Tennessee car license plates

Car registration is an important civic duty. Clearly visible new registration plates can assist law enforcement officers in identifying both the vehicle and its owner within minutes. Each Tennessee driver is responsible for renewing plate stickers annually and replacing tags that are lost or somehow damaged.

Keep reading the information organized in the sections below to learn more about license plate services in Tennessee. If you want to get a license plate in Tennessee, you have a wide variety of plates to choose from—over , to be exact. While some DMV license plates exist for vanity reasons, others serve to meet more concrete needs. Options include:. Additionally, you may at some point need temporary plates if you are experiencing title problems.

These allow you to drive legally while waiting to resolve any issues you may be facing with regards to your vehicle ownership and titling in Tennessee. If you need to know how to get license plate tags on a used vehicle, it is basically the same process. Bring a valid certificate of title, properly assigned, and an odometer disclosure statement to the county clerk. Again, if transferring an old tag to your new vehicle, bring the current registration card with you.

Drivers wondering how to renew license plate tags in TN will note that the state strongly encourages vehicle owners to renew their license plates online. The TN DOR website includes a list of all Tennessee county names, each of which links directly to the online tag renewal page for that location. Looking for personalized or vanity plates? Learn more about types of specialty plates in TN or how to apply for specialty plates. Are you eligible for disability parking?

Get application information and other helpful details on our Disabled Plates and Placards page. Vehicles in TN must have a license plate on the rear and have the following decals attached to it:. In addition to the standard license plate design, the TN DOR offers several specialty plates , including personalized plates and organizational plates. Check out our pages on types of specialty plates and special plates application for more information.

A vehicle dealer can issue Dealer Drive-out Tags , which allow you to operate your vehicle while waiting for your Tennessee license plate. You're required to register your vehicle at your county clerk's office when you move to TN or get a new vehicle. For complete details, including fees and required documents, see our vehicle registration page. You must renew your tags by renewing your vehicle registration before your license plate expires. After you pay your renewal fees, you'll get a new expiration decal to put over the old one.

See our page on registration renewal for more information. If your Tennessee license plate or decal has been lost, stolen, or damaged, you can apply for replacements from your TN county clerk's office. Contact your Tennessee county clerk's office for county fees and submission instructions.

If you no longer have your vehicle, you can either transfer or surrender your license plates to the Tennessee DOR. You CAN transfer your plates from a car you sold or traded to another car you've just bought. To transfer your tags, take your current registration along with the other documents required to register your car to your TN county clerk's office. NOTE : You may also be responsible for additional title fees, taxes, and service fees.

Surrender your plate at your TN county clerk's office along with payment for any county service fees.