Some foreign commercial motor vehicles are exempt from Texas registration if they are only hauling border-crossing cargo and meet the listed conditions.
Sec. 648.101. REGISTRATION EXEMPTION IN BORDER COMMERCIAL ZONE. (a) A foreign commercial motor vehicle is exempt from Chapter 502 and any other law of this state requiring the vehicle to be registered in this state, including a law providing for a temporary registration permit, if: (1) the vehicle is engaged solely in transportation of cargo across the border into or from a border commercial zone; (2) for each load of cargo transported the vehicle remains in this state: (A) not more than 24 hours; or (B) not more than 48 hours, if: (i) the vehicle is unable to leave this state within 24 hours because of circumstances beyond the control of the motor carrier operating the vehicle; and (ii) all financial responsibility requirements applying to the vehicle are satisfied; (3) the vehicle is registered and licensed as required by the country in which the person that owns the vehicle is domiciled or is a citizen as evidenced by a valid metal license plate attached to the front or rear of the exterior of the vehicle; and (4) the country in which the person that owns the vehicle is domiciled or is a citizen provides a reciprocal exemption for commercial motor vehicles owned by residents of this state. (b) A foreign commercial motor vehicle operating under the exemption provided by this section and the vehicle's driver may be considered unregistered if the vehicle is operated in this state outside a border commercial zone or in violation of United States law. (c) A valid reciprocity agreement between this state and another state of the United States or a Canadian province that exempts currently registered vehicles owned by nonresidents is effective in a border commercial zone. (d) A foreign commercial motor vehicle that engages primarily in transportation of cargo across the border into or from a border commercial zone must be: (1) registered in this state; or (2) operated under the exemption provided by this section. (e) A vehicle located in a border commercial zone must display a valid Texas registration if the vehicle is owned by a person who: (1) owns a leasing facility or a leasing terminal located in this state; and (2) leases the vehicle to a foreign motor carrier. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, Sec. 17.35(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 72 (H.B. 313), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2007. Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 39 (H.B. 782), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2009.