The State of Tennessee offers more than 90 specialty license plates for Tennessee motorists to display on their registered motor vehicles. These specialty plates represent colleges and universities, branches of the military, special interest organizations, professional organizations and other topics. Most of these plates are readily available at your local county clerk's office. Please click on the link above to view the specialty plates currently available in Tennessee. Call ahead to one of our area locations to ensure the plate you desire is available at that office.
In most cases, the cost for registering your vehicle in Knox County is $60.00. This is the fee for a standard plate. Fees vary and are more expensive for specialty and commercial tags, usually increasing the fees by an additional $36 plus $2 if the application is sent in the mail. Specialty plates for some organizations require proof of membership.
You may request a Personalized License Plate online Additional information and instructions are provided when your order is placed. Please allow four to six weeks for processing. You will receive a notice from the state confirming your choice of personalized license plate, along with information about when your license plate will be ready. You may call our office at (865) 215-2385 or email us at county.clerk@knoxcounty.org, once you have received the notice, if you wish to have your personalized license plate transferred to one of our satellite offices. If the license plate currently displayed on your vehicle is still valid, you will need to bring it and your registration to one of our six locations to have your new personalized plate issued and your registration updated.
Initial application for a personalized plate must always be completed in person at one of our Knox County Clerk locations, at which time the entire amount of the registration plus specialty/personalized fees may be paid. Fees will vary, so please ask for more information at one of our Clerk’s office locations. Please note that future specialty plates will appear on the Web site as they are approved by the state legislature. Renewing a personalized plate does not require a personal appearance in a Clerk’s office.
For more information on specific plates, follow the links below to view plate descriptions
- Tennessee’s Current Plate
- Military/Veterans
- Clubs/Groups
- Collegiate Plates
- Disabled Plates
- Emergency Management
- Sports
National Guard or Emergency Plates – Emergency or National Guard plates are only issued to motorists whose names are on a list submitted to the County Clerk by either the State National Guard office or the Emergency Management office. Contact your particular unit for procedures in establishing your eligibility. You will need to present a drivers license or other acceptable photo identification, in addition to any paperwork provided by the National Guard office or the Emergency Management office.
Amateur Radio Tag Applications – Amateur radio tag applications must be completed and mailed to the State office to initiate manufacturing of the plate. A copy of your Federal FCC Amateur Radio License must accompany the application. The State address is: Titling & Registration Division, Tennessee Department of Safety, 44 Vantage Way, Suite 160, Nashville, TN 37243-8050. Application forms are available at any of our seven area locations. A form may also be requested by calling 865-215-2385. Also, first time radio tag applicants with a regular tag that is valid must surrender the regular tag when picking up the radio tag. You will also be required to present a drivers license or other acceptable form of photo identification.
We are proud sponsors of the State Organ Donor Awareness Program, so when visiting our office, please consider donating a dollar to this worthy cause. We welcome any questions, comments and suggestions that will help us serve you better.
