Texas Odometer Disclosure — Forms, Exemptions & Fraud Penalties
Federal odometer disclosure law requires sellers to disclose actual vehicle mileage on every qualifying vehicle transfer in Texas. Form: TX Title (Assignment section) + Application for Texas Title (Form 130-U). Rollback penalty: Federal felony + Texas criminal fraud charges.
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Federal Law Applies in Texas
Federal odometer disclosure law applies to all Texas vehicle transfers. Texas follows federal exemptions (vehicles 10+ model years old, over 16,000 lbs GVWR). Rollback penalty: Federal felony + Texas criminal fraud charges.
Form
TX Title (Assignment section) + Application for Texas Title (Form 130-U)
Texas odometer disclosure is made on the back of the title (odometer section) and on Form 130-U (Application for Texas Title). Both must be completed for the transfer to be processed.
Who Completes
Seller completes the odometer reading disclosure on the title and Form 130-U. Buyer signs acknowledgment.
The TX county tax office verifies that the odometer disclosure sections on both the title and Form 130-U are complete before processing the transfer.
Electronic Disclosure
Accepted
Texas accepts electronic odometer disclosure for dealer transactions through the TxDMV dealer portal. Private party transactions use the paper title disclosure.
Rollback Penalty
Federal felony + Texas criminal fraud charges
Odometer rollback is prosecuted both under federal law and under Texas Penal Code (fraud). Texas dealers face additional loss of dealer license for odometer fraud.
Odometer Disclosure Exemptions in Texas
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Vehicles 10+ model years old
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Vehicles over 16,000 lbs GVWR
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Non-self-propelled vehicles
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New vehicles transferred from manufacturer to dealer
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Vehicles transferred directly from estate to beneficiary (heir)
Texas follows federal odometer disclosure exemptions. The 10-year model year calculation uses the calendar year of transfer minus 10 (e.g., in 2024, vehicles 2014 model year and older are exempt).
How to Verify Odometer Reading in Texas
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CarFax or AutoCheck ($25–$44) for historical mileage chain
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TX DMV motor vehicle records (limited public access)
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Maintenance records showing oil change mileage
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NHTSA complaint database for odometer fraud reports on specific VINs
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Pre-purchase mechanic inspection (wear patterns vs. stated mileage)
Texas has no smog inspection records (not required statewide), so CarFax historical data is especially important for verifying TX odometer readings.
Texas-Specific Note
Texas Form 130-U requires an odometer reading in addition to the title's odometer disclosure section. Both must match and be completed — inconsistent mileage between the two documents will cause the transfer to be rejected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is odometer disclosure required when selling a car in Texas?
Yes — federal law (49 U.S.C. §32705) requires odometer disclosure for most vehicle transfers. Federal odometer disclosure law applies to all Texas vehicle transfers. Texas follows federal exemptions (vehicles 10+ model years old, over 16,000 lbs GVWR).
What form is used for odometer disclosure in Texas?
TX Title (Assignment section) + Application for Texas Title (Form 130-U). Texas odometer disclosure is made on the back of the title (odometer section) and on Form 130-U (Application for Texas Title). Both must be completed for the transfer to be processed.
What vehicles are exempt from odometer disclosure in Texas?
Exempt: Vehicles 10+ model years old, Vehicles over 16,000 lbs GVWR, Non-self-propelled vehicles, New vehicles transferred from manufacturer to dealer, Vehicles transferred directly from estate to beneficiary (heir). Texas follows federal odometer disclosure exemptions. The 10-year model year calculation uses the calendar year of transfer minus 10 (e.g., in 2024, vehicles 2014 model year and older are exempt).
What are the penalties for odometer fraud in Texas?
Federal felony + Texas criminal fraud charges. Odometer rollback is prosecuted both under federal law and under Texas Penal Code (fraud). Texas dealers face additional loss of dealer license for odometer fraud.
Texas DMV
https://www.txdmv.gov ↗