1. (a) Scope. A registrant may consolidate the registration of multiple motor vehicles, including trailers and semi-trailers, in a fleet instead of registering each vehicle separately. This section prescribes the policies and procedures for fleet registration.

2. (b) Eligibility. A fleet must meet the following requirements to be eligible for fleet registration.

   1. (1) No fewer than twenty-five vehicles will be registered as a fleet;
   2. (2) Vehicles may be registered in annual increments for up to eight years;
   3. (3) All vehicles in a fleet must be owned by or leased to the same business entity;
   4. (4) All vehicles must be vehicles that are not registered under the International Registration Plan; and
   5. (5) Each vehicle must currently be titled in Texas or be issued a registration receipt, or the registrant must submit an application for a title or registration for each vehicle.

3. (c) Application.

   1. (1) Application for fleet registration must be in a form prescribed by the department. At a minimum the form will require:

      1. (A) the full name and complete address of the registrant;
      2. (B) a description of each vehicle in the fleet, which may include the vehicle's model year, make, model, vehicle identification number, document number, body style, gross weight, empty weight, and for a commercial vehicle, manufacturer's rated carrying capacity in tons;
      3. (C) the existing license plate number, if any, assigned to each vehicle; and
      4. (D) any other information that the department may require.

   2. (2) The application must be accompanied by the following items:

      1. (A) in the case of a leased vehicle, a certification that the vehicle is currently leased to the person to whom the fleet registration will be issued;
      2. (B) registration fees prescribed by law for the entire registration period selected by the registrant;
      3. (C) local fees or other fees prescribed by law and collected in conjunction with registering a vehicle for the entire registration period selected by the registrant;
      4. (D) evidence of financial responsibility for each vehicle as required by Transportation Code, §502.046, unless otherwise exempted by law;
      5. (E) annual proof of payment of Heavy Vehicle Use Tax;
      6. (F) the state's portion of the vehicle inspection fee for the vehicle inspections conducted in Texas; and
      7. (G) any other documents or fees required by law.

4. (d) Registration period.

   1. (1) The fleet owner will designate a single registration period for a fleet so the registration period for each vehicle will expire on the same date.
   2. (2) The fleet registration period will begin on the first day of a calendar month and end on the last day of a calendar month.

5. (e) Insignia.

   1. (1) As evidence of registration, the department will issue distinguishing insignia for each vehicle in a fleet.
   2. (2) The insignia shall be included on the license plate and affixed to the vehicle.
   3. (3) The insignia shall be attached to the rear license plate if the vehicle has no windshield.
   4. (4) The registration receipt for each vehicle shall at all times be carried in that vehicle and be available to law enforcement personnel.
   5. (5) Insignia may not be transferred between vehicles, owners, or registrants.

6. (f) Fleet composition.

   1. (1) A registrant may add a vehicle to a fleet at any time during the registration period. An added vehicle will be given the same registration period as the fleet and will be issued fleet registration insignia.
   2. (2) A registrant may remove a vehicle from a fleet at any time during the registration period. The fleet registrant shall return the fleet registration insignia for that vehicle to the department at the time the vehicle is removed from the fleet. Credit for any vehicle removed from the fleet for the remaining full year increments can be applied to any vehicle added to the fleet or at the time of renewal. No refunds will be given if credit is not used or the account is closed.
   3. (3) If the number of vehicles in an account falls below twenty-five during the registration period, fleet registration will remain in effect. If the number of vehicles in an account is below twenty-five at the end of the registration period, fleet registration will be canceled. In the event of cancellation, each vehicle shall be registered separately. The registrant shall immediately return all fleet registration insignia to the department.

7. (g) Fees.

   1. (1) When a fleet is first established, the department will charge a registration fee for each vehicle for the entire registration period selected. A currently registered vehicle, however, will be given credit for any remaining time on its separate registration.
   2. (2) When a vehicle is added to an existing fleet, the department will charge a registration fee that is prorated based on the number of months of fleet registration remaining. If the vehicle is currently registered, this fee will be adjusted to provide credit for the number of months of separate registration remaining.
   3. (3) When a vehicle is removed from fleet registration, it will be considered to be registered separately. The vehicle's separate registration will expire on the date that the fleet registration would have expired. The registrant must pay the statutory replacement fee to obtain regular registration insignia before the vehicle may be operated on a public highway.
8. (h) Payment. Payment will be made in the manner prescribed by the department.

9. (i) Cancellation.

   1. (1) The department will cancel registration for non-payment and lack of proof of annual payment of the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax.
   2. (2) The department may cancel registration on any fleet vehicle that is not in compliance with the inspection requirements under Transportation Code, Chapter 548 and the Texas Department of Public Safety rules regarding inspection requirements on the anniversary date(s) of the registration.
   3. (3) A vehicle with a cancelled registration may not be operated on a public highway.

   4. (4) If the department cancels the registration of a vehicle under this subsection, the registrant can request the department to reinstate the registration by doing the following:

      1. (A) complying with the requirements for which the department cancelled the registration;
      2. (B) providing the department with notice of compliance on a form prescribed by the department; and
      3. (C) paying an administrative fee in the amount of $10.
   5. (5) A registrant is only eligible for reinstatement of the registration within 90 calendar days of the department's notice of cancellation.

   6. (6) If a registrant fails to timely reinstate the registration of a cancelled vehicle registration under this section, the registrant:

      1. (A) is not entitled to a credit or refund of any registration fees for the vehicle; and
      2. (B) must immediately return the registration insignia to the department.
10. (j) Inspection fee. The registrant must pay the department by the deadline listed in the invoice for the state's portion of the vehicle inspection fee for a vehicle inspection conducted in Texas.

Source Note:The provisions of this §217.54 adopted to be effective March 12, 2015, 40 TexReg 1096.