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.
Plates are currently issued by the Vehicle Services Division of the Tennessee Department of Revenue. 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 at in height by in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1956 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 | 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. | ||
| 1937 | Embossed black serial on yellow state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 1937" at bottom | D12-345 | D4-000 to approximately D11-500 | Weight classes introduced, with C used for vehicles weighing 3,500 lb or less, and D for vehicles above 3,500 lb. | |
| 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. | |
| 1938 | Embossed blue serial on silver state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 38" at bottom | D12 345 | D85 001 to approximately D95 000 | Weight classes same as 1937, but with no letter used for vehicles weighing 3,500 lb or less. | |
| 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 | 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | Issued in the colors of the University of Tennessee. | |
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 |
1962 to present
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.
| County | 1939-65 | 1971-76 | 1976-83 | 1983-88 |
| Anderson | 29 | 8 | 10 | 13 |
| Bedford | 25 | 42 | 38 | 44 |
| Benton | 71 | 75 | 71 | 70 |
| Bledsoe | 88 | 84 | 83 | 82 |
| Blount | 10 | 9 | 8 | 10 |
| Bradley | 19 | 17 | 13 | 12 |
| Campbell | 31 | 27 | 35 | 28 |
| Cannon | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 |
| Carroll | 35 | 38 | 36 | 43 |
| Carter | 21 | 15 | 17 | 18 |
| Cheatham | 68 | 78 | 66 | 55 |
| Chester | 61 | 77 | 77 | 77 |
| Claiborne | 49 | 51 | 52 | 48 |
| Clay | 92 | 86 | 87 | 86 |
| Cocke | 46 | 40 | 37 | 38 |
| Coffee | 41 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| Crockett | 62 | 62 | 62 | 68 |
| Cumberland | 58 | 50 | 48 | 40 |
| Davidson | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Decatur | 83 | 82 | 78 | 79 |
| DeKalb | 66 | 73 | 75 | 76 |
| Dickson | 39 | 52 | 47 | 37 |
| Dyer | 18 | 22 | 26 | 29 |
| Fayette | 48 | 33 | 44 | 46 |
| Fentress | 72 | 64 | 67 | 71 |
| Franklin | 37 | 31 | 33 | 35 |
| Gibson | 13 | 12 | 14 | 19 |
| Giles | 24 | 44 | 46 | 47 |
| Grainger | 70 | 65 | 63 | 62 |
| Greene | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| Grundy | 82 | 71 | 76 | 73 |
| Hamblen | 27 | 20 | 19 | 20 |
| Hamilton | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Hancock | 87 | 85 | 86 | 89 |
| Hardeman | 52 | 47 | 45 | 52 |
| Hardin | 56 | 54 | 54 | 54 |
| Hawkins | 43 | 21 | 24 | 23 |
| Haywood | 47 | 39 | 51 | 57 |
| Henderson | 57 | 56 | 56 | 56 |
| Henry | 26 | 45 | 42 | 41 |
| Hickman | 67 | 70 | 72 | 67 |
| Houston | 90 | 92 | 89 | 90 |
| Humphreys | 74 | 72 | 65 | 65 |
| Jackson | 81 | 79 | 81 | 83 |
| Jefferson | 44 | 48 | 39 | 36 |
| Johnson | 73 | 74 | 74 | 74 |
| Knox | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Lake | 76 | 76 | 82 | 87 |
| Lauderdale | 42 | 46 | 50 | 49 |
| Lawrence | 36 | 26 | 29 | 30 |
| Lewis | 85 | 87 | 85 | 81 |
| Lincoln | 28 | 36 | 40 | 45 |
| Loudon | 40 | 37 | 41 | 42 |
| Macon | 65 | 66 | 70 | 66 |
| Madison | 7 | 7 | 7 | 11 |
| Marion | 54 | 49 | 49 | 50 |
| Marshall | 32 | 55 | 55 | 58 |
| Maury | 9 | 14 | 16 | 17 |
| McMinn | 23 | 19 | 22 | 24 |
| McNairy | 50 | 53 | 53 | 53 |
| Meigs | 89 | 90 | 91 | 88 |
| Monroe | 51 | 41 | 43 | 39 |
| Montgomery | 11 | 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Moore | 91 | 95 | 95 | 94 |
| Morgan | 69 | 63 | 64 | 63 |
| Obion | 17 | 30 | 27 | 33 |
| Overton | 77 | 61 | 60 | 61 |
| Perry | 86 | 89 | 90 | 92 |
| Pickett | 94 | 93 | 93 | 95 |
| Polk | 63 | 67 | 73 | 75 |
| Putnam | 34 | 23 | 21 | 22 |
| Rhea | 53 | 57 | 57 | 51 |
| Roane | 33 | 16 | 18 | 21 |
| Robertson | 15 | 29 | 28 | 27 |
| Rutherford | 8 | 11 | 11 | 8 |
| Scott | 75 | 59 | 61 | 60 |
| Sequatchie | 93 | 88 | 88 | 85 |
| Sevier | 38 | 34 | 31 | 25 |
| Shelby | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Smith | 55 | 68 | 68 | 69 |
| Stewart | 79 | 83 | 84 | 84 |
| Sullivan | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Sumner | 14 | 18 | 12 | 7 |
| Tipton | 30 | 25 | 32 | 31 |
| Trousdale | 84 | 91 | 92 | 91 |
| Unicoi | 59 | 60 | 59 | 64 |
| Union | 78 | 81 | 79 | 78 |
| Van Buren | 95 | 94 | 94 | 93 |
| Warren | 45 | 43 | 34 | 34 |
| Washington | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Wayne | 64 | 69 | 69 | 72 |
| Weakley | 22 | 35 | 30 | 32 |
| White | 60 | 58 | 58 | 59 |
| Williamson | 20 | 32 | 23 | 14 |
| Wilson | 16 | 28 | 20 | 15 |