How to Update License Plate on TxTag, EZ TAG & TollTag 2026: Step-by-Step Texas Guide

Got a new car, swapped plates, or just realized your toll account is still linked to your old vehicle? You need to fix that today.

Driving through Texas toll roads with outdated plate information is an open invitation for missed charges, mailed invoices, and fees that pile up fast. The good news is that updating your plate on TxTag, EZ TAG, or TollTag takes just a few minutes online. This guide walks you through exactly how to do it.

What Changed in 2025 and 2026: The Big Picture

Before jumping into the steps, it helps to know what is new. Texas overhauled its tolling and registration systems in a big way over the past two years, and some of what you knew before may no longer apply.

Here are the two most important changes to know:

1. TxTag is now managed by HCTRA. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) transferred all TxTag customer service operations to the Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA), going live in December 2024 with full system acceptance completed in March 2025. The TxTag sticker still works on your windshield, but your account now lives inside the HCTRA EZ TAG system. If you had both a TxTag and an EZ TAG account, one was likely merged or closed during migration. New customers joining through HCTRA will receive an EZ TAG sticker rather than a TxTag-branded one.

2. Temporary paper tags are gone. House Bill 718, signed into law in 2023 and effective July 1, 2025, eliminated temporary paper buyer tags. Every licensed Texas dealer must now issue permanent metal plates at the point of sale. There is no more “update your account twice” situation for most buyers. You update it once, with your permanent plate.

These two changes make the current process cleaner, but they also mean the steps are a bit different from older guides you may have seen online.

How to Update Your Plate: EZ TAG and TxTag Accounts

Since TxTag is now part of the HCTRA system, both TxTag and EZ TAG users follow the same update process. This section covers everything you need.

Update Online via hctra.org

The online portal is the fastest method for most users. Here is how it works:

• Go to hctra.org and log in to your account
• Click “Manage Vehicles” or “Vehicles and Plates” from your dashboard
• Select “Add Vehicle” for a new vehicle, or click “Edit” to update an existing entry
• Enter your new metal plate number and select your state
• Add your vehicle details including year, make, model, and color
• Set an effective date if your new vehicle was used on toll roads before today
• Click Save to confirm the change

The system updates in real time. If you are a former TxTag customer logging in for the first time since the migration, you will need your old TxTag account number and the email address on file with TxDOT to complete a first-time access verification.

Update via the EZ TAG Mobile App

The EZ TAG app is available on iOS and Android. The steps mirror the online portal:

• Open the EZ TAG app and sign in
• Tap “Vehicles” from the main menu
• Select the vehicle to update, or tap “Add Vehicle”
• Enter your new plate details and vehicle information
• Tap Save

The app also handles tag replacement requests if you need a new sticker for your new vehicle.

Update by Phone

Prefer to talk to someone? Call HCTRA customer service at 281-875-3279.

Hours: Monday through Friday, 7 AM to 7 PM CT; Saturday, 8 AM to 4 PM CT

Have your account number, vehicle VIN, and new plate number ready.

Update In Person

HCTRA has walk-in service centers across the Houston area. You can find locations and hours at hctra.org. Bring a valid photo ID and your vehicle registration when you visit.

EZ TAG Express and EZ Plate: Two Special Cases

Not everyone uses the standard EZ TAG sticker. If you use one of these account types, here is what you should know.

EZ TAG Express users can change their vehicle as often as they want inside the app. It is built for flexibility. The trade-off is that you pay the higher cash rate on every toll because there is no RFID sticker for the reader to detect. The EZ Plate feature is ideal for short-term situations like rental cars or borrowed vehicles, but it also bills at the non-tag rate.

How to Update Your Plate: NTTA TollTag Accounts

TollTag is run by the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) and covers the Dallas-Fort Worth area. NTTA operates its own separate system, so you need to update your plate here independently from any EZ TAG account you may have.

Update Online via ntta.org

• Go to ntta.org and log in
• Navigate to “My Account” then click “Vehicles”
• Select the vehicle to edit, or choose “Add Vehicle”
• Enter your new plate number and confirm the state
• Update your vehicle details if the make or model changed
• Click Save

The update takes effect immediately.

Update via the TollMate App

NTTA’s mobile app is called TollMate. Here is how to update your plate inside the app:

• Open TollMate and log in
• Tap “Vehicles and TollTags” from the dashboard
• Select “Add Vehicle” or tap “Manage Vehicles” to edit an existing entry
• The app runs a real-time check against the TxDMV database to verify your plate is valid
• Confirm your changes and tap Save

The TollMate app also handles TollTag sticker requests at no extra charge for standard accounts.

Update by Phone

Call NTTA customer service at 972-818-6882.

Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM CT

NTTA Account Tiers and Vehicle Limits

Your NTTA account tier affects how many vehicles you can add. The table below reflects the general tier structure, but balances and limits can change. Always confirm current requirements at ntta.org before setting up or adjusting your account.

For every three additional vehicles added to a Standard account, auto-replenishment increases by $40.00. This prevents your balance from hitting zero during high-frequency travel.

The 10-Day Plate Transfer Rule You Need to Know

Texas Senate Bill 1902, passed by the 89th Legislature in 2025, introduced a specific rule affecting dealer trade-ins. It is one of the most overlooked steps in the whole process.

Here is how the rule works: When you sell or trade in your vehicle to a licensed dealer, the dealer removes your metal plates. Under SB 1902, the dealer may then transfer those same plates to another vehicle of the same class sold within a 10-day window. This is a dealer-facilitated process, not something you manage on your own.

Here is the catch that affects your toll account. Even if your plate number stays exactly the same and gets transferred to your new vehicle through the dealer, your toll account still needs to be updated. The vehicle description (year, make, model) linked to that plate number must reflect the new car. If it does not, HCTRA and NTTA automated systems may flag your account for a plate and tag mismatch.

Steps to follow after a dealer trade-in:

• Log in to your HCTRA or NTTA account
• Remove the old vehicle from your account
• Add the new vehicle, using the same plate number if it was transferred, but update all vehicle details
• Request a new RFID sticker for the new windshield

Note: If you are selling your vehicle in a private-party transaction (not to a dealer), the process is different. You remove your plates yourself and can transfer them to another vehicle you own by visiting your county tax assessor-collector’s office. Private-party sales have no 10-day window.

This takes about five minutes and saves you from account flags and incorrect billing.

Connecting Your Account to Texas by Texas (TxT)

The Texas by Texas (TxT) app is the state’s centralized digital assistant for government services, including vehicle registration. It plays an increasingly important role in the tolling ecosystem.

Here is how TxT connects to your toll account:

• TxT offers a convenient account-based renewal option with enhanced security features. A direct TxDMV online renewal portal also remains available for drivers who prefer not to create a TxT account. Both options provide a $1.00 discount for online renewals.
• HCTRA and NTTA pull registration data from the TxDMV backend to verify plate accuracy.
• TxT can send reminders when your registration is about to expire. Keeping your registration current matters because an expired plate can create complications if your vehicle’s status is flagged in DMV databases that toll systems reference.

Download the TxT app from Google Play or the App Store, or visit txt.texas.gov. Keeping your registration current through the app helps ensure your vehicle records stay accurate across state systems.

What Happens If You Do Not Update Your Plate

Skipping the plate update is not just an inconvenience. It can get expensive quickly.

Here is the financial reality of an outdated plate:

Pay-By-Mail invoices are billed at a higher rate than the standard tag rate. If an invoice goes unresolved because it was sent to an old address, the fees escalate further. Repeated violations can result in “habitual violator” status, which leads to a vehicle registration block. You will not be able to renew your registration until the balance is paid in full.

Selling Your Vehicle: Do Not Forget These Steps

Selling a car creates a specific liability window that many Texas drivers do not know about. Your financial responsibility for tolls does not end when you hand over the keys. It ends when the TxDMV is officially notified of the transfer.

Here is the complete checklist for selling a vehicle in a private sale:

• Remove your metal plates from the vehicle before the sale
• Log in to your HCTRA or NTTA account and remove the vehicle from your profile
• File a Vehicle Transfer Notification (Form VTR-346) through the TxDMV website or the TxT app within 30 days of the sale
• Keep a copy of your filing confirmation for your records

Filing VTR-346 is the only legally definitive way to remove your liability for any tolls or traffic violations the new owner may rack up using your old plate. TxDMV’s guidance on buying and selling vehicles outlines this responsibility clearly.

If you traded the vehicle to a dealer, the dealer handles the new buyer’s plate through the webDEALER system. But you still need to manually remove the vehicle from your own toll account. Dealers do not do that step for you.

If You Have Accounts Across Multiple Systems

Texas has three major toll systems, and they do not automatically sync with each other. If you travel between Austin, Houston, and Dallas-Fort Worth regularly, you may have accounts on more than one platform.

The good news is that one tag works everywhere. Texas toll systems are interoperable, meaning your EZ TAG or TollTag sticker functions across all three networks. But the plate linked to each account still needs to be updated separately in each system.

If you hold accounts on multiple systems, run through this checklist:

• HCTRA account (covers EZ TAG and legacy TxTag) updated at hctra.org
• NTTA TollTag account updated at ntta.org
• Vehicle registration current via TxT at txt.texas.gov or the TxDMV online portal
• Form VTR-346 filed if you sold a vehicle
• A new RFID sticker requested for your new vehicle’s windshield

Each platform is its own system. Updating one does not update the others.

Keep Your Account Healthy Year-Round

Updating your plate is the most urgent task, but a few ongoing habits will keep your account running smoothly all year.

Here is what to stay on top of:

• Turn on auto-replenishment so your balance never drops to zero and triggers the higher Pay-By-Mail rate
• Enable low-balance alerts via email or text in your account settings
• Review transactions monthly so you catch any billing errors early
• Keep your address current in both your toll account and TxT app so invoices reach you if anything goes wrong
• Check your registration expiration and renew before it lapses to keep your vehicle records accurate across state systems

Already Have a Pay-By-Mail Invoice?

If you have already received a toll invoice before you updated your plate, pay it first and then update your account. All three agencies let you pay online using your invoice number.

• HCTRA invoices: Pay at hctra.org
• NTTA invoices: Pay at ntta.org
• TxDOT managed roads: Pay at hctra.org (TxTag accounts are now managed through HCTRA)

If the invoice was sent to the wrong address because you recently bought the car or moved, contact the agency directly with your account information. They can trace the invoice and apply it correctly, but you need to reach out proactively rather than waiting.

Your Quick Reference Summary

You now have everything you need to handle this the right way. Here is a fast summary of the key steps and contacts:

One Final Thing Before You Go

Updating your license plate on your Texas toll account is a five-minute task that protects you from weeks of potential headaches. New car, traded-in vehicle, swapped plates, moved to Texas from another state: any of these situations require a plate update, and now you know exactly how to handle each one.

The current system is more integrated than ever, which means a small update in the right place keeps everything working smoothly across the entire network. Take care of it today and you will not have to think about it again until the next time something changes.

Pavithra Vinoth

Pavithra Vinoth is the founder of nytollsinfo.com, where she simplifies U.S. toll systems through expert insights and custom-built calculators. Her research-driven tools help drivers avoid costly mistakes and make smarter car decisions.