Fayette County Vehicle Registration Now Requires Approved ID

Folks who need to register their vehicles should be aware of some recent changes regarding ID requirements.

The Fayette County Tax Assessor-Collector (TAC) Office now requires individuals to present an approved form of identification for initial registration and registration renewals. Approved forms of ID include a drivers license or ID card compliant with the Real ID standards, US Passport or Passport Card or Foreign Passport accompanied by Permanent Resident Card or Immigrant Visa issued by U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security.

If a person comes into the office to register their spouse’s vehicle, they will need to bring their ID and a copy of their spouse’s ID. A representative registering a vehicle for anyone other than their spouse, such as a child, will need to bring a copy of that person’s ID along with an authorization form. The representative will also need to bring their ID. The authorization form is available at the TAC office. You can also request the form by emailing tac@co.fayette. tx.us.

Currently, the TAC office accepts ID documents that have expired for less than a year for registration renewals only. After Jan. 1, 2027, all forms of ID must be unexpired.

Drivers license or ID cards that meet the Real ID standards will have a black or gold star. For Texas DLs and IDs, the star is located on the upper right hand corner of the card.

Mendoza said the recent changes were approved and adopted by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) board in 43 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 217 on February 12, 2026.

“These changes assist the State of Texas in preventing fraud and preventing individual applicants who are not legally eligible to reside in Texas from registering motor vehicles to drive on our Texas roads,” said Fayette County Tax Assessor-Collector Sylvia Mendoza.

The new ID requirements impact all county tax offices that serve as an agent for the TxDMV.

Mendoza said that sometimes people attempt to register vehicles without knowing the license plate number or vehicle identification number (VIN). In the past, TAC office staff have attempted to look up the vehicles by the owner’s name. Mendoza said this is not always possible. She wished to inform the public that her office now requires a plate number or VIN for registrations.

The Fayette County TAC office is located at 143 North Main St., Suite B, in La Grange. Their hours are 8 a.m. - 4.30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and they are open during the lunch hour. Title transfers must be completed before 4 p.m. The office also serves as an agent for Texas Parks and Wildlife for watercraft titles and registration. Their phone number is (979) 9683164, option 2.