Used Car News

A new state agency will handle all motor vehicle services in Texas, from registration and titling to the regulation of automobile dealers beginning Nov. 1.

Currently, any division related to transportation – from aviation and bridge construction to environmental affairs and right of ways – falls under the Department of Transportation. A change creates the new Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.
The major shift in state government services resulted from a heated discussion in the legislature earlier this year as part of a sunset review that occurs every 12 years.
The state legislature reviews departments to determine if they are still needed. The transportation department remains, but many of the services shifted to the new Texas DMV.
The Texas Independent Automobile Dealers Association favored the change.
Danny Langfield, the IADA’s deputy executive director, said the change means auto dealers have a department led by people who understand their needs.
Gov. Rick Perry will appoint a nine-member board to oversee the department Oct. 1. It will include representatives from several areas of the auto industry.
One seat is dedicated for independent dealers, something the Texas IADA lobbied for.
The board will also include franchise dealers, a representative from the manufacturing industry, someone from the motor carrier industry, a county tax assessor, a law enforcement official and two public citizens.
Langfield said the association looks forward to finding out who Perry will select as the independent board member.
Unfortunately, the debate over the departmental changes meant some other issues were pushed out of the way.
The Texas IADA’s drive for a pre-certification class for new dealers failed to make it through the legislative process.
But the association will make another effort in 2011, the next time the state legislature meets.