1. (a) Internet registration renewal program. The department will maintain a uniform Internet registration renewal process. This process will provide for the renewal of vehicle registrations via the Internet and will be in addition to vehicle registration procedures provided for in §217.22(d) of this subchapter (relating to Motor Vehicle Registration). The Internet registration renewal program will be facilitated by a third-party vendor.
2. (b) County participation in program. County participation is optional and requires approval from the commissioner's court of a county. A county tax assessor-collector must submit an agreement to the director indicating intent to participate in the program.

3. (c) Eligibility of individuals for participation. To be eligible to renew a vehicle's registration via the Internet, a vehicle owner must meet the following criteria.

   1. (1) The vehicle owner must meet all criteria for registration renewal outlined in this section, in §217.22 of this subchapter, and in Transportation Code, Chapter 502.
   2. (2) The vehicle owner must be a resident of a participating county.
   3. (3) The vehicle must have registration at the time the application for registration renewal is submitted. In calculating the expiration date of the registration, the 5-working-day grace period established by Transportation Code, §502.407 will not be considered. The county shall register the vehicle for a 12-month period without changing the initial month of registration.

4. (d) Fees. A vehicle owner who renews registration via the Internet must pay:

   1. (1) registration fees prescribed by law;
   2. (2) any local fees or other fees prescribed by law and collected in conjunction with registering a vehicle;
   3. (3) a fee of $1 for the processing of a registration renewal by mail in accordance with Transportation Code, §502.197(a); and
   4. (4) a convenience fee of $2 for the processing of an electronic registration renewal paid by a credit card payment in accordance with Transportation Code, §1001.009.

5. (e) Information to be submitted by vehicle owner. A vehicle owner who renews registration via the Internet must submit or verify the following information:

   1. (1) registrant information, including the vehicle owner's name and county of residence;
   2. (2) vehicle information, including the license plate number of the vehicle to be registered;
   3. (3) insurance information, including the name of the insurance company, the name of the insurance company's agent (if applicable), the telephone number of the insurance company or agent (local or toll free number serviced Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), the insurance policy number, and representation that the policy meets all applicable legal standards;
   4. (4) credit card information, including the type of credit card, the name appearing on the credit card, the credit card number, and the expiration date; and
   5. (5) other information prescribed by rule or statute.

6. (f) Duties of participating counties. A participating county tax assessor-collector shall:

   1. (1) accept electronic payment for vehicle registration renewal via the Internet;
   2. (2) execute an agreement with the department as provided by the director;
   3. (3) process qualified Internet registration renewal transactions as submitted by the third-party vendor;
   4. (4) communicate with the third-party vendor and applicants via email, regular mail, or other means, as specified by the director;
   5. (5) promptly mail renewal registration validation stickers and license plates to applicants;
   6. (6) ensure that all requirements for registration renewal are met, including all requirements set forth in this section, in §217.22 of this subchapter, and in Transportation Code, Chapter 502; and
   7. (7) reject applications that do not meet all requirements set forth in this section, in §217.22 of this subchapter, and in Transportation Code, Chapter 502.

Source Note:The provisions of this §217.29 adopted to be effective March 4, 2010, 35 TexReg 1761; amended to be effective August 9, 2012, 37 TexReg 5816.