TexasCHLforum.com

You are confusing two different laws.

The Castle Doctrine law briefly says that you have no duty to retreat from an intruder in your home, business, or any other place you have a lawful right to be. It also states that your attacker has no right to recover damages in a lawsuit against you for using deadly force, if that force is justified under Chapter 9 of the Texas Penal Code.

The Motorist Protection Act gives you the right to carry a concealed handgun in your car, your home, or premises under your control. There are a few qualifiers - you must be legally able to posess a firearm, not be a member of a criminal street gang, not be in the process of committing a crime, and must keep the handgun concealed.

So, the short answer is YES, you can keep a handgun in your car without obtaining a CHL.

The more responsible thing to do would be to take the CHL class so that you know the laws in Texas. Taking the class does not obligate you to get the license.