TEXAS — Texas has officially eliminated most paper license plates in favor of color-coded metal temporary plates, a bold move aimed at cracking down on widespread fraud, theft, and illegal reprints for committing crimes.
The new law, House Bill 718, went into effect on July 1, 2025, with the final batch of paper tags distributed on June 30. By September 1, paper tags will be entirely phased out across the Lone Star State.
Under the new Texas system, drivers and dealers will use the following metal plates based on the situation:
⚫️ General Issue – Standard plate issued at the time of vehicle purchase
🔵 Dealer Use Only – For test drives or loaner vehicles (not for personal use)
🟢 Out-of-State Buyer – For vehicles sold to non-Texas residents
🔴 Temporary Registration – For short-term needs, issued by the DMV
🟣 Specialty Plate Placeholder – When a specific plate isn’t available at time of sale
Meanwhile, Louisiana drivers are left wondering: Will they follow Texas’ lead, or continue struggling with fake, stolen, and reprinted tags that flood our streets?
In recent years, law enforcement agencies across Louisiana have reported a growing problem of cloned and fraudulent paper tags—making it increasingly difficult to identify legitimate vehicles and owners. Some tags are stolen straight from vehicles or illegally sold online, posing safety and enforcement challenges for officers and drivers alike.
With Texas now setting the precedent, pressure is mounting on Louisiana lawmakers and the Office of Motor Vehicles to address the rampant abuse of temporary registration tags. For now, the Bayou State still relies on the same vulnerable system — but public opinion and rising fraud and crime cases may soon force a shift.
What do you think? Should Louisiana ditch paper tags next?
