Classic Cars for Sale in Texas
136 listings
Verified seller locations from Texas. New listings added daily.
Browse classic cars for sale in Texas from local owners and dealers. Nationwide consignment listings (where the vehicle isn't actually in the listed location) are excluded.
Buying a classic car in Texas: what the asking price doesn't include
A Texas listing price leaves out motor vehicle tax of 6.25% of the price, less any trade-in. A dealer collects it; on a private sale you pay at the county tax office within 30 days, with a 5% penalty if you are late. Most private sales are taxed on the higher of the price or 80% of the car's standard presumptive value, but not cars eligible for classic plates, so a car 25 or older is taxed on what you paid. A dealer sale adds a $28 or $33 title application fee, $50.75 base registration and a $7.50 inspection program replacement fee. Put the title in your name within 30 days of the sale; cars 25 or older escape the late title fee.
Texas ended safety inspections in 2025, and emissions tests apply only to gasoline vehicles 2 to 24 years old in certain counties, so a car of 25 or more is not tested. The bigger risk is flooding. Hurricanes and river flooding can damage thousands of cars at once, and cleaned-up ones return to market. Run a Title Check through NMVTIS and be wary of a car registered in several states in a short time, since retitling can wash off a brand. Check under the carpet and in the spare tire well for stains and rust.
Classic car dealers in Texas
We profile 40 classic car dealers in Texas; these are the 6 with the most cars listed here. See all of them, on a map and by specialty, in every classic car dealer we cover in Texas.
Buying a classic car in Texas: FAQ
What fees should I budget for when buying a classic car from a Texas dealer? +
Expect a title application fee of $28 or $33 depending on the county, base registration of $50.75 for a car or light truck, and the $7.50 inspection program replacement fee, plus 6.25% tax on the price. Since July 1, 2025, dealers hand over metal plates instead of paper temporary tags.
Can I drive a classic home the day I buy it in Texas if the seller keeps the plates? +
Yes. If the seller keeps the plates on a weekend sale, a Vehicle Transit Permit lets you drive the car for five calendar days. The title must still be in your name within 30 days, and that clock starts on the day of sale, not the day the car arrives.
Who can sell a classic car in Texas without a dealer license? +
A private seller needs no license to sell fewer than five vehicles in a calendar year, all owned and registered in their own name. Anyone selling an antique car at least 25 years old is also exempt, as is a collector selling a special interest vehicle at least 12 years old.
Does the Texas Lemon Law cover a classic car? +
No. It covers new vehicles, and used ones only while still under the maker's original warranty, so it does not help with a classic. Dealers must post the federal Buyers Guide, the "As Is" sticker, on every used car. TxDMV takes complaints about dealers but cannot recover money for you.