To register your car in Tennessee, you’ll need to bring a few documents with you to your County Clerk’s office. In some counties, you will first need to take and pass an emissions test and provide proof of this. Plus, you’ll need to bring the required registration fee.

For new residents of Tennessee

If you’re a new resident of Tennessee, you have 30 days to register your vehicle and to get your Tennessee driver’s license. To get your license, you’ll need to go to one of the many

full-service driver service centers

around the state. To get your registration, though, you’ll head to the County Clerk’s office in your county.

Some counties in Tennessee require emissions testing, and if you live in one of those you will need to get that testing done before you go to register your vehicle. You will also have to pass the emissions test each year as a requirement for renewing your registration.

Along with proof of the passed emissions test and payment for it—if applicable—you will need to bring:

Your current or most recent out-of-state registration

Name and address of the lienholder, if applicable

If you do not have the lienholder’s info, you will need to bring your out-of-state title

Proof of identification (U.S. driver’s license, birth certificate, etc.)

Proof of residency (rental or mortgage agreement, utility bill, etc.)

Payment for required fees

You will need to fill out and file an application for a certificate of title and registration when you go to the County Clerk’s office. While this initial registration needs to be done in person, renewals can be done online, in many cases.

The County Clerk can take the payment in the form of e-check (Online), debit card, credit card, or check. Whatever the payment type, you’ll want to have it ready before you go to the DMV. Plus, if you live in a county where emissions testing is required, you’ll also need to bring the $9 fee for that.

MORE: How high is the cost of living in Tennessee?

If you just bought a car

If you’re not new but your car is, you will need to register your vehicle in Tennessee at the County Clerk’s office. You will need to bring a few documents with you when you do this. If you are registering a new car, bring:

Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin

New vehicle invoice from the dealership

Proof of identification

Proof of residency

Applicable fees

If you are registering a used car, bring:

Valid certificate of title properly assigned

An Odometer Disclosure Statement, if applicable

MORE:

Buy a car in Tennessee

How much insurance coverage do you need in Tennessee?

If you are new to Tennessee, there are a few steps you’ll need to take to make sure you’re abiding by all of the road rules of the state. In addition to updating your registration and license, you will need to update your car insurance policy to meet

Tennessee’s minimum car insurance laws

or purchase a new policy that can do the job. Those minimums include:

At least $25,000 per person of

bodily injury liability coverage

At least $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability coverage

At least $15,000 per accident of

property damage liability coverage

While Tennessee is one of only a handful of states that does not require proof of this insurance to register your car, you will need to be able to show proof of coverage that meets these minimums to law enforcement if you are pulled over for any reason, or if you are involved in an accident.

How to renew your Tennessee vehicle registration

Residents of Tennessee must renew their vehicle registration every year. In most cases, you will receive a notice of renewal to remind you that it is time to renew your registration.

If you don’t receive notice, you can check the expiration date for your registration by looking at your vehicle’s registration sticker. Your renewal must be completed by the end of the month listed on the sticker. For instance, if your sticker reads “12/23”, you need to renew your registration by December 31, 2023.

But what if you miss this date? As long as you renew within 90 days of the expiration date, you should be in the clear—that means 90 days before or after the date, by the way. If you are stopped by law enforcement for driving with tags that are more than 90 days past their expiration, you may be charged with a non-moving violation and stuck with fines.

Luckily, it's pretty easy to renew your registration and avoid these fines. You can do so

online

, at one of the many

self-service kiosks

throughout the state, through the Auto Assistant app on your smartphone, by mailing your payment and renewal notice to your County Clerk’s office, or by stopping by the office in person. Your new registration will typically be mailed to you within 21 days.

In all of these cases, you will need to have your renewal notice, a copy of your current registration or your license plate number and VIN on hand, as well as the applicable fees.

The fees for renewing your registration in Tennessee vary based on the type of vehicle you have and the area you are in. Private passenger vehicles cost around $29.00 to renew, while motorcycles can be renewed for $17.00.

Some areas also require wheel tax, which can fall anywhere between $5 and $110. There may also be a postage fee of $2 if you are getting your registration mailed to you.

How to replace a lost registration sticker or license plate

If your Tennessee registration sticker or license is lost or stolen, you’ll need to bring your tag receipt or tab number to the County Clerk’s office. To apply for your replacement, you’ll also need proof that you have filed a police report, along with the name and badge number of the officer who completed the report.

MORE:

How to redo a car title when you move to another state

How to save on auto insurance in Tennessee

While you don’t technically need to show proof of your insurance policy when registering your car, you still need to have a

car insurance

policy that meets the requirements set by Tennessee law in order to get behind the wheel without penalty. Beyond that, you may even want to look for an insurance policy that protects you beyond these minimums.

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FAQs

What are the requirements to register a vehicle in Tennessee?

If you are a current resident registering a new vehicle in Tennessee, you’ll need a Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin, a new vehicle invoice from the dealership, proof of identification, and proof of residency.

If you are a current resident registering a used car, you will need to bring a valid certificate of title properly assigned along with an Odometer Disclosure Statement.

If you are a new resident registering your car, you’ll need to bring your current or most recent out-of-state registration, the name and address of the lienholder or your out-of-state title, proof of identification, and proof of residency.

How much does it take to register a car in Tennessee?

To register your car in Tennessee, you will have to pay the applicable fees. These fees vary based on the type of vehicle you have and the area you are in. It costs around $29 for a private passenger vehicle and $17 for a motorcycle. Some areas will require a wheel tax, which is typically between $5 and $110. There is also a postage fee of $2 if you are getting your registration mailed to you.

Can I print my car registration online in Tennessee?

You cannot print your car registration online in Tennessee, but you can print your renewal transaction and payment receipt. Your new registration will then come to you in the mail.

Who is exempt from registering their vehicle in Tennessee?

All vehicles must be registered through the Vehicle Services Division, according to the Tennessee Department of Revenue (DOR).

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