Other Tennessee Vehicle Registrations

By Javier Marín, Editor·Last reviewed September 2026·How we check this

Tennessee registers more than passenger cars. Trailers, motorcycles, antique vehicles, RVs, mopeds, and farm-use vehicles each follow a slightly different track at the county clerk, and several categories have their own plate type, fee schedule, and registration cycle. The general principle is the same — every transaction starts with proof of insurance and proof of ownership at the county clerk — but the supporting paperwork varies by category.

Motorcycles (Class M)

Motorcycle operation in Tennessee requires a Class M endorsement on the operator's driver license. The endorsement is added through a written test and a Motorcycle Skills road test, or through completion of a Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) RiderCourse, which TN DSHS accepts in lieu of the road test. Motorcycle registration uses a smaller plate, fee schedule:

State motorcycle registration: $17.50 per year.
County wheel tax: same per-county rates as passenger vehicles (typically $24-$80).
Title fee: $11.

Motorcycles are subject to the same 25/50/15 liability minimums. Tennessee requires a helmet for all riders and passengers under T.C.A. § 55-9-302 — the helmet law applies regardless of age and is one of the more strictly enforced helmet rules in the South.

Trailers

Trailers in Tennessee require their own registration if their gross vehicle weight rating exceeds 1,500 pounds. Below that, single-axle utility trailers under 1,500 lbs are exempt. Trailer plates are dedicated and don't transfer to a tow vehicle. Fees:

Trailer up to 1,500 lbs: exempt.
Trailer 1,501-3,000 lbs: $8.50 per year (state portion).
Trailer 3,001-10,000 lbs: $22 per year.
Trailer over 10,000 lbs: graduated commercial fee schedule.
County wheel tax applies to all trailer registrations.

Trailers do not require a state inspection. Federal CDL roadside-inspection rules apply for commercial trailers regardless.

Antique vehicles

Tennessee defines an "antique" motor vehicle as one that's at least 25 years old and maintained for exhibition rather than daily use. Antique registration uses a distinctive plate (typically blue and white in newer designs) and follows a permanent registration model — once registered, the antique plate does not require annual renewal:

One-time antique registration fee: $23.
Use restriction: parades, exhibitions, club events, and limited pleasure driving — not commuting.
No state inspection (Tennessee has no state inspection of any kind).
Insurance: still required at the standard 25/50/15 minimum.

Antique plates can be transferred to a different antique vehicle in the same owner's name through the county clerk without re-issuance.

Recreational vehicles (RVs)

Self-propelled RVs (motorhomes Class A, B, and C) register as standard passenger vehicles in Tennessee. The Single-Article Sales Tax applies on the full purchase price, and the registration runs on the standard 1-year cycle. RVs above 10,000 lbs gross weight use a commercial weight-class plate and pay a graduated fee. Travel trailers register as trailers and follow the trailer fee schedule above.

Mopeds and Class K

Tennessee defines a moped as a two-wheeled motorized vehicle with an engine no larger than 50cc and a top speed of 30 mph. Mopeds:

Require a Class D license OR a separate Class K Motor-Driven Cycle license; Class K does not require the road-skills test.
Use a moped-specific registration ($16 per year).
Are exempt from the helmet law if the operator is 18+ (per a Tennessee statutory carve-out for mopeds).
Cannot be operated on limited-access highways or interstates.

Farm vehicles

Tennessee issues a Farm plate for vehicles used principally in agricultural operations. The plate carries restrictions: travel within a 50-mile radius of the farm, no commercial passengers for hire, and use limited to actual farm operations. The annual farm-plate fee is reduced — typically $24-$30 at the state level, plus county wheel tax. Apply through the county clerk with a notarized affidavit of farm use signed by the owner. Farm vehicles do not require state inspection (Tennessee has no state inspection at all).

Off-Highway Vehicles (OHV)

OHVs — ATVs, snowmobiles, and side-by-side recreational utility vehicles (UTVs) — register through the Tennessee Department of Revenue Vehicle Services Division for off-road use, with a one-time registration fee of $22. OHVs cannot be operated on public roadways except where specifically permitted by local ordinance (some Tennessee counties have authorized OHV-on-road operation in rural areas under T.C.A. § 55-3-101). OHV registrations do not require liability insurance unless the OHV is operated on permitted public roadways.

Commercial vehicles and CDLs

Commercial vehicles (over 10,000 lbs GVWR or used to transport hazardous materials) require a Commercial Driver License (CDL) separate from the Class D. The TN DSHS CDL Section operates out of all major Driver Services Centers, with appointment-only knowledge testing and behind-the-wheel road tests in your own commercial vehicle. CDL applicants under the FMCSA Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) rule must complete a registered training provider's curriculum before scheduling the road test. Tennessee also issues:

Class A CDL — combination vehicles over 26,000 lbs.
Class B CDL — heavy straight trucks over 26,000 lbs.
Class C CDL — vehicles transporting hazardous materials or 16+ passengers.

Specialty plates

Tennessee offers more than 100 specialty plates — university (UT Vols, Vanderbilt, Tennessee State, Memphis), military service, veterans, environmental, sports teams (Tennessee Titans, Nashville Predators), and charity plates among them. The specialty surcharge ranges from $35-$70 on top of the standard registration. A portion of the surcharge supports the related charity, university, or program. Personalized (vanity) text is available on most specialty plates for an additional $25 per year.

Disabled-driver and disabled-veteran plates

Tennessee waives the standard registration fee on a single passenger vehicle for qualifying disabled veterans (100% service-connected disability). Disabled drivers may also qualify for a permanent disabled placard or plate, issued through the county clerk with a Form ALC-1 signed by a licensed physician. The disabled placard is valid for 4 years; permanent disabled plates renew at no cost on the same cycle as the underlying registration.

Across all of these categories, Tennessee's 25/50/15 liability minimum applies. There is no category exemption from financial responsibility under the James Lee Atwood Jr. Law beyond the narrow OHV-only exemption noted above. See Tennessee car insurance for the financial-responsibility framework.