October 10, 2022
By: Dwayne Page
If it’s time for your motor vehicle registration renewal, County Clerk James L (Jimmy) Poss urges you to get it taken care of soon.
Those renewing will be issued a newly designed state license plate to replace the one you have had.
“Traditionally, registrations can be renewed up to 90 days of the expiration date. As long as you are within that 90-day period, typically you can go ahead and renew that registration. Beginning January 1, 2022 when the state made the change from the green mountain plate to the blue plate they made us stick to a 30-day renewal window because of the slow plate production and low supply. Now as we are approaching the end of the year, supplies have picked up so anyone who still has the green mountain plate and needs to switch to the blue plate with a registration renewal in October, November, or December may do so now. Just stop by the office to get your new plate,” said Poss.
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.
Meanwhile if you have failed to renew your registration prior to expiration, Poss said its imperative that you get that done as soon as possible.
“I am still seeing several people come in from July, August, September. 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.
Meanwhile 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.