Report: Car Dealers Are Fighting Texas Ending Temporary Tags

Read the full story on The Auto Wire

Like we reported back when it passed in 2023, a law in Texas outlaws almost all paper temporary tags in 2025. But a new report out of the Lone Star State reveals that car dealerships are pushing back before the law goes into effect, casting doubt on whether it will actually be enforced.

Woman uses a BB gun to carjack a Ford Raptor.

Cops in Texas are by and large supportive of the new law. They know how pervasive fake paper tags are and that many times the people using them are up to no good. Law enforcement agencies have even demonstrated for journalists how easily one can make a fake temporary tag using a printer at home.

But car dealerships are trying to argue that the fraud will move from the paper tags to the metal ones. But we’re pretty sure you can’t just fabricate a fake aluminum plate using your home printer like you can with the paper tags. Still, they’re trying to push that narrative and it really makes us wonder why.

After all, wouldn’t they want greater safety on public roads? Everyone has to drive, so weeding out people who are dangerous criminals driving stolen vehicles with fake paper tags should be something everyone gets behind, or at least one would think.

Our suspicion is that dealerships in Texas are concerned the new law will add complexity to their vehicle sales process. It likely will, but with paper tags abused so much, at this point it seems like a necessary move.

We’re pretty sure other states are watching to see how Texas pulls this off before passing similar laws. Paper tags aren’t just a problem in Texas, with many criminals using them to hide in plain sight. Perhaps it’s time for dealerships to come to grips with the fact that things need to change.

Image via CBS Texas/YouTube

Follow The Auto Wire on Google News.

Join our Newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube page, and follow us on Facebook.