Can I get a disabled specialty plate?
No, however, a disabled driver decal is available through the local county clerk’s office. Disabled persons who currently own or elect to purchase new specialty earmarked plates may obtain a “Disabled Driver Decal” and take advantage of disabled parking privileges by certification of a permanent disability by a licensed physician or Christian Science Practitioner listed in the Christian Science Journal. There is no fee associated for this decal.
What do the stacked characters on the license plate mean?
The stacked characters on the license plate are assigned by the Tennessee Department of Revenue and are for office use only for the purpose of unique identification.
How many characters can be on a personalized license plate?
For a regular Tennessee license plate, the character maximum is 7 including spaces. For Specialty License Plate, thenumber of characters varies. See specific plates for information.
What about renewal of my specialty plates?
Renewing a personalized plate or aSpecialty License Plate can becompleted at yourlocal county clerk’s office, by mailor the county’s online plate renewal service. At renewal time the entire amount of the registration plus specialty/personalized fees can be paid.
Will I have to pay additional registration fees when I pick up my plate?
County clerks charge an additional $1 fee for the issuance of a specialty plate. This makes the fee $36 for specialty plates and $71 for personalized specialty plates, plus the standard state registration fee and any wheel taxes imposed by local governments. Your tag renewal fees will also be due at the time that you pick up your Specialty License Plate.
What does it mean to have my tag renewal prorated?
If you purchase and pick up your Specialty License Plate before your current tags are due to be renewed, your county clerk will credit the remaining amount left to your new renewal andyour tag renewal time going forward will be the month you got your new plate.
Can I transfer my specialty plates to another vehicle?
In Tennessee, the license plate “follows the owner” and not the vehicle. The plate may be transferred to a different vehicle for a small fee.
When the owner of a vehicle no longer meets the criteria for a specific plate, if the eligibility occurs prior to the expiration of the registration, i.e., if a holder of a firefighter plate ceases to be a firefighter, the owner should surrender the plate to their respective county clerk to in turn be issued a regular passenger plate. Otherwise, at time of renewal, if the criteria no longer applies, then a regular passenger plate will be issued.
What if I do not want my Specialty License Plate or personalized plate anymore?
When the holder of a specialty or personalized plate of any type no longer wishes to maintain the plate, at time of renewal, a different Specialty Licence Plate or a regular passenger plate may be issued. At that time, the county clerk may ask for the former plate to be surrendered.
FAQs
You may request a Personalized License Plate online Additional information and instructions are provided when your order is placed. Please allow four to six weeks for processing.
How many specialty license plates does Tennessee have? ›
The department administers over 100 specialty license plates.
How do I check to see if a personalized license plate is available in TN? ›
Check Plate Availability:
Visit the Tennessee Department of Revenue's personalized license plate availability checker on their official website.
How many letters can you have on a personalized license plate in Tennessee? ›
In Tennessee, license plates can be personalized with your own unique message. For the regular Tennessee plate, you can have up to seven (7) characters in either any alpha/numero combination. The number of characters varies on Specialty License Plates, check the plate descriptions for details.
What does the black license plate mean in Tennessee? ›
You might notice an all-black license plate on vehicles across the state. Millennial Debt Foundation License Plate available for Tennessee residents (Photo: TN Department of Revenue) This Millennial Debt Foundation License Plate, approved by the state legislature in 2021, has a goal to be financially "In the Black."
What does stacked CP on TN license plate mean? ›
The stacked characters on the license plate are assigned by the Tennessee Department of Revenue and are for office use only for the purpose of unique identification. How many characters can be on a personalized license plate? For a regular Tennessee license plate, the character maximum is 7 including spaces.
What does RH mean on a TN license plate? ›
Owners of vehicles who are retired or honorably discharged may obtain the Retired/Honorably Discharged plate. The cost for the RH plate is an additional $3.30 when issued. Disabled Veteran Plates are available to veterans who are 100% disabled or paid at 100% disabled.
Which state has the most specialty license plates? ›
Florida currently offers 122 specialty plates, but Texas leads the nation in specialty plates with 360 designs followed by Virginia with 340. There also exist standard-issue specialty plates. For instance, a number of states issued plates recognizing the U.S. Bicentennial in 1976.
How much does a custom license plate cost in TN? ›
The cost of a Specialty License Plate in Tennessee is $35 per year. If you decide to exchange your current plate for a specialty one, the county clerk will prorate your fees.
Are license plates public record in Tennessee? ›
License Plate information can be found at the Tennessee Department of Revenue.
Tennessee drivers might be wondering what they can do when their license expires. The good news is that you don't have to surrender your old plates unless they are specialty plates in the state of Tennessee. Here are all the things you can do with your old license plates.
How do specialty plates work in TN? ›
A Specialty License Plate costs $35 each year. You can exchange your current license plate for a Specialty License Plate anytime, the county clerk will prorate your fees. County clerks charge an additional $1 fee for the issuance of a specialty plate.
How many letters can I have on my plate? ›
There's no universal standard for the number of letters on a license plate. Some states have six-character plates, some have seven-character plates and others have eight-character plates. They all serve the same purpose, and it's just the number of letters that varies.
Can you transfer license plates to another car in Tennessee? ›
Tennessee license plates follow the owner, not the vehicle, and can be transferred to a different vehicle for a $1 fee. Transfers as well as exchanges of specialty and personalized plates for regular passenger plates can be done at your county clerk's office.
How long do you have to register a car after purchase in TN? ›
If you are a new resident of Tennessee, you have thirty days to register your vehicle with the state. However, before registering your vehicle, you must pass an emissions test in some counties. You can approach the full-service driver service centers if you do not have a license.
