TxDMV opens doors Monday Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 1 2009 05:02 AM Special to the Daily Herald

AUSTIN – Texas vehicle owners, motor carrier operators and vehicle dealerships will soon be doing business with a new state agency when the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) begins operations Monday.

The new agency, which will have more than 600 employees, will oversee the state's motor vehicle services, including registering and titling passenger vehicles, granting operating authority to commercial motor carriers, regulating dealerships and helping to prevent auto burglary and theft.

Four former Texas Department of Transportation divisions – Vehicle Titles and Registration, Motor Carrier, Motor Vehicle and Auto Burglary and Theft Prevention Authority –will become the new TxDMV, an agency created in June when Gov. Rick Perry signed House Bill 3097 into law.

The 81st Texas Legislature passed the bill that transfers vehicle registration and vehicle-related consumer protection and enforcement programs to the new agency.

State Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon (San Antonio), author of HB 3097, said the new agency was established to provide a more focused level of service to Texas citizens.

"Having a separate agency to deal with vehicle registration and permitting details will enable faster turnaround time to process vehicle title matters, allowing non-commercial and commercial vehicles to spend less down-time, and minimize loss of income to businesses," McClendon said. "Managing these administrative operations in one agency will make the renewal, registration, permitting and licensing processes more user-friendly for drivers and vehicle owners, and keep waiting time manageable."

Victor Vandergriff, chairman of the board for the TxDMV, said that the new agency was necessary because Texas' booming population growth has resulted in an increased demand for motor vehicle services.

Vandergriff is a former licensed motor vehicle dealer from the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Perry appointed him in August to head the nine-member board that will oversee the agency.

"TxDMV customers deserve the undivided attention of an agency specifically tailored to their needs that will help them get to where they want to go and enhance the already great business climate in Texas," Vandergriff said.

Vandergriff added that vehicle registrations have increased by almost 1 million annually in two of the past three years. Texas' more than 21 million registered vehicles is the second highest in the nation.

The motor vehicle business in Texas generates more than $4 billion annually for the state.

The money is deposited into the state highway fund to help build and maintain the transportation system and the general revenue fund, which provides services for all Texans.

The TxDMV will focus solely on the motoring public and its related businesses, allowing TxDOT to concentrate on its primary role to build and maintain the state's transportation system.

Vandergriff credited TxDOT with setting a high standard of customer service.

"Quality customer service was a constant at TxDOT, and it will remain so at TxDMV," Vandergriff said.

But the new agency will not issue driver's licenses. That function remains the responsibility of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

TxDMV's role is to ensure that motor carriers meet minimum statutory insurance requirements to protect the safety of the traveling public and the transportation infrastructure and to ensure that motor carriers comply with consumer protection requirements.

Oversize and overweight permits will remain TxDOT's responsibility, including any administrative enforcement functions related to permitting.

In addition, the TxDMV will provide consumer awareness and education initiatives on vehicle registration compliance, buying and selling a vehicle, household goods movers, and preventing burglary and theft.

Go to www.TxDMV.gov for more information about the new agency.