Texas officials have updated identification requirements for vehicle registration and title transfers, ending a long-standing practice that allowed applicants to use foreign passports without proof of lawful presence — a change prompted by State Rep. Brian Harrison (R–Midlothian), who previously raised concerns.
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) informed county tax offices on November 18 that residents must now present verifiable identification that confirms legal status in the United States, including a valid Texas driver’s license, an unexpired U.S. passport, or a foreign passport containing a visa or Department of Homeland Security admission stamp.
The updated rules also specify that expired passports will no longer be accepted.
Harrison publicly praised the policy shift, posting on X:
This is what WINNING looks like! You're welcome, Texas!
Excerpts from @HoustonChron: Hundreds of thousands of Texans without legal status can no longer register or renew vehicle registrations after the state quietly tightened ID requirements…
The Texas Department of Motor… pic.twitter.com/Pyc0tKi39g
— Brian Harrison (@brianeharrison) November 25, 2025
He also shared excerpts from the Houston Chronicle, noting that “hundreds of thousands of Texans without legal status can no longer register or renew vehicle registrations after the state quietly tightened ID requirements.”
According to Harrison, the policy change followed a two-week public pressure campaign and a series of letters his office sent to the TxDMV Board Chair, Charles Bacarisse, and Gov. Greg Abbott. His office said it had independently verified reports earlier in November that undocumented immigrants were registering vehicles in Texas.
Harrison explained that the previous system “endangers drivers on Texas roads” by allowing registrations without lawful-presence checks.
“They were accepting any passport, not just an American passport, any passports as well as driver’s licenses from other states that acknowledge that they are issuing driver’s licenses to illegal aliens, so I was just gobsmacked,” Harrison said.
Harrison called the new policy “the single most consequential election integrity or border security measure that happened this year.”
“I’m tired of the Texas government facilitating illegal immigration, and that’s what has been happening for a lot of years now,” he said.
TxDMV has not confirmed whether Harrison’s campaign directly influenced its decision.
How the Loophole Emerged
Under prior TxDMV practice, applicants could register or title a vehicle using a foreign passport, even if the holder could not legally obtain a Texas driver’s license. Vehicle registration and licensing are separate processes under Texas law.
In early November, Harrison sent a letter citing Texas Transportation Code Section 502.040(b), which grants TxDMV discretion to determine acceptable forms of identification. He argued that this authority created a responsibility to verify lawful presence and requested clarification on what ID checks were being used.
On November 17, Harrison said TxDMV confirmed to his office that it had been issuing registrations to individuals without legal immigration status, explaining that immigration enforcement historically fell outside the agency’s role.
Harrison then urged Abbott to direct his appointees on the TxDMV board to impose new requirements immediately.
New TxDMV Bulletin Sets Identification Standards
On November 18, TxDMV issued a statewide Registration and Title Bulletin outlining new mandatory ID rules. The bulletin, signed by Vehicle Titles and Registration Division Director Annette Quintero, requires applicants to show current, government-issued photo identification. Accepted documents include:
- Texas driver’s license or state ID
- Unexpired U.S. passport
- Foreign passport only if it contains a valid U.S. visa or DHS admission stamp
- U.S. military ID
- Texas DPS handgun license
The bulletin does not reference immigration status, but the practical effect is that undocumented residents will no longer be able to register or renew vehicles.
Local Dealers Warn of Economic Impact
In Dallas’ Pleasant Grove area, auto seller Steve Banda said about 80% of his customers are undocumented and now will be unable to buy, register, or maintain ownership of their vehicles.
“You can come up here with a little thousand dollars down, get you a car to get you to work,” Banda said.
He predicted widespread repossessions and said the change could force his business to close.
“There’s a lot of accounts out there right now, so that means there’s gonna be a lot of repossessions coming, and that means we’re gonna take a big hit,” he explained. “So if I can’t collect a payment, I’m gonna have to close my doors down.”
Banda said mechanics, insurance agencies, and other businesses serving undocumented customers may also feel the effects.
“It’s gonna hurt,” he said. “Everybody’s gonna be a trickle effect; you’re talking about people not going to work; you’re talking about people not being able to pay their rents, who’s gonna fix their car if you can’t register the car?”
Community groups in Dallas have scheduled a meeting for Wednesday to discuss the change with affected residents.
Broader Enforcement Context
The rule change follows a separate Texas Department of Public Safety announcement in September suspending certain commercial driver’s licenses for non-citizens, including refugees, asylees, and DACA recipients, while reviewing federal compliance rules.
State lawmakers are expected to debate whether the new registration requirements should be codified in statute during the next legislative session.
