PURPOSE
To assist us in warning customers about misleading Internet sites.

DETAILS
The Vehicle Titles and Registration Division (VTR) fielded a complaint through one of our regional offices from a customer who was being charged $18 for an online
Form VTR-262, Affidavit of Heirship, through the website www.txdot.com Customers seeking free government information on this website are connected to "sponsored links," which provide Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) information and forms for a fee.

TxDOT’s forms are copyrighted and require permission to sell. The domain name "txdot.com" attracts customers by mimicking our agency name. TxDOT’s website is www.dot.state.tx.us. The TxDOT logo is intellectual property and cannot be used in websites imitating our name. Unfortunately, with the right configuration, it is possible to set up an infinite number of subdomains (domains masquerading as something else). Domain extensions ".com", ".net" and ".org" are accessible to anyone without restrictions.

COUNTY ACTION
If you receive questions about this issue, please advise customers to look for the logo online and be wary of online fees.

CONTACT
If you have any questions or need any additional information, please contact Darah Waldrip, Public Information Officer, or your local VTR Division Regional Office. You may also call Mike Craig, Deputy Director, or me at (512) 465-7570. Thank you very much.

In some cases the Registration and Title Bulletins (RTB) contain attachments. If you require a copy of the original signed RTB and the attachments, please email your request with the RTB number to VTR Info Request/Open Records. Repeat requests are subject to charges in accordance with Open Record policies. A subscription service is also available for an annual fee of $250. Subscribers will automatically receive all RTB mailings as they are issued.