How to Get a Personalized License Plate in Tennessee

You can show off a bit of your personality whenever you're behind the wheel of your vehicle in Tennessee by displaying a personalized license plate. In the Volunteer State, you can choose to personalize a standard plate or one of several specialty plates. Read on to learn more about how to get a personalized license plate in Tennessee.

Steps

  1. Image titled Get a Personalized License Plate in Tennessee Step 1
    1
    Log on to the Tennessee Department of Revenue website.[1]
  2. Image titled Get a Personalized License Plate in Tennessee Step 2
    2
    Click on "Vehicle Title & Registration" in the left-hand column.[2]
    Advertisement
  3. Image titled Get a Personalized License Plate in Tennessee Step 3
    3
    Select "Get a Specialty or Personalized License Plate," then "Order a Personalized Plate."[3]
  4. Image titled Get a Personalized License Plate in Tennessee Step 4
    4
    Click on the link for the Application for Tennessee Personalized License Plate to open the .pdf file.
    • Print the application.
  5. Image titled Get a Personalized License Plate in Tennessee Step 5
    5
    Supply your name, address, telephone number, signature and current plate number.
  6. Image titled Get a Personalized License Plate in Tennessee Step 6
    6
    Check the box beside the type of plate you are ordering.
    • Choose from Passenger, Trailer, Motorcycle or Specialty.
  7. Image titled Get a Personalized License Plate in Tennessee Step 7
    7
    Write in the type of specialty plate you want in the box provided.
  8. Image titled Get a Personalized License Plate in Tennessee Step 8
    8
    Enter your 3 choices for your personalized license plate using letters, numbers or a combination of the two.
    • Use capital letters.
    • Do not use punctuation.
    • List choices in order of preference, as you will be issued the first available choice.
  9. Image titled Get a Personalized License Plate in Tennessee Step 9
    9
    Explain the significant meaning of any of the choices in the space provided.
  10. Image titled Get a Personalized License Plate in Tennessee Step 10
    10
    Send the completed application and payment of required fees to Vehicle Services Section, Taxpayer and Vehicle Services Division, 44 Vantage Way, Suite 160, Nashville, TN 37243-8050.
    • Remit a check or money order only made out to the State of Tennessee.
    • Note that the fee for a standard personalized license plate is $35, while personalized specialty plates are $70.[4]
  11. Image titled Get a Personalized License Plate in Tennessee Step 11
    11
    Mail a payment of $35 if ordering the "Helping Schools" specialty licensed plate, and pay $35 when picking up the plate at your county clerk's office.[5]
  12. Image titled Get a Personalized License Plate in Tennessee Step 12
    12
    Pick up your personalized license plate at your local county clerk's office after receiving a letter notifying you that the plate is ready. It takes about a month for personalized license plates to be processed.[6]
  13. Image titled Get a Personalized License Plate in Tennessee Step 13
    13
    Pay renewal fees each year to maintain your personalized license plate.
    14. Advertisement

Warnings

  • Commercial vehicles are not allowed a personalized license plate in Tennessee.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
  • Do not leave the first character block blank when entering your personalized license plate choices. It is okay to use blanks in other spaces, but the first box must have a letter or number.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
  • Antique Auto specialty plates cannot be personalized.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
  • Do not use offensive language when entering your choices. Entries deemed offensive will be rejected.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
Advertisement

You Might Also Like

Find a Vehicle's Registered Owner Using a License Plate Number
How to
Find a Vehicle's Registered Owner Using a License Plate Number
Find Your VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)
How to
Find Your VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)
Use a VIN Number to Check a Car's Options
How to
Use a VIN Number to Check a Car's Options
Register an Out of State Car in CaliforniaEasy Ways to Register a Car from Out of State in California
Install a Front License Plate
How to
Install a Front License Plate
Register a Car Without a Title
How to
Register a Car Without a Title
Check Vehicle History for Free
How to
Check Vehicle History for Free
Take a Name off a Car Title
How to
Take a Name off a Car Title
Transfer a License Plate
How to
Transfer a License Plate
Locate Motor Vehicle by VIN Number
How to
Locate Motor Vehicle by VIN Number
Remove a License Plate
How to
Remove a License Plate
Transfer a Vehicle Tag in Florida
How to
Transfer a Vehicle Tag in Florida
Get a Title to an Abandoned Vehicle
How to
Get a Title to an Abandoned Vehicle
Fill Out a Car Title Transfer
How to
Fill Out a Car Title Transfer
Advertisement

References

  1. ↑ https://www.tn.gov/revenue
  2. ↑ https://www.tn.gov/revenue/title-and-registration.html
  3. ↑ https://personalizedplates.revenue.tn.gov/#/
  4. ↑ https://www.shelbycountytn.gov/582/License-Plates
  5. ↑ https://personalizedplates.revenue.tn.gov/#/
  6. ↑ https://tnspecialtyplates.org/personalized-plates/

About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 33,538 times.
17 votes - 71%
Co-authors: 4
Updated: September 16, 2021
Views: 33,538
Categories: Car Identification and Registration
Advertisement