Title and Registration in TX - A Definitive Guide as of 2025

[panamericano]

Congratulations!!

[williamwashere]

2 hours ago, hahuang65 said:

ASVEs (Custom Vehicles) do not require the annual smog check.

Had Claude check this, so standard AI info grains of salt apply:

 

”TxDMV form (VTR-852) is clear on this: once a vehicle is approved for Custom Vehicle or Street Rod license plates, the vehicle is exempt from the Texas vehicle emissions inspection. 
So even though Montgomery County is one of the 17 counties that require annual emissions inspections for registration, that requirement doesn’t apply to properly titled and plated Custom Vehicles.

The key is making sure the vehicle is correctly registered as a “Custom Vehicle” with the specialty plates, not just titled as an ASVE with standard plates. A Texas Cobra Club thread highlights that some owners in emissions counties ran into trouble because their ASVE was titled with a model year but didn’t have the Custom Vehicle specialty plate — the county then treated it as a standard gasoline vehicle of that model year and required emissions testing.”

[240]

I think you are correct, one needs to get the right plates. My reading of that thread while going down the registration rabbit hole a while ago is those cobra folks got caught out when emissions was reimposed after they had titled in a way that previously worked, but now will not.  The new procedure (detailed on this thread) does indeed have the owner fill out the form 852, which results in you getting either "street rod" or "custom" plates, both of which are exemption from emissions  as per the latest texDMV "ASSEMBLED AND RECONSTRUCTED VEHICLE MANUAL".  As per the manual: 

 

1.5 ASE Safety Inspection for Assembled Vehicles
An assembled motor vehicle, replica, custom vehicle, street rod, and kit car must pass an
Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) inspection by a Certified Master Automobile
Technician to be eligible for title. This inspection is required in addition to the Texas
Department of Public Safety vehicle safety and emissions (if applicable) inspection
required under Transportation Code, Chapter 548. The inspection under Chapter 548 does
not apply to a custom vehicle or street rod when the applicant is applying for Custom Vehicle or Street Rod license plates.

 

If the forms are filled out correctly as per @hahuang65s checklist, the ASVE Title will also note what make and year you are replicating (mine does), also discussed as necessary in the Manual. (I don't think the cobra guys were titling it like this before the rule change). Most of the recent advice on those forums now is to get the current TexDMV manual, and follow it to the tee, this is what the instructions by @hahuang65 lays out nicely from my reading of the manual. There are also some Texas dune buggy groups on Facebook that Report registration successes doing the same. 

[hahuang65]

@williamwashere I think that the form guarantees you get a custom vehicle plate like @240mentions...but also, please get a cool vanity plate!

[williamwashere]

4 minutes ago, hahuang65 said:

@williamwashere I think that the form guarantees you get a custom vehicle plate like @240mentions...but also, please get a cool vanity plate!

I have the kids trying to figure out the plate! No leading candidates yet, I’m a tough judge of lame license plate puns.

[240]