SECTION 217.168. Deputy Fee Amounts

(a) Fees. A county tax assessor-collector may authorize a deputy to charge or retain the fee amounts prescribed by this section according to the type of deputy and transaction type.

(b) Title transactions. For each motor vehicle title transaction processed:

(1) A full service deputy may charge the customer a fee of up to $20, as determined by the full service deputy and approved by the tax assessor-collector. The full service deputy retains the entire fee charged to the customer.

(2) A dealer deputy may charge the customer a fee of up to $10, as determined by the dealer deputy and approved by the tax assessor-collector. The dealer deputy retains the entire fee charged to the customer. This section does not preclude a dealer deputy from charging a documentary fee authorized by Finance Code, §348.006.

(c) Registration and registration renewals. For each registration transaction processed:

(1) A full service deputy may:

(A) retain $1 from the processing and handling fee established by §217.183 of this title (relating to Fee Amount); and

(B) charge a convenience fee of $9, except as limited by §217.184 of this title (relating to Exclusions).

(2) A limited service deputy may retain $1 from the processing and handling fee established by §217.183.

(d) Temporary permit transactions under Transportation Code, §502.094 or §502.095. For each temporary permit transaction processed by a full service deputy, the full service deputy may retain the entire processing and handling fee established by §217.183.

(e) Full service deputy convenience fee. The convenience fee authorized by this section is collected by the full service deputy directly from the customer and is in addition to the processing and handling fee established by §217.183. A full service deputy may not charge any additional fee for a registration or registration renewal transaction.

(f) Related transactions by a full service deputy. The limitations of subsections (b), (c), (d), and (e) of this section do not apply to other services that a full service deputy may perform that are related to titles or registrations, but are not transactions that must be performed through the department's automated vehicle registration and title system. Services that are not transactions performed through the department's automated vehicle registration and title system include, but are not limited to, the additional fees a full service deputy may charge for copying, faxing, or transporting documents required to obtain or correct a motor vehicle title or registration. However, the additional fees that a full service deputy may charge for these other services may be limited by the terms of the county tax assessor-collector's authorization to act as deputy.

(g) Posting of fees. At each location where a full service deputy provides titling or registration services, the deputy must prominently post a list stating all fees charged for each service related to titling or registration. The fee list must specifically state each service, including the additional fee charged for that service, that is subject to subsections (b), (c), (d), or (e) of this section. The fee list must also state that each service subject to an additional fee under subsection (b), (c), (d), or (e) of this section may be obtained from the county tax assessor-collector without the additional fee. If the full service deputy maintains a website advertising or offering titling or registration services, the deputy must post the fee list described by this subsection on the website.

(h) Additional compensation. The fee amounts set forth in this section do not preclude or limit the ability of a county to provide additional compensation to a deputy out of county funds.

Source Note: The provisions of this §217.168 adopted to be effective August 8, 2016, 41 TexReg 5787; amended to be effective May 21, 2018, 43 TexReg 3245