Texas 2 out of 3 rule for military

[magnetfreezer]

Recently PCSed to TX. There is a rumor of a "2 out of 3 rule" for TX non-resident military drivers going around here - basically, 2 out of 3 of the state you're stationed in, the state of your DL, and the state of your plates must be the same. If this is the case, I'll probably need to get a new DL and/or plates (living in TX, truck acquired (and registered) at my last base in FL, and valid DL from my home state of IL). Google only turned up military forums occasionally mentioning this rule, and the Code didn't seem to have anything.

Any TX LEOs heard of this statute? I'd like to quash the rumor; if it's true, though, I'd like to get the word out since a lot of us have documents from strange mixes of states

[Sgt. Slaughter]

I'm not from Texas, but being a veteran I've gotta admit I never heard of that. Not even here where Luke AFB is less than 20 minutes from my house. If I stopped an active duty military member with 3 different states I could care less so long as everything is current and not suspended.

Just make sure you have insurance for the state you're residing in, if it's a requirement.

[Safety Steve]

Never heard of it. Be Safe.

[TX-LEO]

Recently PCSed to TX. There is a rumor of a "2 out of 3 rule" for TX non-resident military drivers going around here - basically, 2 out of 3 of the state you're stationed in, the state of your DL, and the state of your plates must be the same. If this is the case, I'll probably need to get a new DL and/or plates (living in TX, truck acquired (and registered) at my last base in FL, and valid DL from my home state of IL). Google only turned up military forums occasionally mentioning this rule, and the Code didn't seem to have anything.

Any TX LEOs heard of this statute? I'd like to quash the rumor; if it's true, though, I'd like to get the word out since a lot of us have documents from strange mixes of states

If you have a permanent residence in ILL and still live in ILL, you do not need to re-register your vehicle here and get a TX-DL providing you have intent to return to ILL.

However if you have MOVED to Texas under military orders and do not have an ILL address anymore, then you need to comply and obtain TX DL and TX plates.


You have several months to do this. Off the top of my head It's at least 90 days.


The two-out-of-three jibber-jabber is nonsense. I'll post a snippet of TXDOT regs if I can find it.


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Sec. 521.027. PERSONS EXEMPT FROM LICENSE REQUIREMENT. The following persons are exempt from the license requirement imposed under this chapter:

(1) a person in the service of the state military forces or the United States while the person is operating an official motor vehicle in the scope of that service;

(2) a person while the person is operating a road machine, farm tractor, or implement of husbandry on a highway, unless the vehicle is a commercial motor vehicle under Section 522.003;

(3) a nonresident on active duty in the armed forces of the United States who holds a license issued by the person's state or Canadian province of residence; and

(4) a person who is the spouse or dependent child of a nonresident exempt under Subdivision (3) and who holds a license issued by the person's state or Canadian province of residence.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

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Sec. 502.0025. EFFECT OF CERTAIN MILITARY SERVICE ON REGISTRATION REQUIREMENT. (a) This section applies only to a motor vehicle that is owned by a person who:

(1) is a resident of this state;

(2) is on active duty in the armed forces of the United States;

(3) is stationed in or has been assigned to another nation under military orders; and

(4) has registered the vehicle or been issued a license for the vehicle under the applicable status of forces agreement by:

(A) the appropriate branch of the armed forces of the United States; or

(B) the nation in which the person is stationed or to which the person has been assigned.

(b) Unless the registration or license issued for a vehicle described by Subsection (a) is suspended, canceled, or revoked by this state as provided by law:

(1) Section 502.002(a) does not apply; and

(2) the registration or license issued by the armed forces or host nation remains valid and the motor vehicle may be operated in this state under that registration or license for a period of not more than 90 days after the date on which the vehicle returns to this state.



Oh, and welcome to Texas.