November 7, 2022
By: Dwayne Page
In God We Trust!
For the past five years, automobile owners have had the option of displaying on their vehicles the old Green Mountain state issued license plates with or without the phrase “In God We Trust”.
County Clerk James L. “Jimmy” Poss says you have the same option with the new state issued blue plates. The decision is yours, but you have to make your request known at the time of registration renewal.
“It’s solely the individual’s responsibility and choice to clarify the specific plate they want either the one with “In God We Trust” or the one without it,” said Poss.
Specialty and personalized plates are not available with the phrase “In God We Trust”. The only specialty plate which provides that option is the “In God We Trust” specialty plate itself.
To personalize a plate, the applicant must complete the Online Application for Tennessee Personalized License Plate. https://personalizedplates.revenue.tn.gov/#/
“If you have a plate you are not happy with you can change it at any time but before changing plates be sure to verify any and all costs associated for a clear understanding,” said County Clerk Poss.
Meanwhile re-issuance of Tennessee disabled license plates will begin in January.
Any Disabled personalized plate applied for in the month of December 2022 will be produced on new metal. Production has started on Class 1010 Disabled Driver plates for January through March and renewals should arrive in county clerk offices across the state by the end of December. For the Class 1011 Disabled Drivers not confined to a wheelchair and the Disabled personalized classes 2005 and 2007 (disabled drivers and disabled drivers confined to a wheelchair, renewals for January-December should also be available at county clerk offices by the end of December.
Postcard renewal notices will be updated for January renewal notices.
“If you are still operating with a standard Tennessee plate, make sure to update. Get the plate you need because everyone must have the new plate by December 31,” added County Clerk Poss.
The state mails out vehicle registration renewal notices however if you should not receive a notice in the mail from the state, County Clerk Poss reminds you that it is still your responsibility to renew your vehicle registration.
License plates are issued through Tennessee’s local county clerk offices. Motorists can visit www.tncountyclerk.com to renew online. New plates can be renewed in person, online, by mail, or by kiosk. If you choose not to renew in person, the renewal fee will include $5 for mailing.
A partial state fee waiver remains in effect through June 30, 2023 on the registration renewals of vehicles. The typical renewal fee is $29 for Class B vehicles but with the waiver, the fee is currently $5.25.
According to the law, the state has waived the state registration fees for Class A and Class B motor vehicles upon the renewal of the motor vehicle’s registration if the renewal occurs after July 1, 2022 and before June 30, 2023. Plates expiring before or after this period will be subject to the ordinary registration fee. Class A includes motorcycles and autocycles and Class B includes passenger motor vehicles and motor homes. The state portion of the fee that is waived under this law is ordinarily $16.75 for Class A and $23.75 for Class B. Other fees that are earmarked for safety and system improvement purposes, as well as the electric vehicle registration fees and county fees are not waived.
Drivers who need to renew expired license plates should check with their local county clerk to see which fees still apply.