Vehicle registration plates of Tennessee

The U.S. state of Tennessee first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1905. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1915, when the state began to issue plates.[1]

For the song, see Tennessee Plates.
Tennessee
Current series
SloganThe Volunteer State
In God We Trust (optional since 2017)
Size12 in × 6 in
30 cm × 15 cm
MaterialAluminum
IntroducedJanuary 2006 (2006-01)
Availability
Issued byTennessee Department of Revenue, Vehicle Services Division
History
First issuedJuly 1, 1915 (1915-07-01)
(pre-state plates from 1905 to June 30, 1915)

Plates are currently issued by the Tennessee Department of Revenue through its Vehicle Services Division. Only rear plates have been required since 1977.

Passenger baseplates

1915 to 1961

In 1956, the United States, Canada, and Mexico came to an agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Automobile Manufacturers Association and the National Safety Council that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles (except those for motorcycles) at 6 inches (15 cm) in height by 12 inches (30 cm) in width, with standardized mounting holes.[2] The 1956 (dated 1957) issue was the first Tennessee license plate that complied with these standards, following a 21-year period where the plates were roughly the shape of the state of Tennessee.

No slogans were used on passenger plates during the period covered by this subsection.

Image Dates issued Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
1915 Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; vertical "1915" and "TENN" at left and right respectively; "EXPIRES DEC 31, 1915" at bottom 12345 23001 to approximately 27000 Issued only to new registrants from July 1 through December 31, 1915, with serials following on from those on pre-state-issued plates.
1916 Embossed black serial on cream plate; vertical "1916" and "TENN" at left and right respectively; "EXPIRES DEC 31" at bottom 12345 6001 to approximately 37000
1917 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; vertical "1917" and "TENN" at left and right respectively 12345 6001 to approximately 54000
1918 Embossed black serial on light green plate with border line; vertical "TENN" and "1918" at left and right respectively 12345 6001 to approximately 69000
1919 Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; vertical "TENN" and "1919" at left and right respectively 12345 6001 to approximately 87000
1920 Embossed black serial on gray plate with border line; vertical "TENN" and "1920" at left and right respectively 12345 6001 to approximately 95000
1921 Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; vertical "TENN" and "1921" at left at right respectively 12345 1 to approximately 94000
1922 Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; vertical "TENN" and "1922" at left and right respectively 123456 25001 to approximately 148000
1923 Embossed dark blue serial on gray plate with border line; vertical "TENN" and "1923" at left and right respectively 123456 25001 to approximately 179000
1924 Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; vertical "TENN" at left and "1924" centered at bottom 123-456 25-001 to approximately 205-000
1925 Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "TENN. 25" at bottom 123-456 25-001 to approximately 240-000
1926 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" used as separator; "TENN 1926" at bottom 123-456 100-001 to approximately 349-000
1927 Embossed white serial within state outline on lavender plate; vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" used as separator; "TENN" at top right and "27" at bottom right 123-456 50-001 to approximately 326-000 First base to feature the state shape in any form.
1928 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" used as separator; "TENN 1928" at right 123-456 50-001 to approximately 348-000
1929 Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "TENN 1929" at left 123-456 2-001 to approximately 323-000
1930 Embossed dark blue serial on silver plate with border line; vertical "TENN" used as separator; vertical "1930" at right 123-456 50-001 to approximately 405-000
1931 Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; vertical "1931" used as separator; vertical "TENN" at right 123-456 15-001 to approximately 367-000
1932 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; vertical "TENN" and "32" at right 123-456 10-001 to approximately 347-000
1933 Embossed cream serial on brown plate with border line; "33" and vertical "TENN" at right 123-456 10-001 to approximately 359-000
1934 Embossed white serial on medium blue plate with border line; "34" and vertical "TENN" used as separator 123-456 10-001 to approximately 309-000
1935 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "35" and vertical "TENN" at left 123-456 10-001 to approximately 332-000
1936 Embossed blue serial on silver state-shaped plate with border line; "TENNESSEE 1936" at top 123-456 10-001 to approximately 343-000 First use of the full state name.
1937 Embossed black serial on yellow state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 1937" at bottom C123-456 C30-001 to approximately C371-000 Weight classes introduced, with C used for vehicles weighing 3,500 lb or less, and D for vehicles above 3,500 lb.[3]
D12-345 D4-000 to approximately D11-500
1938 Embossed blue serial on silver state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 38" at bottom 123 456 100 001 to approximately 443 000 Weight classes same as 1937, but with no letter used for vehicles weighing 3,500 lb or less.
D12 345 D85 001 to approximately D95 000
1939 Embossed red serial on silver state-shaped plate with border line; "1939 TENN." at bottom 1-12345
10-1234
1D-1234
10D-123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) County coding introduced. Weight classes remained in use until 1957, with D continuing to be used for vehicles weighing more than 3,500 lb.
1940 Embossed orange serial on black state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 40" at bottom 1-12345
10-1234
1D-1234
10D-123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1941 Embossed white serial on black state-shaped plate with border line; "1941 TENN." at bottom 1-12345
10-1234
1D-1234
10D-123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1942–43 Embossed black serial on white state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 42" at bottom 1-12345
10-1234
1D-1234
10D-123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) Revalidated for 1943 with black tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II.
1944 Embossed white serial on black state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 44" at bottom 1-12345
10-1234
1D-1234
10D-123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1945 Embossed blue serial on silver state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 1945" at bottom 1-12345
10-1234
1D-1234
10D-123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1946 Embossed green serial on silver state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 46" at bottom 1-12345
10-1234
1D-1234
10D-123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1947 Embossed white serial on black state-shaped plate with border line; "1947 TENN." at bottom 1-12345
10-1234
1D-1234
10D-123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1948 Embossed black serial on yellow state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 48" at bottom 1-12345
10-1234
1D-1234
10D-123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1949 Embossed yellow serial on black state-shaped plate with border line; "1949 TENN." at bottom 1-12345
10-1234
1D-1234
10D-123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1950 Embossed black serial on silver state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 50" at bottom 1-12345
10-1234
1D-1234
10D-123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1951 Embossed white serial on orange state-shaped plate with border line; "51 TENN." at bottom 1-12345
10-1234
1D-1234
10D-123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) Issued in the colors of the University of Tennessee.[4]
1952 Embossed black serial on white state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 52" at bottom 1-12345
10-1234
1D-1234
10D-123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1953 Embossed blue serial on silver state-shaped plate with border line; "53 TENN." at bottom 1-12345
10-1234
1D-1234
10D-123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1954 Embossed yellow serial on black state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 54" at bottom 1-12345
10-1234
1D-1234
10D-123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1955 Embossed red serial on white state-shaped plate with border line; "55 TENN." at bottom 1-12345
10-1234
1D-1234
10D-123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1956 Embossed white serial on dark blue state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 56" at bottom 1-12345
10-1234
1D-1234
10D-123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1957 Embossed white serial within state outline on black plate with border line; "TENN. 57" centered at bottom 1/A 1234
10/ 1234
10/A 1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) First 6" x 12" plate.
1958 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "TENN" within state outline centered at top; "19" at top left and "58" at top right 1A-12-34
10-A1-23		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1959 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "TENN" within state outline centered at top; "59" at top left 1A-1234
10-1234
10-A123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1960 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "TENN" within state outline centered at top; "60" at top right 1A-1234
10-1234
10-A123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1961 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "TENN" within state outline centered at top; "61" at top left 1A-1234
10-1234
10-A123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)

1962 to present
Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1962–65 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "TENN" within state outline centered at top; "62" at top right none 1-1234
1A-1234
1AB-123
10-1234
10-A123
10-AB12		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) Revalidated for 1963, 1964 and 1965 with stickers.
1966–70 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "TENN" within state outline centered at top; county name on sticker centered at bottom, cutting off border line none AB-1234 AA-0001 to
TZ-9999
1971–75 As 1966–70 base, but with full border line around plate and no county-name sticker none 1-A1234
1-AB123
10-A123
10-AB12		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
ABC-123 AAA-001 to approximately ANA-999[3] Supplemental plates issued in counties that had exhausted their allocations of county-code plates.

 1976–82 Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white plate; pale yellow state seal screened in the center behind serial; blue banner graphic screened at top containing "TENNESSEE" in white in the center "Volunteer State" screened in blue centered at bottom 1-A1234
1-AB123
10-A123
10-AB12		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) First base not to feature the state shape since 1935, and first to use the full state name since 1936. Monthly staggered registration introduced. Some plates manufactured in Texas using that state's serial dies (pictured).
ABC-123 AAA-001 to approximately BPA-999[3] Supplemental plates issued in counties that had exhausted their allocations of county-code plates.
1983 – December 1987 Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate; "Tennessee" screened in green centered at top "Volunteer State" screened in green centered at bottom, surrounded by green state outline 1-A1B23
1-ABC12
10-1A23
10-12A3
10-123A
10-12AB		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
ABC-123 BRK-001 to approximately CZS-999[3] Supplemental plates issued in counties that had exhausted their allocations of county-code plates.
January 1988 – December 1993 Embossed red serial on reflective white plate; blue circle with three white stars (from the state flag) screened in the center; "Tennessee" screened in blue centered at top; county name on blue sticker centered at bottom none ABC 123 ABB 001 to ZZZ 999 (see right) Serials began at DBB 001 and ran to ZZZ 999, followed by BBB 001 through CZZ 999; vowels and Y were not used until 1993, when Y and then A were used as the first letter (the last serial issued was in the APP series).
January 1994 – December 1999 Embossed red serial on reflective white plate; Tennessee State Capitol screened in blue in the center; "BicenTENNial" screened in red and blue at top, offset to left ("TENN" in blue); "1796" and "1996" screened in blue to the right; county name on blue sticker centered at bottom "VOLUNTEER STATE" screened in red centered between "BicenTENNial" and serial 123 ABC 001 ABB to 999 ZZZ (see right) Commemorated Tennessee's 200 years of statehood. Serials began at 001 BBB and ran to 999 ZZZ; vowels and Y were not used until 1997, when Y, A, E and U were used as the first letter in that order (the last serial issued was in the UKX series).
January 2000 – December 2005 Embossed black serial on reflective white plate; gold rising sun over green state shape screened in the center; "TENNESSEE" screened in blue centered at top; county name on white sticker centered at bottom "Sounds good to me" and "Volunteer State" screened in black centered above and below serial respectively ABC 123 AAA 001 to approximately TPS 999 Early plates used a darker shade of green for the state shape; this was changed to a lighter shade in late 2000 in response to visibility concerns. Letters I and O not used in serials.

 January 2006 – February 2011 Screened black serial with state-shaped separator on reflective graphic plate with white sky and green rolling hills; "Tennessee" screened in black centered above serial; county name on white sticker centered at bottom "The Volunteer State" screened in dark green above state name, offset to right 123-ABC 001-BBB to
999-ZZZ		 Vowels not used in the 123-ABC serial format. I, O and Q not used in the A12-34B and 1A2-3B4 formats.[3]

 February 2011 – April
2016		 As above, plus "www.tnvacation.com" screened in black between serial and county sticker A12-34B A00-01A to Z99-99Z

 April 2016 – present 1A2-3B4 0A0-0A1 to 3X2-0S6 (as of January 21, 2021)
July 1, 2017[5] – present As above, plus "In God We Trust" screened in green above and below separator ABC-123 BBB-001 to DHH-662 (as of January 21, 2021) No-cost alternative plate.

County coding

From 1939 through 1965 and from 1971 through 1988, Tennessee license plates began with a one- or two-digit county code. The order of the codes was based on the respective populations of each county.

The codes remained constant from 1939 through 1965, then were re-allocated according to population shifts in 1971, 1976 and 1983.[6]

Optional plates
Image Type First issued Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
Ducks Unlimited Embossed black on white; "TENNESSEE" screened in green at top; green Ducks Unlimited logo at left; green bar at bottom containing "Ducks Unlimited" in white D/U1234 D/U0001 to D/U9999
1234D/U 0001D/U to present
Freemasonry Screened black on white; "TENNESSEE" screened in blue at top; blue square containing yellow Square and Compasses at left; blue bar at bottom containing "MASON" in yellow M/L1234 M/L0001 to present

Non-passenger plates
Image Type First issued Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
Antique Auto 2001 Embossed black on white; "TENNESSEE" and "ANTIQUE AUTO" screened at top and bottom respectively; "PERM" at top right A/A12345 A/A00001 to approximately A/A34000
2006 As above, but with serial screened A/A34001 to A/A99999
2011 12345A/A 00001A/A to 99999A/A
2018 1A/A2345 0A/A0001 to present
Motorcycle 2001 Embossed black on white with border line; "TENNESSEE" screened at top; "TN" embossed at bottom ZB1234 ZA0001 to approximately ZD9500
2002 As above, but without embossed "TN" ZD9501 to ZW9999
2005 1234ZB 0001ZA to 9999ZL
2007 Screened black on white; "TENNESSEE" screened at top 0001ZM to 9999ZV
2008 1ZB234 0ZA001 to 9ZV999
2012 12ZB34 00ZA01 to 99ZV99
2016 123ZB4 000ZA1 to present

See also

References
  1. "Old Tennessee License Plates". LeatherLicensePlates.com. Retrieved June 10, 2017.
  2. Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62 no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
  3. Tanner, Eric N. "Tennessee Passenger License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  4. Garrish, Christopher (2013). Tales from the Back Bumper: A Century of BC Licence Plates. Victoria, British Columbia: Heritage House. p. 48. ISBN 978-1-927527-03-0.
  5. Strayer, Kayla (July 6, 2017). "In God We Trust plates now available in Tennessee". WTVC. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
  6. Nicholson, David. "Tennessee County Codes". 15q.net. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
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