Some owners of nonprofit disaster relief vehicles may apply for registration and do not have to pay the regular registration fee, but they must meet use and documentation conditions.
Sec. 502.454. VEHICLES USED BY NONPROFIT DISASTER RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS. (a) The owner of a commercial motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer may apply for registration under Section 502.451 and is exempt from the payment of the registration fee that would otherwise be required by this chapter if the vehicle is: (1) owned by a nonprofit disaster relief organization; and (2) used by the organization exclusively for emergencies, training, equipment maintenance, transportation of disaster relief supplies, or other activities related to disaster relief. (b) An application for registration under this section must include: (1) a statement by the owner of the vehicle that the vehicle is used exclusively as described by Subsection (a) and has not been used for any other purpose; (2) a statement signed by an officer of the nonprofit disaster relief organization that the vehicle has been used exclusively as described by Subsection (a) and qualifies for registration under this section; and (3) a reasonable description of the vehicle and the emergency equipment included in the vehicle. (c) An applicant for registration under this section must pay a fee of $5. (d) A commercial motor vehicle registered under this section must display the name of the organization that owns it on each front door. (e) A vehicle registered under this section must display at all times an appropriate license plate showing the vehicle's status. (f) A vehicle registered under this section that is used other than as described by Subsection (a) may not again be registered under this section. Transferred, redesignated and amended from Transportation Code, Section 502.203 by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1296 (H.B. 2357), Sec. 150, eff. January 1, 2012. Amended by: Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 657 (H.B. 53), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.