It’s official: the days of temporary paper license plates are gone as Gov. Greg Abbot signed HB718 into law on Monday afternoon.
The bill, which was introduced by Rep. Craig Goldman, R-Fort Worth, will allow car dealerships to keep metal plates on hand to give to people who buy vehicles, eliminating the need for temporary paper license plates.
With the ability to replicate Texas paper plates a challenge to law enforcement, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles last year revealed a redesigned version to try combat the problem.
The redesigned plates introduced new security features aimed at fighting fake paper license plates on vehicles in on vehicles involved in crimes and drivers trying to avoid registration fees.
The new law eliminating paper license plates will take effect July 1, 2025.
