The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles has fixed a programming glitch that affected 320,000 registration renewal notices sent out to drivers under the new one-sticker system.
This system went into effect March 1 and eliminates the inspection sticker. Instead, the registration sticker will serve as proof of both the inspection and registration. Once the vehicle passes inspection the status is entered into the DPS database, and the vehicle owner receives a printed verification of the passed inspection for his or her records. The change did not affect the cost of registration or inspection.
DMV spokesman Adam Shavitz said the billing error affected 1 percent of the nearly 24 million registered vehicles in the state. Statements mailed March 2 listed the inspection fee as $0.00. The department noticed the billing error the first week of implementation, and drivers were sent corrected statements.
Fortunately this issue was recognized early enough for us to send out corrected April renewal notices containing the correct fee amount to impacted customers, Shavitz said.
This mistake has so farbeen the only issue with the statewide switch to one sticker. Shavitz said some drivers are still unsure whether they need to have their vehicles inspected first or if they can simply renew the registration. He points drivers to www.twostepsonesticker.com where they can enter in the expiration dates of the inspection and registration stickers for guidance on the appropriate steps to take.
Anyone with concerns about their bill may alsocall 888-368-4689.