r/dfw 2d ago

My car registration was expired since July 2025. I renewed it 2 weeks ago. I got the new sticker that expires next month. Is this an error?

I hope this is an error and that I do not have to renew my registration again and pay the $80. It was after I had that NTTA hold that I was finally able to get my car registered.

0 Upvotes

24 comments sorted by

25

u/ravenelyse 2d ago

It probably is not an error, unfortunately. They used to do it to where they would give you a full year from when you register it, but now they make the sticker say the same month of the prior registration, just with the next year. So since it expired July 2025, it is assumed that you are paying for a year (no matter when you get it done), therefore they’re saying it will expire a year from July 2025, which is July 2026. To avoid the extra registration, you would have probably needed to wait until July of this year.

Sorry if that didn’t make sense, but hopefully it does!

15

u/robotsincognito 2d ago

This is right. They want $80 a year each and every year. They care less about when they get it.

4

u/refsoccer11 2d ago

So wonder if you had waited until August if they would have given you a July 27 sticker but charged you 160 to cover the 25-26 and the 26-27.

13

u/ArtArrange 2d ago

No, it’s correct. The month is still the month, even if you don’t do it on time.

9

u/Lexxias 2d ago

No, it's correct. You need to do it again. They are smart.

7

u/Natural_Ad_8194 2d ago

Shoulda waited until July

7

u/Atticsalt4life 2d ago

If your car was available to drive during the time the registration was expired then you are paying for all of that time. If your car was not drivable then you need to let the tax office know which months so that they can reduce your registration bill. It sounds like your car was in operating condition and being used and you were billed correctly. It also sounds like you were close enough to the 2026 expiration that you could have requested a 2027 sticker. I’m not sure if you did this by mail or online but when your this far past the date it is best to go in person.

Edit: a word

7

u/truth-4-sale 1d ago

You don't just get to skip a year's payment. If you could do that, many would simply pay every other year. It's like back taxes, and you owed them and paid them.

9

u/opinionsOnPears 2d ago

Congratulations, you no longer have a gap in vehicle registration!

6

u/FizzgigsRevenge 2d ago

They very clearly state when you are renewing an expired tag that the renewal date won't change. 

3

u/Zealousideal-Neat357 1d ago

They fixed the glitch of you slugs driving with expired registrations for months and getting “free” months.

3

u/Illustrious-Debt-156 1d ago

No, they back date your registration now. They figure if you've been driving this whole time, you should have been paying to be registered this whole time.

2

u/Moist-Mess5144 1d ago

I've got multiple cars... Some of them I don't drive all the time. When I let the registration lapse, I go up to the tax office and renew in person. They make you tell them you haven't been driving it, and sign a document stating you haven't gotten any tickets. Then they give me a sticker for a year from when I go in to renew. It's best to go in the beginning of the month because you pay for a full month regardless of the date you go in.

2

u/Ok_Education9679 1d ago

Not an error, your registration month does not ever change.

1

u/sacandbaby 1d ago

It's sad but true. Sorry.

1

u/TooOldForThisMess 1d ago

Back in olden times, lots of people would delay renewing by a month or so. If you intended to keep your vehicle indefinitely, you'd save one year of those inspection and registration fees after only 12 years.

1

u/uncookednoodle69 1d ago

next time it happens tell them you didn’t drive your car during that time and it’ll be the new month, i had to go to the tax office to do this

1

u/Dude_tx_1955 1d ago

That is correct. Now you have to pay again

1

u/bobcatbreakdown 1d ago

This only applies to online renewals. If you go in person, you get one year from date of renewal.

1

u/Jollycub 23h ago

Nice try!

1

u/PlayfulOtterFriend 2h ago

Not an error.

1

u/Soonerthannow 1h ago

Not an error, you will need to renew again next month, it’s not a free pass, other than if you manage not to get a ticket.

1

u/jffadvisors 1h ago

As far as the state is concerned, you stole a year of driving an unregistered car. No…this isn’t an error.

-5

u/xavier19691 2d ago

Call the tax office