More wacky Republican reasoning: Texas has a new vehicle registration policy...

[allegorical oracle]

Texas just changed its vehicle registration process on November 18, making it impossible to register a vehicle if you’re not a documented American citizen.

If only legally documented residents can register cars, the assumption is that fewer high-risk or uninsured drivers will end up behind the wheel. But as we’ve come to learn, real-world driving rarely mirrors policy intent, and it raises an uncomfortable question: what happens when the people who can no longer register a car keep driving anyway?

https://www.autoblog.com/news/texas-new-car-registration-rule-might-backfire-big-time

[Stacey Grove]

1. This just creates more police contact possibilities

with immediate ICE referral/involvement.

[Ilsa]

2. So, the vehicles won't be insured?

An abundance of uninsured drivers won't prevent premiums from rising.

I guess license plates are going to be stolen, possibly from NM, OK, AR, and LA, or would that makd a difference?

[MichMan]

3. Same thing that happens when people drive with no license, insurance or invalid plates I suppose.

People do it all the time. Ticketed, fined and vehicle probably impounded.

Motorists also break laws by driving drunk or impaired by drugs, running red lights and speeding.

[AZJonnie]

4. I cannot imagine that "US citizen" is accurate here

I could see "legally in the country", but "citizen" seems too whacky and extreme, even for Texas

[Igel]

5. One possibility.

They get pulled over for having an expired registration and when the officer runs the background check any order of final removal or other complaint is noted. Then the driver is detained while ICE is called.

As it is a lot of those without regularized presence in the US still drive without licenses (how they get insurance is beyond me). Thing is, unless they get pulled over for something there's no outward indication that they're driving illegally. That glaring sticker in the front windshield (or its absence) is easily visible.

I'm assuming that some way will be found, if it's not already commonplace, for the stickers to be counterfeited. If that's already the case you know some people are using them.

[yellowdogintexas]

19. they don't get insurance. (of course a lot of other categories of people don't either)

We have an "Uninsured motorist" option in our auto insurance which will cover repairs to your car if it is damaged by an uninsured driver. I do not know if the carriers are required to include it or if it is an option but I would not do without it. I was once hit from behind by an uninsured driver who I strongly suspect was not here legally. I am basing that on his intense need to not wait for the police to arrive, and he spoke Spanish.

[The Madcap]

6. I used to live in Texas.

Never again.

[ananda]

7. They always keep driving anyway.

It's happened before when they
couldn't get insurance.

[MichMan]

8. A significant number of drivers in many states and cities drive uninsured

Estimates for Detroit for example were over 60%. It's gone down but not clear how much. There was a whole industry of insurance companies in Detroit that would sell you a policy for a couple weeks just in order to get your plates.

https://www.michigan.gov/difs/news-and-outreach/press-releases/2024/01/04/michigan-sees-largest-decrease-in-uninsured-motorists-in-the-nation

25% in DC and 22% in Mississippi

https://financebuzz.com/uninsured-motorist-statistics-by-state?msockid=1f8c2a95dd6f60843b723c03dc00615d

[Traildogbob]

9. I sometimes

Love watching Live PD on weekends just to see MAGA in their native settings.
What stands out is how fucking many people pulled over have ZERO insurance, no registration and not even a drivers license. (Hopefully those will not be allowed to vote without ID)
Laws are for fools. And most of those are white citizens. And in true DEI form a lot are multi racial, but still MurKKKan’s. And if you get ran over by one of them, shit out luck, those med bills and car repairs come out your pocket. I speak from an incident of experience.
One reason I hate the damn Emu, “only pay what what you need”. Enough insurance to legally drive will never cover your cost, and the remainder is all on you.
Can we register Guns to see if any of the foreign terrorist we have created with endless civilian slaughter for oil are armed and ready to attack the big Satan, one by one?
Why are we not going after young white, right Male terrorist that do the most killing on a daily basis?
Trump never mentions those young white males roaming the streets looking for kids, young adults, concert goers, churches, political opponents, to kill them with any weapon they chose. Wonder why?????

[LAS14]

10. What qualifies as "documented" if you were born here?

Think of all the people who just aren't going to be up to the hassle of getting a birth certificate, or whose birth certificates burned up in a fire, or... or....

[lame54]

11. More hit and runs

[markodochartaigh]

12. My primary concern as a driver

is that I will be hit by an uninsured motorist. Texas has a fairly high rate of uninsured motorists. I'm for allowing anyone, regardless of their status, to be allowed, indeed required, to register and insure any vehicle they are driving.

My first preference is nationalizing vehicle insurance. All drivers should pay into a national pool and all accidents would be covered.

[MichMan]

13. "All drivers should pay into a national pool and all accidents would be covered."

Someone with a history of multiple accidents plus reckless driving, DUI, running red lights and speeding violations should pay the same rate as someone who doesn't have any of those?

[markodochartaigh]

15. Not necessarily the same rate, just into a national pool.

And, FYI, reckless and dui drivers actually kill people. It may be difficult to believe, but working as a registered nurse in the emergency room I have seen thousands of lives ruined, drivers and family members, by drivers who should never have been on the road. And US society takes dui driving very lightly. This is a separate issue, of course, and I'm against the death penalty, but dui drivers should never be on the road again.

[Justice Brandeis]

17. I used to live in Texas and that actually happened to me

The accident was fully her fault, but she was uninsured and had no money.

My insurance had to take care of it. Fortunately they did not penalize me.

[allegorical oracle]

21. In Fla, we're covered if an uninsured driver hits us. But it's a sure bet our rate will go

up.

[yellowdogintexas]

20. do you have the uninsured driver protection in your auto insurance.

Check with your agent. I had it and it covered damage from being hit from behind by an uninsured motorist.

[MichMan]

22. It is a sad state of affairs that people have to carry extra coverage...

in case some asshole that feels like laws are merely a suggestion hits you.

[TexasBushwhacker]

26. That's why 12 states like went to no fault insurance

If you want your car to be insured, as well as your injuries in a car accident. The philosophy was that it would cut down on people going to court and expedite payments from insurance companies. To some extent that worked, insurance costs are higher and there is increased fraud.

[MichMan]

27. We have had it for decades

Some of the highest insurance rates in the country.

[markodochartaigh]

28. For decades I didn't have it.

I always paid cash for whatever vehicle I could afford and drove the wheels off it. Then my vehicle was totalled and I didn't get anything.

After that I have had uninsured motorist

[MagickMuffin]

14. Anyone can get a car or a gun in Texas

The hurdles “lawmakers” make to register to vote, register to drive a vehicle, but none of that is necessary when it comes to guns. Although in Texas you can vote with a gun permit. Go figure.

I had to jump through hoops just to renew my drivers license. Bring birth certificate the whole 9 yards. This is all intended consequences of hating people you don’t like.

Tis a pity Texas has to continue to endure these pathetic people who can’t learn the teachings of the man they claim to represent. Unfortunately, they haven’t learned the lessons at all.

[Justice Brandeis]

16. Just like if you banned guns (especially in Texas)

Residents will just keep their guns. Very few will just turn them in because of some artificial law.

[dalton99a]

18. Texas adds new ID restrictions on vehicle registrations and renewals

https://www.texastribune.org/2025/11/25/texas-dmv-id-restriction-registration-renewal-immigration/

Texas adds new ID restrictions on vehicle registrations and renewals
The restrictions, which went into effect on Nov. 18, could upend the ability of many undocumented residents to legally own vehicles.
by Ayden Runnels and Alex Nguyen
Nov. 25, 2025, 5:53 p.m.

The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles is implementing more stringent photo identification requirements for all vehicle registrations and renewals in an abrupt shift that could shut out undocumented residents from legally owning vehicles.

Current photo identification, such as a state driver’s license or passport, must be presented when new vehicle registrations or renewals are made, according to the new policy. The DMV said it informed county tax offices on Nov. 18 of the new requirement, which went into effect immediately. The San Antonio Express-News first reported the policy change.

Licensed vehicle dealers in the state also were notified by the DMV on Nov. 19 that a customer’s approved photo identification must be presented during sales. A DMV spokesperson said the new guidance is “intended to ensure the validity of identification documents required as part of the state’s vehicle registration process.”

The DMV’s list of approved identification sent to dealers and counties includes: a Texas driver’s license; an unexpired U.S. passport; Texas License To Carry identification; and IDs issued by the U.S. military, Department of Homeland Security, Citizenship and Immigration Services and Department of State.

...

[Melon]

23. I've been in three accidents in Texas in 27 years

All with undocumented individuals from Mexico.
None had insurance.
One drove off after having two additional truckloads of friend/workers pull over as well. I was faced with 10:1 situation of my young son and I getting yelled at and told that my $3500 in damage was nothing.

None of these individuals was held accountable. The state patrol told me they would have arrested the man who left the scene, but once he is gone they can’t do anything if they are illegal.

It’s a major problem down here.

[Jack Valentino]

24. FUCK REPUKE TEXAS! They wouldn't even EXIST, if there had been

a 'back door' at The Alamo!

[B.See]

25. Leave it to Texas MAGAS

to come up with the most odious of sick fk notions.