This section limits sales of certain export-only motor vehicles and requires dealers, governmental sellers, the department, and buyers to follow identification, title-stamping, recordkeeping, and certification steps.
Sec. 501.099. SALE OF EXPORT-ONLY MOTOR VEHICLES. (a) This section applies to a nonrepairable motor vehicle or a salvage motor vehicle that is offered for sale in this state to a person who resides in a jurisdiction outside the United States. (b) A person may purchase a nonrepairable motor vehicle or a salvage motor vehicle only if: (1) the person purchases the motor vehicle from a licensed salvage vehicle dealer or a governmental entity; (2) the motor vehicle has been issued a nonrepairable vehicle title or a salvage vehicle title; and (3) the purchaser certifies to the seller on a form provided by the department that the purchaser will: (A) remove the motor vehicle from the United States; and (B) not return the motor vehicle to any state of the United States as a motor vehicle titled or registered under its manufacturer's vehicle identification number. (c) A salvage vehicle dealer or a governmental entity that sells a nonrepairable motor vehicle or a salvage motor vehicle to a person who is not a resident of the United States shall, before the sale of the motor vehicle, obtain a copy, photocopy, or other accurate reproduction of a valid identification card, identification certificate, or an equivalent document issued to the purchaser by the appropriate authority of the jurisdiction in which the purchaser resides that bears a photograph of the purchaser and is capable of being verified using identification standards adopted by the United States or the international community. (d) The department by rule shall establish a list of identification documents that are valid under Subsection (c) and provide a copy of the list to each holder of a salvage vehicle dealer license and to each appropriate governmental entity. (e) A salvage vehicle dealer or a governmental entity that sells a nonrepairable motor vehicle or a salvage motor vehicle to a person who is not a resident of the United States shall: (1) stamp on the face of the title so as not to obscure any name, date, or mileage statement on the title the words "FOR EXPORT ONLY" in capital letters that are black; and (2) stamp in each unused reassignment space on the back of the title the words "FOR EXPORT ONLY" and print the number of the dealer's salvage vehicle license or the name of the governmental entity, as applicable. (f) The words "FOR EXPORT ONLY" required by Subsection (e) must be at least two inches wide and clearly legible. (g) A salvage vehicle dealer or governmental entity who sells a nonrepairable motor vehicle or a salvage motor vehicle under this section to a person who is not a resident of the United States shall keep on the business premises of the dealer or entity until the third anniversary of the date of the sale: (1) a copy of each document related to the sale of the vehicle; and (2) a list of all vehicles sold under this section that contains: (A) the date of the sale; (B) the name of the purchaser; (C) the name of the country that issued the identification document provided by the purchaser, as shown on the document; and (D) the vehicle identification number. (h) This section does not prevent a person from exporting or importing a used part obtained from an export-only motor vehicle. Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1325, Sec. 17.02, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.