Sec. 502.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: (CHAPTER 502. REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES)
(25) “Motor vehicle” means a vehicle that is self-propelled.
(45) “Vehicle” means a device in or by which a person or property is or may be transported or drawn on a public highway, other than a device used exclusively on stationary rails or tracks.
What to notice?
Motor vehicle is not really defined, other than as a vehicle with a motor.
Vehicle is something that is or may be used to transport or draw something.
Transport is not defined, but legal jurisprudence defines it as something used by a common carrier, meaning that it is commercial in nature.
The words “may be” could be confusing here, as an automobile might be a vehicle, not because it is transporting something, but because it “may” be transporting something. Some might argue that you “may not” if there is no registration, and therefore an unregistered automobile is not a vehicle.
Please read the common disclaimers, this is not complete evidence that you don’t need to register a car or that it is not a motor vehicle.
