Tennessee License Plates

This general issue passenger plate design was introduced in January 2022.

As of BRC 9999 after January 1, 2024, "TNVACATION.COM" has been removed in accordance with legislation passed in the 2023 legislative session.

Available tax-free to employees of Tennessee automobile manufacturers (currently Volkswagen and Nissan).

This series always employs the letters "OEM" at some position in the serial.

As of January 1, 2024, "TNVACATION.COM" has been removed in accordance with legislation passed in the 2023 legislative session.

Plates after 999 BMDM by January 1, 2024 had "TNVACATION.COM" removed and in accordance with legislation passed in the 2023 legislative session "IN GOD WE TRUST" was moved into its place after it was removed from around the flag separator. County name sticker remains along the bottom.

Flat

Original series used A/A prefix.

The current Tennessee Apportioned truck license plate series started in 2011 and has always been fully-flat.

Commonly found on for-hire entertainer coaches such as those operated by Roberts Brothers, Nite Train, and Diamond Coach of Nashville. Current all-flat series started in 2011.

Flat black on white plate used by franchised new car dealers.

Flat white on red plate for used car dealers.

Tennessee Disabled Driver regular black on white passenger license plates 2000-22 featured always-stacked floating-caption letters DD and DP (denoted here by * and ^) plus numbers in the following formats:

2022 01^234

2020-22 0^1234

2017-20 ^01234

2014-17 0123*4

2011-14 012*34

2008-10 01*234

2007-08 0*1234

2001-06 *01234 and 01234* (embossed)

Tennessee Disabled Driver white on blue regular flat passenger vehicle license plates since 2023 feature always-stacked floating-caption letters PD (denoted here by *) plus numbers in the following formats:

2023 3rd-present 0*1234

2023 2nd 01234*

2023 1st *01234

Disabled plates with stacked PC caption are tracked separately on this website.

Introduced in 2023.

Flat. Formerly used older style embossed plate after other types had switched to flat. Amateur Radio plates with call signs also have the EMERGENCY legend.

At what point did the font change?

Flat, prefix moved to suffix in 2009.

Flat, black on white

DP-4267 spotted by Gunther Frostyburger on 2014-05-26.

Regular motorcycle series progressed from 9999ZZ to 0ZB000 in 2008, then to 00ZA00 in 2012 and K prefix in 2021. K moved to suffix in 2023 and to 2nd position in 2026.

Handicapped Motorcycle: 3A14 2015-04-21 Ken Reager

MC = Music City bus. These plates were used on privately-owned, non-apportioned entertainer coaches such as those operated by Russell Coaches of Knoxville. Only observed on the fully-embossed 2001 "Sounds good to me" base.

Current usage appears doubtful since the 2016 end of charter bus exemptions under IRP. Most Tenn-based entertainer coaches use BA APP plates.

Valid for ten years.

Embossed

Letters T and U alternate between prefix/suffix over time.

2000s era T prefix high: T954712 2014-04-13 Gunther Frostyburger

Flat, white characters on green background. S5-VC69 observed in the previous embossed style.

Some cars observed with the usual white on green State Gov't. plates, so they may have reverted to those instead of this distinctive State Trooper design. This older plate often matched the color of the squad car.

Known in Tennessee as "Drive-out Tags", paper permit features large grey ID numbers using Arial font with the bottom expiration date in smaller print. Dealer name/logo appears in open area at left.

This plate generated over $477,000 for the Tennessee Appalachian Trail Conservancy between 2010-19.

This is the "Jazz Cat" plate.

"Art is...A Rainbow" slogan with rainbow graphic

Funds support the organization's mission to help save eyesight for residents of middle-Tennessee in need.

Letter G moved from last to second position in 2013.

Flat

Proceeds help provide emotional and physical support in a loving home for children awaiting foster placement in Tennessee.

Flat

.

Proceeds benefit the Millennial Debt Foundation’s management of educating the public on the need for fiscal stewardship in government.

Stacked R/L was originally a prefix.

Flat

Stacked C/H prefix gave way to floating S/J in 2012, see History tab for progression.

A suffix is for officers, R suffix is for retired, all-numeric is for regular Guard members.

Earlier format was E/V 1234

"Celebrating Homeownership" in script along bottom.

Flat

Tiger Haven is a non-profit sanctuary for big cats in Roane County.

Original series had A/L prefix, moved to suffix in 2012. Letters float.

Flat

Started with U/K as prefix, moved to suffix in 2012.

Flat

Flat

Flat

.

Flat

Disabled Veteran - Handicapped - D/V 8112

Floating letter H moved from prefix to suffix in 2012.

Lowest possible observation H0001 2013-04-11 Ken Reager.

National Guard flat design with blue bird logo on left side.

All plates with single-letter suffix issued to officers.

Stacked N/G + four or five digits issued to enlisted members, high: N/G 20815 2013-09-20 Shane Ford

Flat, see History tab for progression and earlier numbering formats.

Flat

Series ran BBB - ZZZ, then Y, A, E, P, S, and U series in that order, with the letter in the first position only (i.e. no BYY or YYY)

This flat white on green Tennessee passenger plate design was issued between 2006-22, low 096-BBB. Upon reaching 999-ZZZ in 2011, format A12-34A began, low: A00-06A. Progression was A00-00A, then A00-01A, etc. through A99-99A then A00-00B, A00-01B, etc.

Vincent Perillo observed 327-NFD continuation of the plates issued to members of the Nashville Fire Dept. as on the 2000 base. He also observed 992-MPD, which corresponds to the 2000 base for the Metro Nashville Police Dept. personal vehicles.

Numbering format 1A2 3B4 used between and 2016-21 followed by the last series of this base 12A B34 format until 2022.

Neither vowels nor the letter Q were used. Later plates had "www.tnvacation.com" added to the area above county sticker.

Z series plates observed with TN FLEET sticker, high Z58-35Z.