Meyer, 482 S.W.3d 706 (Tex. App. 2016).
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In re Meyer, 482 S.W.3d 706 (Tex. App. 2016). “” Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 502.473 (a) (West-Supp,-2015).”
SHIRLEY, JR., ANDREW v. the State of Texas (Tex. Crim. App. 2023). · cites it 2× “44 Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 502.473 . 45 Tex.”
Charna Maelean Sutton v. State (Tex. App. 2020). “ref’d) (law enforcement officer justified in detaining person for investigative purposes if officer has reasonable suspicion to believe individual is violating law); see also TEX. TRANSP. CODE ANN. §§ 502.473 (West Supp.”
MASSEY, JAMES CALVIN v. the State of Texas (Tex. Crim. App. 2023). “CONCLUSION Accordingly, we reverse the judgment of the court of appeals and 15 See TEX. TRANSP. CODE § 502.473(a) (“A person commits an offense if the person operates on a public highway during a registration period a motor vehicle that does not properly display the registration…”
William Autrey v. State (Tex. App. 2015). “Laws 1025 , 1523 (West) (former TEX. TRANSP. CODE ANN. § 502.404 redesignated as TEX.”
Efrain Calleros, Jr. v. State (Tex. App. 2014). “2011)(redesignated as TEX.TRANSP.CODE ANN. § 502.473)(“A person commits an offense if the person operates on a public highway a during a registration period a passenger car or commercial motor vehicle that does not display two license plates, at the front and rear of the vehicle…”
Tex. Transp. Code § 502.473(a): 1 case
MASSEY, JAMES CALVIN v. the State of Texas (Tex. Crim. App. 2023). “CONCLUSION Accordingly, we reverse the judgment of the court of appeals and 15 See TEX. TRANSP. CODE § 502.473(a) (“A person commits an offense if the person operates on a public highway during a registration period a motor vehicle that does not properly display the registration…”
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