What is a Tennessee License Plate?
The Tennessee Department of Revenue issues all license plates and oversees vehicle registration in accordance with Title 55 of the Tennessee Code. County clerk offices in all 95 counties handle the actual transactions, including titling, registration, and renewals.
The current standard license plate was introduced in January 2022, featuring white characters on a reflective blue background with the state flag emblem as a separator. Registration is annual, with renewal months assigned by county.
Types of License Plates in Tennessee
- Standard License Plate: Automatically assigned upon registration. The base state fee is $23.75, with county clerk fees the total comes to $26.50, as published by the Tennessee Department of Revenue.
- Specialty plates cover universities, causes, arts organizations, and professional groups for $35 annually plus $1 for issuance by the county clerk. Over 100 designs are available through the Department’s plate catalog.
- Personalized License Plate costs $35 annually on a standard plate, or $71 annually when combined with a specialty design.
- Disabled veteran plates have no fee for the first plate. Medal of Honor, Purple Heart, Former POW, and Pearl Harbor Veteran plates are also available under the military specialty plate program.
- Antique Plates cost $30 as a one-time registration fee for vehicles over 25 years old, with no annual renewal required under T.C.A. § 55-4-111(b).
The full catalog of plates can be searched on the Department of Revenue’s plate page.
What Vehicles Require License Plates in Tennessee?
Every motor vehicle operated on Tennessee highways must be registered. New residents have 30 days to register after establishing residency under T.C.A. § 55-4-101. Registration is annual, and the county wheel tax varies by jurisdiction in addition to the base state fee.
- Passenger vehicles and pickups with a capacity of ¾ ton or less have one rear plate. The state registration fee is $23.75, but most owners pay $26.50 after county clerk fees. Local wheel tax adds $25 to $55 depending on the county.
- $16.75 covers the state registration fee for motorcycles, with one rear plate.
- Private trailers less than 8 feet wide and 20 feet long register for $14.50 annually. Farm trailers used exclusively for agricultural purposes and boat trailers are exempt unless the owner chooses to register. T.C.A. § 55-4-111(c) governs trailer exemptions.
- Trucks and tractors with a capacity over ¾ ton have one front plate, with commercial registration fees set separately under T.C.A. § 55-4-113.
- Electric vehicles must pay an additional $200 annually upon renewal. Hybrid vehicles pay $100 annually, as currently published by the Department of Revenue.
License Plate Rules in Tennessee
- One rear plate is required for passenger vehicles, pickups with a capacity of ¾ ton or less, and motorhomes. Trucks and tractors with greater capacity mount their plate in the front. Motorcycles, trailers, and dealer plates attach at the rear. T.C.A. § 55-4-110(a) establishes these placement rules.
- Each plate must be securely fastened horizontally, at least 12 inches from the ground, and free from foreign materials to remain clearly legible. No tinted covers may be placed over the plate, even if the plate information remains readable. Per the above display rule, hitch devices located in front of the plate are specifically excluded from visibility requirements.
Is Driving Around with No License Plate in Tennessee Illegal?
Operating a vehicle without a valid license plate is a criminal offense. T.C.A. § 55-5-114(d) classifies this violation as a Class C misdemeanor.
Displaying a plate assigned to another vehicle or transferring a plate to a person not entitled to use it falls under a separate statute. T.C.A. § 55-5-115 considers such misuse a Class C misdemeanor, while altering or forging a plate under T.C.A. § 55-5-116 elevates the charge to a Class E felony.
What is the Penalty for Driving Without a License Plate in Tennessee?
Sections 55, Chapters 4 and 5 regulate plate violations, and penalties quickly escalate from minor fines to felonies.
- Failure to display violations under T.C.A. § 55-4-110 are Class C misdemeanors: up to 30 days in jail or a fine up to $50, or both (T.C.A. § 40-35-111).
- The statute offers a simplified fine option. The first offense costs $10, and second or subsequent offenses cost $20, payable directly to the court clerk instead of appearing in court under § 55-4-110(e)(2).
- Plate misuse (wrong vehicle, transfer, or unauthorized display) under T.C.A. § 55-5-115 is also a Class C misdemeanor with the same fine up to $50.
- Altering, forging, or knowingly using a forged plate under T.C.A. § 55-5-116 is a Class E felony, carrying one to six years in prison and fines up to $3,000.
- Separate penalties for late registration apply under T.C.A. § 55-5-114, including a 20% surcharge on registration fees for mobile homes and house trailers not licensed within 15 days of first use.