Issuance of new standard or specialty license plates for a vehicle. Specialty plates (military, charity, vanity) have additional fees.
Last updated · Source: Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security — Driver Services · Methodology
New License Plate in Tennessee costs $18.00 according to the official Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security — Driver Services fee schedule. The fee is the same statewide and is paid at the time of application.
No — new license plate requires an in-person visit to a Tennessee DMV office. Walk-ins are accepted at most offices.
No, an appointment is not strictly required for new license plate in Tennessee, but booking one is strongly recommended to avoid wait times that often exceed an hour at busy offices.
For new license plate in Tennessee you will typically need: Vehicle title, registration, proof of insurance. Originals are required — photocopies are not accepted by Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security — Driver Services.
New License Plate in Tennessee is typically processed the same day at the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security — Driver Services office.
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⚠️ Always verify with Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security — Driver Services
Fees and requirements shown here are based on publicly available information from the official Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security — Driver Services website as of 2025. The state DMV is the authoritative source. DMVPeek is an independent information resource and is not affiliated with any state government agency.