TRANSPORTATION CODE  CHAPTER 730. MOTOR VEHICLE RECORDS DISCLOSURE ACT 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRANSPORTATION CODETITLE 7. VEHICLES AND TRAFFICSUBTITLE J. MISCELLANEOUS 
PROVISIONSCHAPTER 730. MOTOR VEHICLE RECORDS DISCLOSURE ACTSec. 730.001.  SHORT TITLE.  This 
chapter may be cited as the Motor Vehicle Records Disclosure Act. 
Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1187, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. 
 
Sec. 730.002.  PURPOSE.  The purpose of this chapter is to implement 18 U.S.C. Chapter 123 and to 
protect the interest of an individual in the individual's personal privacy by prohibiting the disclosure and 
use of personal information contained in motor vehicle records, except as authorized by the individual 
or by law. 
Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1187, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. 
 
Sec. 730.003.  DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:(1)  "Agency" includes any agency or political subdivision of 
this state, or an authorized agent or contractor of an agency or political subdivision of this state, that 
compiles or maintains motor vehicle records.(2)  "Disclose" means to make available or make known 
personal information contained in a motor vehicle record about a person to another person, by any 
means of communication.(3)  "Individual record" means a motor vehicle record obtained by an agency 
containing personal information about an individual who is the subject of the record as identified in a 
request.(4)  "Motor vehicle record" means a record that pertains to a motor vehicle operator's or 
driver's license or permit, motor vehicle registration, motor vehicle title, or identification document 
issued by an agency of this state or a local agency authorized to issue an identification document.  The 
term does not include:(A)  a record that pertains to a motor carrier;  or(B)  an accident report prepared 
under Chapter 550 or 601.(5)  "Person" means an individual, organization, or entity but does not include 
this state or an agency of this state.(6)  "Personal information" means information that identifies a 
person, including an individual's photograph or computerized image, social security number, driver 
identification number, name, address, but not the zip code, telephone number, and medical or disability 
information.  The term does not include:(A)  information on vehicle accidents, driving or equipmentrelated violations, or driver's license or registration status;  or(B)  information contained in an accident 
report prepared under Chapter 550 or 601.(7)  "Record" includes any book, paper, photograph, 
photostat, card, film, tape, recording, electronic data, printout, or other documentary material 
regardless of physical form or characteristics. 
Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1187, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.  Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 
1032, Sec. 6, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. 
 

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 Sec. 730.004.  PROHIBITION ON DISCLOSURE AND USE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION FROM MOTOR 
VEHICLE RECORDS.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, including Chapter 552, 
Government Code, except as provided by Sections 730.005-730.007, an agency may not disclose 
personal information about any person obtained by the agency in connection with a motor vehicle 
record. 
Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1187, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.  Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 
1032, Sec. 7, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. 
 
Sec. 730.005.  REQUIRED DISCLOSURE.  Personal information obtained by an agency in connection with a 
motor vehicle record shall be disclosed for use in connection with any matter of:(1)  motor vehicle or 
motor vehicle operator safety;(2)  motor vehicle theft;(3)  motor vehicle emissions;(4)  motor vehicle 
product alterations, recalls, or advisories;(5)  performance monitoring of motor vehicles or motor 
vehicle dealers by a motor vehicle manufacturer;(6)  removal of nonowner records from the original 
owner records of a motor vehicle manufacturer to carry out the purposes of:(A)  the Automobile 
Information Disclosure Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 1231 et seq.;(B)  49 U.S.C.  Chapters 301, 305, 323, 325, 
327, 329, and 331;(C)  the Anti Car Theft Act of 1992, 18 U.S.C. Sections 553, 981, 982, 2119, 2312, 2313, 
and 2322, 19 U.S.C. Sections 1646b and 1646c, and 42 U.S.C. Section 3750a et seq., all as amended;(D)  
the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 7401 et seq., as amended; and(E)  any other statute or regulation 
enacted or adopted under or in relation to a law included in Paragraphs (A)-(D);(7)  child support 
enforcement under Chapter 231, Family Code; or(8)  enforcement by the Texas Workforce Commission 
under Title 4, Labor Code. 
Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1187, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.  Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 
1023, Sec. 72, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.Amended by: Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 869, Sec. 6, eff. September 
1, 2011. 
 
Sec. 730.006.  REQUIRED DISCLOSURE WITH CONSENT.  Personal information obtained by an agency in 
connection with a motor vehicle record shall be disclosed to a requestor who demonstrates, in such 
form and manner as the agency requires, that the requestor has obtained the written consent of the 
person who is the subject of the information. 
Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1187, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. 
 
Sec. 730.007.  PERMITTED DISCLOSURES.  (a)  Personal information obtained by an agency in connection 
with a motor vehicle record may be disclosed to any requestor by an agency if the requestor:(1)  
provides the requestor's name and address and any proof of that information required by the agency;  
and(2)  represents that the use of the personal information will be strictly limited to:(A)  use by:(i)  a 
government agency, including any court or law enforcement agency, in carrying out its functions;  or(ii)  

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 a private person or entity acting on behalf of a government agency in carrying out the functions of the 
agency;(B)  use in connection with a matter of:(i)  motor vehicle or motor vehicle operator safety;(ii)  
motor vehicle theft;(iii)  motor vehicle product alterations, recalls, or advisories;(iv)  performance 
monitoring of motor vehicles, motor vehicle parts, or motor vehicle dealers;(v)  motor vehicle market 
research activities, including survey research;  or(vi)  removal of nonowner records from the original 
owner records of motor vehicle manufacturers;(C)  use in the normal course of business by a legitimate 
business or an authorized agent of the business, but only:(i)  to verify the accuracy of personal 
information submitted by the individual to the business or the agent of the business;  and(ii)  if the 
information is not correct, to obtain the correct information, for the sole purpose of preventing fraud 
by, pursuing a legal remedy against, or recovering on a debt or security interest against the 
individual;(D)  use in conjunction with a civil, criminal, administrative, or arbitral proceeding in any court 
or government agency or before any self-regulatory body, including service of process, investigation in 
anticipation of litigation, execution or enforcement of a judgment or order, or under an order of any 
court;(E)  use in research or in producing statistical reports, but only if the personal information is not 
published, redisclosed, or used to contact any individual;(F)  use by an insurer or insurance support 
organization, or by a self-insured entity, or an authorized agent of the entity, in connection with claims 
investigation activities, antifraud activities, rating, or underwriting;(G)  use in providing notice to an 
owner of a towed or impounded vehicle;(H)  use by a licensed private investigator agency or licensed 
security service for a purpose permitted under this section;(I)  use by an employer or an agent or insurer 
of the employer to obtain or verify information relating to a holder of a commercial driver's license that 
is required under 49 U.S.C. Chapter 313;(J)  use in connection with the operation of a private toll 
transportation facility;(K)  use by a consumer reporting agency, as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting 
Act (15 U.S.C. Section 1681 et seq.), for a purpose permitted under that Act;  or (L)  use for any other 
purpose specifically authorized by law that relates to the operation of a motor vehicle or to public 
safety.(b)  The only personal information an agency may release under this section is the individual's:(1)  
name and address;(2)  date of birth;  and(3)  driver's license number.(c)  This section does not:(1)  
prohibit the disclosure of a person's photographic image to:(A)  a law enforcement agency or a criminal 
justice agency for an official purpose;(B)  an agency of this state investigating an alleged violation of a 
state or federal law relating to the obtaining, selling, or purchasing of a benefit authorized by Chapter 31 
or 33, Human Resources Code; or(C)  an agency of this state investigating an alleged violation of a state 
or federal law under authority provided by Title 4, Labor Code; or(2)  prevent a court from compelling by 
subpoena the production of a person's photographic image.(d)  Personal information obtained by an 
agency in connection with a motor vehicle record shall be disclosed to a requestor by an agency if the 
requestor:(1)  provides the requestor's name and address and any proof of that information required by 
the agency;  and(2)  represents that the intent of the requestor is to use personal information in the 
motor vehicle record only for the purpose of preventing, detecting, or protecting against personal 
identity theft or other acts of fraud and provides any proof of the requestor's intent required by the 
agency.(e)  If the agency determines that the requestor intends to use personal information requested 
under Subsection (d) only for the represented purpose, the agency shall release to the requestor any 
requested personal information in the motor vehicle record.(f)  Personal information obtained by an 
agency under Section 411.0845, Government Code, in connection with a motor vehicle record may be 
disclosed as provided by that section. 

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 Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1187, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.  Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 
1032, Sec. 7, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1372, Sec. 26, eff. June 15, 
2007.Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 869, Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2011. 
 
Sec. 730.010.  DISCLOSURE OF THUMB OR FINGER IMAGES PROHIBITED.  Notwithstanding any other 
provision of this chapter, if an agency obtains an image of an individual's thumb or finger in connection 
with the issuance of a license, permit, or certificate to the individual, the agency may:(1)  use the image 
only:(A)  in connection with the issuance of the license, permit, or certificate; or(B)  to verify the identity 
of an individual as provided by Section 521.059; and(2)  disclose the image only if disclosure is expressly 
authorized by law. 
Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1187, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 
1108, Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2005. 
 
Sec. 730.011.  FEES.  Unless a fee is imposed by law, an agency that has obtained information in 
connection with a motor vehicle may adopt reasonable fees for disclosure of that personal information 
under this chapter. 
Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1187, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. 
 
Sec. 730.012.  ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS.  (a)  In addition to the payment of a fee adopted under Section 
730.011, an agency may require a requestor to provide reasonable assurance:(1)  as to the identity of 
the requestor;  and(2)  that use of the personal information will be only as authorized or that the 
consent of the person who is the subject of the information has been obtained.(b)  An agency may 
require the requestor to make or file a written application in the form and containing any certification 
requirement the agency may prescribe. 
Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1187, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. 
 
Sec. 730.013.  RESALE OR REDISCLOSURE.  (a)  An authorized recipient of personal information may not 
resell or redisclose the personal information in the identical or a substantially identical format the 
personal information was disclosed to the recipient by the applicable agency.(b)  An authorized recipient 
of personal information may resell or redisclose the information only for a use permitted under Section 
730.007.(c)  Any authorized recipient who resells or rediscloses personal information obtained from an 
agency shall be required by that agency to:(1)  maintain for a period of not less than five years records 
as to any person or entity receiving that information and the permitted use for which it was obtained;  
and(2)  provide copies of those records to the agency on request.(d)  A person commits an offense if the 

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 person violates this section.  An offense under this subsection is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not 
to exceed $25,000. 
Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1187, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.  Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 
1032, Sec. 7, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. 
 
Sec. 730.014.  AGENCY RULES;  ORGANIZATION OF RECORDS.  (a)  Each agency may adopt rules to 
implement and administer this chapter.(b)  An agency that maintains motor vehicle records in relation 
to motor vehicles is not required to also maintain those records in relation to the individuals named in 
those records. 
Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1187, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. 
 
Sec. 730.015.  PENALTY FOR FALSE REPRESENTATION.  (a)  A person who requests the disclosure of 
personal information from an agency's records under this chapter and misrepresents the person's 
identity or who makes a false statement to the agency on an application required by the agency under 
this chapter commits an offense.(b)  An offense under Subsection (a) is a Class A misdemeanor. 
Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1187, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. 
 
Sec. 730.016.  INELIGIBILITY OF CERTAIN PERSONS TO RECEIVE PERSONAL INFORMATION.  (a)  A person 
who is convicted of an offense under this chapter, or who violates a rule adopted by an agency relating 
to the terms or conditions for a release of personal information to the person, is ineligible to receive 
personal information under Section 730.007.(b)  For purposes of Subsection (a), a person is considered 
to have been convicted in a case if:(1)  a sentence is imposed;(2)  the defendant receives probation or 
deferred adjudication;  or(3)  the court defers final disposition of the case. 
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1032, Sec. 8, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. 
 
 
 

 

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