Frequently Asked Questions
We Are Here to Help - Search Our FAQs
Navigate
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are there times I won’t be allowed to renew registration?
- Tennessee residents who are trying to renew car registrations might have the process held up for emissions reasons. If a vehicle requires an emissions inspection, the vehicle must be inspected before the car registration renewal process is begun, as the emissions inspection documentation is needed to move forward. Additionally, if the driver of the vehicle has any suspensions or revocations on their license, they may not be allowed to renew car registrations.
For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in Tennessee
- Can somebody else renew my registration for me?
- Tennessee residents who cannot apply for car registration renewal on their own can have another individual submit the car registration renewal forms for them as long as the individual has all the correct documentation. Documents vary depending on county. Contact the local County Clerk s office for more information on having a third party submit a car registration renewal.
For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in Tennessee
- Do boats need to be registered?
- In Tennessee, all residents with a boat must register the vehicle with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. However, boats do not require a title. Additionally, boats that are powered by oars or paddles do not require registration. Boat registration fees are as follows:
- 16 feet and under: $13 for one year, $24 two years and $35 for three years
- Over 16 feet and less than 26 feet: $25 for one year, $48 for two years and $71 for three years
- 26 feet to 39 feet: $38 for one year, $72 for two years and $107 for three years
- 40 feet or more: $51 for one year, $97 for two years and $142 for three years
For more information: How to Register a Vehicle in Tennessee
- Do I need to file a police report if my registration was lost or stolen?
- Residents of Tennessee dealing with a lost or stolen car registration should apply for a duplicate car registration as soon as possible. Additionally, residents should also report the incident to the local police station and receive a police report in response. Submit a copy of this police report to the local county clerk office along with the duplicate car registration forms so that the Tennessee Department of Safety can have the incident on file.
For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in Tennessee
- Do I need to return my license plate if I move out of the state?
- Tennessee residents who are moving out of state are not required to surrender license plates upon leaving. Tennessee residents are only required to surrender license plates if they are no longer eligible for the special plate they received during their last car registration renewal, or they are replacing a personalized plate with a standard plate.
For more information: How to Register a Vehicle in Tennessee
- Do I need to turn in my damaged registration?
- Yes, turn in your damaged car registration when requesting a duplicate car registration at a local county clerk office. In the event that it is damaged, residents should attach the damaged car registration copy to the duplicate car registration form upon submission.
For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in Tennessee
- Does a motorized scooter need to be registered?
- Motorized scooters with a cylinder capacity of 50cc or more need a title and registration. Residents who would like to register a scooter must submit ownership documents to the local TN County Clerk office if the vehicle was purchased brand new. If the scooter is used, residents should submit a certificate of title assigned to them. Residents without ownership documents or a title must submit a completed Certificate of Ownership.
For more information: How to Register a Vehicle in Tennessee
- Does my vehicle qualify for a smog inspection?
- Tennessee residents who have purchased a vehicle and need a new car registration may have to get emissions inspection depending on the county the driver is getting car registration in. Emissions inspection requirements must be satisfied before a driver can pay for a new car registration.
For more information: How to Register a Vehicle in Tennessee
- How can I renew my vehicle registration?
- In Tennessee, car registration renewals are handled by the county the car is located in. Drivers have the option to renew car registration online or by mail in their car registration renewal. To fill out an online car registration renewal, visit the online application corresponding to the county the car resides in. To apply for car registration renewals by mail, check the List of County Clerk offices for the corresponding address of the county the car resides in.
For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in Tennessee
- How can I transfer my registration to another state?
- Each state has its own regulations for car registration, with most charging a variety of fees and requiring various documents. To find out how to transfer car registrations to the new state, contact the state s DMV by visiting or calling a local DMV office.
For more information: How to Register a Vehicle in Tennessee
- How do I apply for a disabled person parking placard or plates?
- Disabled residents are individuals who walk with difficulty, are confined to a wheelchair or have vision no more than 20/200 with corrective lenses. To apply, fill out a Disabled Person Placard Application form and submit it along with payment (fees may vary):
- $21.50 annual fee for the disabled license plate
- $21.50 for permanent disabled placard (expires every two years, renewable for $3)
- $10 temporary disabled card
There is a $2 replacement fee for lost placards. Placards and plates are free for individuals permanently confined to a wheelchair.
For more information: How to Register a Vehicle in Tennessee
- How do I file a police report if my car registration was stolen?
- Tennessee residents with stolen car registrations should report the theft to the police as soon as they notice the car registration copy is missing. To report a theft, contact the local police department in the county and ask to report a stolen car registration. Keep a copy of the police report to present when applying for a duplicate car registration.
For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in Tennessee
- How do I obtain a duplicate car registration?
- Tennessee residents who have damaged, stolen or lost car registrations can apply for a duplicate car registration through the Tennessee Department of Revenue (DOR). Residents who need a car registration copy should submit a letter with their license plate number and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to the local county clerk office. The letter should be accompanied by the $3 duplicate car registration fee, along with an additional $0.50 if the car registration copy needs to be certified (fees may vary).
Residents who need replacement license plates should fill out an Application for Duplicate/Replacement License Plate or Decal and submit it along with the associated fee to the local county clerk office.
For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in Tennessee
- How do I obtain car registration?
- To register cars in Tennessee, start by filing an Application for Certificate of Title and Registration at the local TN County Clerk office. Applications must be filed in person. If the county the resident lives in requires emissions testing, the car will have to be tested before the resident pays the fees and received the new car registration.
For more information: How to Register a Vehicle in Tennessee
- If I do not renew on time, will there be an additional fee?
- As the Tennessee DOR handles car registration renewals on a county-by-county basis, residents in some counties may have different penalties for late car registration than residents in other counties. To find out how to go about renewing car registrations late and find out the associated late fees, contact the corresponding County Clerk s office.
For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in Tennessee
- Is there a different process I must follow if I lost personalized plates?
- Tennessee residents who have misplaced or stolen personalized license plates must apply for a duplicate license plate. To do so, submit a completed Application for Duplicate/Replacement License Plate or Decal to a local county clerk office. Depending on the county, residents may also have to complete an Application for Personalized License Plate. Check with the county clerk s office for associated fees.
For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in Tennessee
- Should I carry the registration on me or in the car?
- Tennessee drivers are required to provide documentation proving car registration to law enforcement officials whenever asked during a traffic stop. For this reason, it is recommended that drivers keep car registration documents in a safe place in their car. However, driver s licenses should be kept on the person.
For more information: How to Register a Vehicle in Tennessee
- What are the most common reasons why I would need to replace my registration?
- There are a few situations in which a Tennessee resident would need to obtain a duplicate car registration. In the event that the registration is stolen or lost, drivers will need to apply for a duplicate car registration immediately, in addition to reporting the loss or theft to the local police. If the car registration is damaged to the point where it is no longer legible, drivers will also need to obtain a duplicate car registration.
For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in Tennessee
- What are the required fees for my vehicle registration?
- Car registration fees vary depending on a number of factors, like the weight and size of the vehicle, the county the vehicle is registered in and whether the driver needs a specialized license plate.
For more information: How to Register a Vehicle in Tennessee
- What are the required fees to get replacement registration?
- Tennessee drivers with lost or stolen car registrations must apply for a duplicate car registration as soon as possible. Duplicate car registrations come with a small fee depending on what the driver needs replaced. If the car registration card has been lost, the duplicate car registration fee is $3 ($3.50 for a certified copy). For replacement license plates, the fee is $11.75. For replacement license plate stickers, there is no fee.
Fees may vary.
For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in Tennessee
- What are the required fees to renew my registration?
- As Tennessee car registration renewals are handled by each individual county, the requirements for renewing car registration in the state vary. Fees for car registration renewal range from $26 to $100 depending on the county, and depend on the vehicle model and weight.
For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in Tennessee
- What documents do I need to present to get a replacement car registration?
- Residents applying for a duplicate registration card in the state of Tennessee may need to provide certain documents. If applying in person at a local county clerk office, drivers should bring a letter with the details of their vehicle s license plate number and VIN. Additionally, if their registration card is damaged, the damaged copy should be attached. If the resident is applying for a new license plate, they should bring a completed Application for Duplicate/Replacement License Plate or Decal. Submit the forms and associated fees along with a police report if the registration/license plates were stolen.
For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in Tennessee
- What documents do I need to present to get new registration?
- Tennessee residents who are registering cars they have just purchased must present a few documents before receiving their new car registration. Required documents include:
- Passed emissions certificate (if applicable)
- Current out-of-state registration (if applicable)
- Proof of identity
- Proof of residency
- Name and address of lien holder, or
- Out-of-state title
For more information: How to Register a Vehicle in Tennessee
- What documents do I need to present to renew my car registration?
- Depending on the county that a vehicle is registered in, renewing car registration may require a few documents. Documents that Tennessee residents may be required to provide include:
- Emissions test documentation
- Proof of identity
- Proof of residency
- Car registration renewal notice
For more information on how to renew car registrations in each county, refer to the car registration renewal notice sent out by the Tennessee Department of Revenue (DOR) prior to the car registration expiration date. Residents may also refer to the corresponding DOR website for their county.
For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in Tennessee
- What should I do if I have not received my registration tags or stickers?
- When does my car registration expire?
- Vehicles expire on the owner s birthday each year. Car registration renewal notices are mailed out to the address on file approximately six weeks prior to the expiration date. To renew car registrations online, check the corresponding county DOR website. To renew car registrations by mail, check the List of County Clerk offices.
For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in Tennessee
- Where can I find a local tax county collector office?
- There are many county clerk offices throughout the state of Tennessee, with each county running their own departments. To find the closest, check out the list of local county clerk offices in Tennessee. County clerk offices are available for a number of different Department of Revenue services.
For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in Tennessee
- Will I need to fill out an application to replace my car registration?
- Residents of Tennessee who are applying for a duplicate car registration card need only submit a request with their license plate number and VIN, along with the duplicate car registration fee. However, drivers who would like to apply for a replacement license plate must fill out the Application for Duplicate/Replacement License Plate or Decal . Fees for duplicate car registration cards are $3, while duplicate license plates cost $11.75 (fees may vary).
For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in Tennessee
- Will I receive a renewal registration notice in the mail?
- As a courtesy to Tennessee residents, the DOR sends out car registration renewal notices to residents about six weeks before their car registration is set to expire. However, registration renewal notices are not required to renew car registrations. Any document that has both the license plate number and vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle can be used to renew car registrations. To renew expired car registrations online, check the corresponding county DOR website. To renew car registration by mail, check the List of County Clerk offices.
For more information: Vehicle Registration Renewal
- Will my registration expire on my birthday or birth month?
- Typically, Tennessee residents are given a date on which their car registration will expire. This date is listed on the car registration documentation itself, and varies from resident to resident. Some counties have expiration dates on a resident s birthday, while others have it as the last day of the birth month. For more information on expiration dates, refer to the expiring car registration documentation or the car registration renewal notice sent out by the TN DOR.
For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in Tennessee