FAQ

TPWD is the state agency that manages all of the state parks, wildlife management areas, and state fish hatcheries in Texas. TPWD also oversees resource protection of native species and other natural resources. TPWD's mission is “to manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas and to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.”

You can order the license plate at any time! You do not have to wait until you receive your renewal notice.

It will take two to three weeks to get your license plate after you order. If you order online, the plate will be mailed to your local county tax office, where you can pick it up. If you order at your local county tax office, the plates will be mailed to your local address. You may also call the TxDMV “specialty plate” customer help desk at (512) 374-5010 or 1 (888) 368-4689, or send an email to: vtr_special_plates@TxDMV.gov

Yes, this fall we will offer the Horned Lizard plate with a new design, chosen by voters, in honor of the anniversary of the Conservation License Plate program and the Horned Lizard plate, which were “born” 25 years ago.

Q. What if I already have the current Horned Lizard plate, but I want the new one when it comes out?

A. If you have the current Horned Lizard plate it is still valid for as long as you pay the yearly registration and plate fee. But, if you want to exchange it for the new one after the new one is made available, it's easy -- just go to your local county tax office, pay a $7 fee, and a set of Horned Lizard plates with the new design will be mailed to you.

Q. When can I order the new design Horned Lizard plate?

A. This fall, 2025. If you'd like to be notified by email of the “available now” date just use this link: Let Me Know. Please note that TxDMV, who manufactures the plates, hasn't determined the exact date yet.

After the new plate is made available (this fall) you can order the license plate at any time! You do not have to wait until you receive your renewal notice.

Yes, you can put any of the TPWD conservation license plates on a trailer, travel trailer, RV or motorcycle—in addition to your car or truck.

No. Fees for your annual registration are not included.

Yes, with $22 of the $30 going to TPWD each year.

It could change, depending on how the plate order and the registration expiration months line up. If the registration date is moved forward, you could be charged some prorated fees. You will never lose registration and specialty plate months you have paid for when a new expiration month and year is assigned. TxDMV typically tries to synchronize the plate and registration expiration dates forward, to be able to combine these fees into one renewal bill next year.

You will surrender your current windshield validation sticker and receive a new windshield validation sticker. You will also pay your regular annual vehicle registration fee and receive a credit for the remaining time on your previous registration payment. Proof of financial responsibility such as a liability insurance card or policy is also required at this time.

Plates may be transferred to another vehicle you own with a corrected vehicle registration obtained from your County Tax office.

Yes, you can. To display a disabled person symbol on your license plate, please attach a signed Form VTR-214 to your specialty plate application to show your eligibility for the International Symbol of Access. Turn in both the specialty plate application and the VTR-214 to your local tax office.

Call the TxDMV customer help desk at (512) 374-5010 or 1 (888) 368-4689 or contact Texas Parks and Wildlife Department by filling out the contact us web form. You can also send an email to: vtr_special_plates@TxDMV.gov

For an additional $40 you may order a personalized plate of five spaces or less. TxDMV will review each request to ensure that it does not duplicate another plate already assigned. Personalize your plate with up to 5 characters (for cars, trucks, trailers) or 4 characters for motorcycles. Characters include letters, numbers, and three symbols. For the texas silhouette use an * asterisk symbol when checking vanity name availability, for a heart symbol use the @ symbol, and for the star symbol use the & symbol.

• Selections may not consist of more than five characters, symbols, or spaces, OR three characters, symbols, or spaces and one silhouette of Texas.
• Limit of two spaces for punctuation symbols OR one silhouette of Texas.
• Each square of the selection block may be used to represent one alpha or numeric character, punctuation symbol, or space. The silhouette of Texas requires two selection blocks. Use an asterisk (*) to indicate the Texas silhouette.
• The only punctuation symbols that can be used are periods and dashes.
• Selections should be shown exactly as you wish them to appear on the license plate. Selections that contain alterations or erasures will not be considered.
• A selection that conflicts with the regular license plate numbering system or that has already been issued cannot be approved.
• The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles will notify you when your personalized plate request has been approved. Personalized plate requests will not be processed until this special plate has met the conditions outlined at the bottom of the application (see other side).
• You may transfer a personalized plate from your current plate to this new plate if it has five spaces or less.

As required by state law, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) automatically replaces plates at seven years at no extra cost to be sure the plates maintain safety legibility. If you wait until this seven years is up on your existing plates, you will automatically be sent new plates by TxDMV at no additional cost.

However, you may opt to replace your plates before the seven year mark if they are lost or missing. To do this, you will need to complete Form VTR-60 (Application for Replacement License Plate(s) and/or Vehicle Registration Sticker Form) and submit it to your local County Tax Assessor-Collector's office. The fee to replace your current Largemouth Bass license plate will be $6 plus a $0.50 automation fee. TxDMV is required by law to collect this fee which covers the states extra manufacture and postage costs for the new plate.

Yes, you can do so through the normal online plate purchase process. You will need the recipient's name and address, including their county of residence, and identify them as the “Plate Owner” in the order process. All specialty plates are delivered to the County Tax Assessor-Collector office of the “Plate Owner”, which is not necessarily the same as the “Purchaser's” county of residence. Policies regarding picking-up another person's plates may differ by County, and you are encouraged to contact the “Plate Owner's” County Tax Assessor-Collector office for details.