FoxIs Texas Form VTR-136 Still Required?
Form VTR-136 used to let the buyer pick the county where the dealer filed the title. Senate Bill 876 changed that. Here is what TxDMV says dealers do now, what still applies to older sales, and how title fees work when you file in a willing county.
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For vehicles sold on or after March 1, 2022, Form VTR-136 is obsolete. Per TxDMV Registration and Title Bulletin 001-22, a licensed dealer may submit the title transaction to a county the dealer designates. If that county is not a statutory county for the deal, the dealer must confirm it is willing to accept the transaction. For vehicles sold before March 1, 2022, dealers must still submit to the county the purchaser named on Form VTR-136 (or to a willing county if the purchaser’s county of residence is closed, with a copy of the form). Source: TxDMV RTB 001-22.
SB 876 and Why VTR-136 Went Away
Form VTR-136 was the County of Title Issuance form. Buyers used it to tell the selling dealer which county should get the title application.
Before March 1, 2022
A licensed dealer who sold a vehicle before that date must still submit the title transaction to the county the purchaser designated on Form VTR-136. If the purchaser’s county of residence is closed, the dealer may submit to any willing county and provide a copy of the VTR-136. (RTB 001-22)
On or after March 1, 2022
“For vehicles sold on or after March 1, 2022, a dealer may submit the title transaction to a county designated by the dealer, and Form VTR-136 is obsolete.” If the chosen county is not a statutory county, the dealer must ensure that county is willing to accept the transaction. (RTB 001-22)
Forms that still matter
TxDMV revised Form 130-U and Form VTR-130-UIF for the same change. Dealer-to-dealer reassignments still use the title itself or VTR-41-A. Retail title work for sold vehicles runs through webDEALER.
What Texas Dealers Do Instead of VTR-136
Pick a processing county that will take the deal, then file through webDEALER with the right fees.
- Dealer chooses the processing county for vehicles sold on or after March 1, 2022. That can be a statutory county for the transaction, or another county that has opted in as willing.
- Confirm willing-county status before you send a title application to a county that is not otherwise required to process it. Counties designate willingness in the Registration and Title System under Local Options. (RTB 001-22)
- Title fee follows the purchaser’s residence: for title applications submitted through webDEALER or received by the county on or after March 1, 2022, the title application fee of $28 or $33 is assessed based on the purchaser’s county of residence, regardless of processing county. The processing county still keeps its $5 portion of that fee. (RTB 001-22)
- Registration fees on willing-county deals are also assessed from the purchaser’s county of residence and credited there; the processing county keeps its portion of the processing and handling fee. (RTB 001-22)
- Keep older VTR-136 files for pre–March 1, 2022 sales that still follow the purchaser’s designation, and for any audit trail. See Texas dealer record-keeping requirements.
What “Willing County” Means
Not every county takes every out-of-county title. TxDMV left that choice to each tax assessor-collector.
- Willing-county designations also apply to transactions processed for that county by full service deputies, limited service deputies in webSUB, and licensed dealers using webDEALER.
- SB 876 does not change inspection requirements.
- Correct Title Rejection and NMVTIS error handling stay with the processing county.
Texas Title Paperwork From the Deal
For current sales, the forms that matter are the title application and the reassignment.
Texas VTR-136: FAQ
Quick answers for licensed Texas dealers.
Do I still need Form VTR-136?
For vehicles sold on or after March 1, 2022, no — Form VTR-136 is obsolete. For vehicles sold before that date, yes: submit to the county the purchaser named on the form (or to a willing county if the residence county is closed, with a copy of the form). (RTB 001-22)
Who chooses the county now?
For sales on or after March 1, 2022, the dealer designates the processing county. Confirm willingness when the county is not a statutory county for that transaction. (RTB 001-22)
What is a willing county?
A county tax assessor-collector that has opted in RTS to accept title or registration work it is not otherwise required to process. (RTB 001-22)
Whose county sets the title application fee?
For applications submitted through webDEALER or received by the county on or after March 1, 2022, the $28 or $33 title application fee is based on the purchaser’s county of residence, no matter which county processes it. (RTB 001-22)
Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with your county tax assessor-collector or TxDMV. Last reviewed October 15, 2026.
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