9 Things to Know About Texas License Plates - Uses, History, and Special Plates

Texas plates include standard, specialty, and disability types. Specialty plates often support organizations; vanity plates allow personalization. People repurpose plates for decoration, gifts, and signage, but should follow TxDMV rules. Historically, counties once issued tags before the state standardized plates. Confirm current front/rear plate rules with TxDMV.

Texas license plates: more than registration

Texas license plates serve the basic purpose of vehicle identification, but they also have cultural, fundraising, and decorative roles. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) issues standard, specialty, and disability plates, and many plate types carry fees or renewals that support organizations and causes.

Specialty and commemorative plates

Texas offers a wide variety of specialty plates: university plates, military and veterans plates, plates that support nonprofits, and commemorative designs. Purchasing a specialty plate typically includes an additional fee or donation that benefits the sponsoring group.

Disability plates and placards

Texas issues license plates and removable placards for people with qualifying disabilities so they can access designated parking. Carrying the appropriate plate or placard lets drivers use disabled parking spaces as allowed by state law.

Personalized (vanity) plates

You can request a personalized plate with a custom letter/number combination, subject to availability and TxDMV rules. Vanity plates are popular for personal expression, business branding, and gifting.

Creative and decorative uses

Physical license-plate metal makes a familiar, affordable decorative item. People repurpose retired or novelty plates as wall art, garden markers, bicycle decorations, or table displays. Small businesses sometimes use plates as attention-grabbing signage or promotional items - but be careful not to display an active registration plate in a way that could imply improperly registered vehicles.

Gifting and promotional uses

You can give a personalized plate (or an old plate as a keepsake) as a gift. Dealers, artists, and retailers sell reproduction blanks and retired plates for souvenirs. If you plan to use an official plate as advertising, check TxDMV rules to avoid misrepresenting ownership or registration.

A bit of history: county-issued plates

Before the state standardized registration, Texas counties issued their own license tags. County-based registration persisted in the early 20th century before the state took over centralized plate issuance.

Front and rear plate rules (how Texas compares)

States differ in front-plate requirements. California requires both front and rear plates on most vehicles; Texas rules on front plates have changed over time and proposals for single-plate registration have appeared in recent years - confirm current TxDMV requirements before buying replacements or mounting a single plate. ¹

Practical tips

• If you want a specialty or vanity plate, check availability and fees on the TxDMV website.

• Use retired or replica plates for decor; keep active registration plates mounted and visible as required.

• When in doubt about legal display or transfer, contact TxDMV or a local county office.

1. Confirm the exact years Texas used county-issued vehicle registration before state centralized issuance (original article cited 1907-1917).
2. Confirm current Texas front-and-rear license plate requirements with TxDMV (rules have changed over time and proposals for single-plate registration have appeared).