A Guide on the License Plate Laws in Tennessee

Tennessee has some pretty specific rules about license plates, and if you live there or have just moved with your car, you need to know them. The whole system is run through the county clerk’s office. When you register your car, you get your plate and your decal, and that’s how you’re allowed to legally drive.

Now, some states give you two plates, one for the front and one for the back. But Tennessee isn’t like that. People ask all the time: Does Tennessee require a front license plate? The answer is no, unless your vehicle is a heavy-duty truck or tractor-trailer. For pretty much everyone else, you only get one plate, and it has to go on the rear of your car.

Do You Need a Front License Plate in Tennessee?

Nope. Tennessee law says only a rear plate is required for regular passenger cars, motorcycles, trailers, semi-trailers, and even motor homes.

The only time you need a front plate is if you’re driving certain heavy trucks or tractor-trailers with a gross weight rating above three-quarters of a ton. That’s written into Tennessee Code § 55-4-110.

And Tennessee isn’t alone here. Twenty states do it this way, including nearby states like Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Arkansas. So if you’re coming from a two-plate state, don’t freak out when the clerk hands you just one plate. That’s exactly how it’s supposed to be.

What Happens if You Drive Without a License Plate?

This part’s important: driving without a visible plate in Tennessee is a Class C misdemeanor. That means it’s technically a criminal offense, even though it’s the lowest-level one. The police can pull you over just for that, since it’s considered a primary offense.

The fines aren’t huge: $10 the first time and $20 after that, but the point is, you don’t want to get pulled over for something this easy to fix.

Also, if you just don’t have your registration decal or your plate isn’t properly attached, that can get you ticketed, too.

What Rules Do Plates Have to Follow?

Tennessee doesn’t just care that you have a plate; they care how it’s displayed.

• Lighting: If your car came with a plate light, it has to work. When your headlights are on, your plate has to be lit.
• Decals: The registration decal goes in the top right corner of your plate. Tennessee now combines the month and year on one sticker.
• Placement: Plates must be fastened horizontally, at least 12 inches from the ground, and clearly visible. No funny angles, no half-hanging plates.
• No Covers: You can’t put tinted or smoked covers on your plate, even if the numbers still show. The law says “no.”
• Sticker Rules: You can’t peel off decals and try to reuse them on another car. That’s considered tampering, and it’s illegal.
• Transferring Plates: Plates belong to the owner, not the car. So if you sell your vehicle, you can move your plate to a new one for just $1. Or if you don’t want it anymore, you can surrender or destroy it.

What About Registration and Insurance?

Along with your plate, you have to keep proof of registration in your vehicle or on you. If you get stopped and don’t have it, you can still get a citation—even if your registration is technically valid.

On top of that, Tennessee can suspend your registration if you don’t keep up with minimum insurance requirements. That’s under Tenn. Code Ann. Section 55-4-219. Basically, no insurance = no legal registration.

Key Takeaways

• Tennessee only issues one rear plate (except for some heavy trucks).
• Driving without a plate is a Class C misdemeanor with fines starting at $10.
• Plates must be lit, clearly visible, and free of covers or tampering.
• Registration decals go in the top right corner of the plate.