Should You Remove Your TxTag Before Selling Your Car?

The short answer

Yes. TxDOT says to remove and throw away the TxTag or EZ TAG sticker on the car you're selling, then contact HCTRA customer service to deactivate it so your toll account isn't linked to a car you no longer own. Do it before the car leaves your hands.

Why the sticker matters after the sale

You might think tolls stop being your problem the moment you hand over the keys. They don't. TxDOT's How Tags Work page says that even after the car is sold, you are liable for toll charges until the title is transferred to the new owner or until you submit a motor vehicle transfer notification.

That gives you two jobs:

• Close out the tag. Remove and discard the sticker, then ask HCTRA to deactivate it. TxTag accounts have moved to HCTRA, and TxDOT says existing TxTags still work, so HCTRA is who you call.
• Close out the vehicle record. File the vehicle transfer notification with TxDMV. If a toll bill shows up later for a car you no longer own, TxDOT says to file the Vehicle Transfer Notification (Form VTR-346) and contact HCTRA once you have confirmation of the title transfer.

Don't move the sticker to your next car

TxDOT also says not to move tag stickers between vehicles, because removing the tag can damage the chip inside. If you're buying another car, add it to your account and request a new tag for it. That's why the old sticker gets thrown away rather than saved.

A quick checklist before you hand over the keys

1. Peel off and discard the toll sticker from the windshield.
2. Deactivate the tag with HCTRA and remove the old car from your account.
3. File the vehicle transfer notification. Our guide to the vehicle transfer notification when you sell to a dealer explains when it applies.
4. Sort out your plates. See license plates and registration when you sell to a dealer.
5. Keep your paperwork showing the sale date and the buyer.

If you still owe money on the car, our page on selling a car with a loan payoff covers that step.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Toll account rules can change, so check with HCTRA before you sell.

Bottom line

Take the toll tag off, deactivate it and file the transfer notification. Until the title moves or that notice is filed, tolls on the car can still come back to you.

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