2023 Texas Statutes › Transportation Code › Title 7 - Vehicles and Traffic › Subtitle A - Certificates of Title and Registration of Vehicles › Chapter 501 - Certificate of Title Act › Subchapter A. General Provisions › Section 501.002. Definitions

Sec. 501.002.  DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:
(1)  "Assembled vehicle" has the meaning assigned by Section 731.001.
(1-a)  "Certificate of title" means a printed record of title issued under Section 501.021.
(2)  "Credit card" means a card, plate, or similar device used to make a purchase or to borrow money.
(3)  "Dealer" has the meaning assigned by Section 503.001.
(4)  "Debit card" means a card that enables the holder to withdraw money or to have the cost of a purchase charged directly to the holder's bank account.
(5)  "Department" means the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.
(6)  "Distributor" has the meaning assigned by Section 2301.002, Occupations Code.
(7)  Repealed by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 485 (H.B. 2188), Sec. 10, eff. September 1, 2019.
(8)  "First sale" means:
(A)  the bargain, sale, transfer, or delivery of a motor vehicle, other than an assembled vehicle, that has not been previously registered or titled, with intent to pass an interest in the motor vehicle, other than a lien, regardless of where the bargain, sale, transfer, or delivery occurred; and
(B)  the registration or titling of that vehicle.
(9)  "House trailer" means a trailer designed for human habitation.  The term does not include manufactured housing.
(10)  "Importer" means a person, other than a manufacturer, that brings a used motor vehicle into this state for sale in this state.
(11)  "Importer's certificate" means a certificate for a used motor vehicle brought into this state for sale in this state.
(12)  "Lien" means:
(A)  a lien provided for by the constitution or statute in a motor vehicle;
(B)  a security interest, as defined by Section 1.201, Business & Commerce Code, in a motor vehicle, other than an absolute title, created by any written security agreement, as defined by Section 9.102, Business & Commerce Code, including a lease, conditional sales contract, deed of trust, chattel mortgage, trust receipt, or reservation of title; or
(C)  a child support lien under Chapter 157, Family Code.
(13)  "Manufactured housing" has the meaning assigned by Chapter 1201, Occupations Code.
(14)  "Manufacturer" has the meaning assigned by Section 503.001.
(15)  "Manufacturer's permanent vehicle identification number" means the number affixed by the manufacturer to a motor vehicle in a manner and place easily accessible for physical examination and die-stamped or otherwise permanently affixed on one or more removable parts of the vehicle.
(16)  "Motorcycle" has the meaning assigned by Section 521.001 or 541.201, as applicable.
(17)  "Motor vehicle" means:
(A)  any motor driven or propelled vehicle required to be registered under the laws of this state;
(B)  a trailer or semitrailer, other than manufactured housing, that has a gross vehicle weight that exceeds 4,000 pounds;
(C)  a travel trailer;
(D)  an off-highway vehicle, as defined by Section 551A.001; or
(E)  a motorcycle or moped that is not required to be registered under the laws of this state.
(18)  "New motor vehicle" has the meaning assigned by Section 2301.002, Occupations Code.
(19)  "Owner" means a person, other than a manufacturer, importer, distributor, or dealer, claiming title to or having a right to operate under a lien a motor vehicle that has been subject to a first sale.
(20)  "Purchaser" means a person or entity to which a motor vehicle is donated, given, sold, or otherwise transferred.
(21)  "Record of title" means an electronic record of motor vehicle ownership in the department's motor vehicle database that is created under Subchapter I.
(22)  "Seller" means a person or entity that donates, gives, sells, or otherwise transfers ownership of a motor vehicle.
(23)  "Semitrailer" means a vehicle that is designed or used with a motor vehicle so that part of the weight of the vehicle and its load rests on or is carried by another vehicle.
(24)  "Serial number" means a vehicle identification number that is affixed to a part of a motor vehicle and that is:
(A)  the manufacturer's permanent vehicle identification number;
(B)  a derivative number of the manufacturer's permanent vehicle identification number;
(C)  the motor number;
(D)  the vehicle identification number assigned by the department; or
(E)  the vehicle identification number assigned by the maker of a kit, if the vehicle is an assembled vehicle that is assembled from a kit.
(25)  "Steal" has the meaning assigned by Section 31.01, Penal Code.
(26)  "Subsequent sale" means:
(A)  the bargain, sale, transfer, or delivery of a used motor vehicle, with intent to pass an interest in the vehicle, other than a lien; and
(B)  the registration of the vehicle if registration is required under the laws of this state.
(27)  "Title" means a certificate or record of title that is issued under Section 501.021.
(28)  "Title receipt" means a document issued under Section 501.024.
(29)  "Trailer" means a vehicle that:
(A)  is designed or used to carry a load wholly on the trailer's own structure; and
(B)  is drawn or designed to be drawn by a motor vehicle.
(30)  "Travel trailer" means a house trailer-type vehicle or a camper trailer:
(A)  that is a recreational vehicle defined under 24 C.F.R. Section 3282.8(g); or
(B)  that:
(i)  is less than eight feet six inches in width or 45 feet in length, exclusive of any hitch installed on the vehicle;
(ii)  is designed primarily for use as temporary living quarters in connection with recreational, camping, travel, or seasonal use;
(iii)  is not used as a permanent dwelling; and
(iv)  is not a utility trailer, enclosed trailer, or other trailer that does not have human habitation as its primary function.
(31)  "Used motor vehicle" means:
(A)  a motor vehicle that has been the subject of a first sale; or
(B)  an assembled vehicle that has been issued a title.
(32)  "Vehicle identification number" means:
(A)  the manufacturer's permanent vehicle identification number affixed by the manufacturer to the motor vehicle that is easily accessible for physical examination and permanently affixed on one or more removable parts of the vehicle; or
(B)  a serial number affixed to a part of a motor vehicle that is:
(i)  a derivative number of the manufacturer's permanent vehicle identification number;
(ii)  the motor number;
(iii)  a vehicle identification number assigned by the department; or
(iv)  the vehicle identification number assigned by the maker of a kit, if the vehicle is an assembled vehicle that is assembled from a kit.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.  Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 414, Sec. 2.42, eff. July 1, 2001;  Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, Sec. 14A.821, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Amended by:
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 586 (H.B. 1646), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 972 (S.B. 228), Sec. 64, eff. September 1, 2007.
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 933 (H.B. 3097), Sec. 2D.01, eff. September 1, 2009.
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1136 (H.B. 2553), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2009.
Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1296 (H.B. 2357), Sec. 1, eff. January 1, 2012.
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 969 (S.B. 2076), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2017.
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 485 (H.B. 2188), Sec. 10, eff. September 1, 2019.
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 882 (H.B. 3171), Sec. 2.02, eff. September 1, 2019.
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1079 (H.B. 1755), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2019.
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1233 (H.B. 1548), Sec. 8, eff. June 14, 2019.