Can I have a gun in my car in Texas? The Texas Motorist Protection Act (HB 1815), effective as of September 1, 2007, permits any law-abiding Texas resident the legal right to carry a handgun inside their motor vehicle in Texas (without a Handgun License to Carry) or any other permit.
Typically, if an individual is found unlawfully possessing a firearm in Texas, they may face Class A misdemeanor charges. This can lead to the following penalties: Up to one year in county jail. A fine of up to $4,000.
Generally, an openly carried handgun must be holstered. That goes for those with an LTC or Constitutional (permitless) Carriers. Many products on the market do not meet these legal criteria. The dashboard mounts and magnetic retention mounts are two standard products that do not fit within the law.
2021 Unlicensed Carry Law As of 2021, Texas law no longer requires people to have a license to carry (LTC) in order to carry a handgun in most public places. See our Carry of Firearms page for more info on this new law.
Texas is among the 26 states that allow permitless carry of handguns. This means that Texans who are 21 years old and above can carry a handgun, without a permit, provided that they don't have a criminal record.
No, you do not have to register it. There is no gun registry in Texas or at the federal level. Therefore, there is no one for you to register your gun with. Legally, there is nothing that you have to do in a private sale or when gifting a firearm as far as recording the transaction.
Texas law makes some places always off-limits to firearms (both handguns and long guns). The law was amended in 2021 to remove the requirement to have a license to carry in order to carry a handgun. The amendment also consolidated the list of places where firearms are prohibited.
Texas has no law requiring private sellers to conduct background checks to transfer firearms to other individuals. However, if you plan to give a gun to someone as a gift and they live in another state, the transfer is subject to the federal background check requirement.
For concealed carry, the handgun may be carried anywhere on or about your person (e.g., pocket, purse, boot, etc.) so long as the handgun is wholly concealed. So, what does this actually mean? As long as no part of the handgun is visible, the law considers it legally canceled.