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2021 Tennessee Code
Title 55 - Motor and Other Vehicles
Chapter 4 - Registration and Licensing of Motor Vehicles
Part 2 - Special License Plates
§ 55-4-210. Authorization; Issuance

Universal Citation: TN Code § 55-4-210 (2021)
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  1. The department is authorized to administratively issue personalized plates to qualified applicants; provided, that the minimum issuance requirements of § 55-4-202(b)(3) and all other requirements of this part are met.

  2. The department is additionally authorized to administratively issue collegiate plates, as defined in § 55-4-201, that have a special reference to or identification or information on a two-year or four-year college or university located within Tennessee or a four-year college or university located outside Tennessee to qualified applicants; provided, that the minimum issuance requirements of § 55-4-202(b)(3) and all other requirements of this part are met for each classification of collegiate plates.


    1. All cultural, specialty earmarked and new specialty earmarked plates, including personalized and collegiate plates, may be issued for private passenger automobiles, recreational vehicles and trucks of one-half or three-quarter-ton rating, unless specifically prohibited by § 55-4-214.

    2. Personalized and collegiate plates may also be issued for motorcycles, provided the minimum issuance requirements of § 55-4-202(b)(3) are met.


    1. The commissioner shall not issue any license plate commemorating any practice which is contrary to the public policy of the state, nor shall the commissioner issue any license plate to any entity whose goals and objectives are contrary to the public policy of Tennessee.

    2. The commissioner shall refuse to issue any combination of letters, numbers or positions that may carry connotations offensive to good taste and decency or that are misleading.

  5. Registration numbers for license plates issued pursuant to this part shall not conflict with or duplicate the registration numbers for any existing passenger, recreational, commercial, trailer or motor vehicle registration plates that are presently issued pursuant to statute, resolution, executive order, or custom.


    1. The department is authorized to design, issue, and renew, or to authorize a designee to issue and renew, off-highway vehicle plates for the following vehicles registered by residents of this state:

      1. Class I off-highway vehicles; and

      2. Class II off-highway vehicles.

    2. The department is authorized to design, issue, and renew, or to authorize a designee to issue and renew off-highway vehicle temporary permits in lieu of plates for off-highway vehicles registered by nonresidents; provided, however, that a nonresident may apply directly to the department for an off-highway vehicle permit. An off-highway vehicle temporary permit shall be valid for thirty (30) days.

    3. The department is authorized to contract with county clerks and with private vendors for the issuance and renewal of off-highway vehicle plates and off-highway temporary permits.
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