Vehicle registration plates of Tennessee

The U.S. state of Tennessee first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1905. Registrants had to provide their own license plates for display until 1915, when the state began to supply plates.[1]

Passenger baseplates 1915 to present

In 1956, the U.S. states and Canadian provinces came to an agreement with the Automobile Manufacturers Association that fixed the size for license plates for vehicles, except those for motorcycles, at six inches in height by twelve inches in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1956 (dated 1957) 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.

Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1915 Embossed white numbers on dark blue plate; "1915" and "TENN" embossed vertically at left and right respectively; "EXPIRES DEC 31, 1915" embossed at bottom none 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 numbers on cream plate; "1916" and "TENN" embossed vertically at left and right respectively; "EXPIRES DEC 31" embossed at bottom none 12345 6001 to approximately 37000
1917 Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "1917" and "TENN" embossed vertically at left and right respectively none 12345 6001 to approximately 54000
1918 Embossed black numbers on light green plate with border line; "TENN" and "1918" embossed vertically at left and right respectively none 12345 6001 to approximately 69000
1919 Embossed white numbers on dark blue plate with border line; "TENN" and "1919" embossed vertically at left and right respectively none 12345 6001 to approximately 87000
1920 Embossed black numbers on gray plate with border line; "TENN" and "1920" embossed vertically at left and right respectively none 12345 6001 to approximately 95000
1921 Embossed black numbers on orange plate with border line; "TENN" and "1921" embossed vertically at left at right respectively none 12345 1 to approximately 94000
1922 Embossed white numbers on dark green plate with border line; "TENN" and "1922" embossed vertically at left and right respectively none 123456 25001 to approximately 148000
1923 Embossed dark blue numbers on gray plate with border line; "TENN" and "1923" embossed vertically at left and right respectively none 123456 25001 to approximately 179000
1924 Embossed black numbers on yellow plate with border line; "TENN" embossed vertically at left and "1924" at bottom center none 123-456 25-001 to approximately 205-000
1925 Embossed white numbers on maroon plate with border line; "TENN. 25" embossed at bottom none 123-456 25-001 to approximately 240-000
1926 Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; embossed vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" used as separator in numbers; "TENN 1926" embossed at bottom none 123-456 100-001 to approximately 349-000
1927 Embossed white lettering on lavender base with state map; "TENN" embossed on state map and "27" embossed on bottom right corner none 123-456 50-001 to approximately 326-000 First base to feature the state shape in any form.
1928 Embossed silver lettering and border on black base; "TENN 1928" embossed vertically on right none 123-456 50-001 to approximately 348-000
1929 Embossed white lettering and border on green base; "TENN 1929" embossed vertically on left none 123-456 2-001 to approximately 323-000
1930 Embossed blue lettering and border on silver base; "TENN" used as separater and date at right none 123-456 50-001 to approximately 405-000
1931 Embossed yellow lettering and border on black base; "TENN" embossed vertically at right and date used as separator none 123-456 15-001 to approximately 367-000
1932 Embossed silver lettering and border on black base; "TENN 32" embossed vertically at right none 123-456 10-001 to approximately 347-000
1933 Embossed cream lettering and border on black base; "33 TENN" embossed vertically at right none 123-456 10-001 to approximately 359-000
1934 Embossed white lettering and border on medium blue base; "34 TENN" used as separater none 123-456 10-001 to approximately 309-000
1935 Embossed silver lettering and border on black base; "35 TENN" embossed vertically on left none 123-456 10-001 to approximately 332-000
1936 Embossed blue numbers on silver state-shaped plate with border line; "TENNESSEE 1936" embossed in blue block letters centered at top none 123-456 10-001 to approximately 343-000 First use of the full state name.
1937 Embossed black numbers on yellow state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 1937" embossed in black block letters at bottom none C123-456 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.[2]
D12-345 D4-000 to approximately D11-500
1938 Embossed blue lettering on silver state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 38" embossed in blue block letters at bottom none 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.
D12 345 D85 001 to approximately D95 000
1939 Embossed red lettering on silver state-shaped plate with border line; "1939 TENN." embossed in red block letters at bottom none 1-12345
10-1234
1D-1234
10D-123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) 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 lettering on black state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 40" embossed in orange block letters at bottom none 1-12345
10-1234
1D-1234
10D-123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1941 Embossed white lettering on black state-shaped plate with border line; "1941 TENN." embossed in white block letters at bottom none 1-12345
10-1234
1D-1234
10D-123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1942–43 Embossed black lettering on white state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 42" embossed in black block letters at bottom none 1-12345
10-1234
1D-1234
10D-123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) Revalidated for 1943 with black tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II.
1944 Embossed white lettering on black state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 44" embossed in white block letters at bottom none 1-12345
10-1234
1D-1234
10D-123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1945 Embossed blue numbers on silver state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 1945" embossed in blue block letters centered at bottom none 1-12345
10-1234
1D-1234
10D-123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1946 Embossed green numbers on silver state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 46" embossed in green block letters centered at bottom none 1-12345
10-1234
1D-1234
10D-123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1947 Embossed white numbers on black state-shaped plate with border line; "1947 TENN." embossed in white block letters centered at bottom none 1-12345
10-1234
1D-1234
10D-123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1948 Embossed black numbers on yellow state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 48" embossed in black block letters centered at bottom none 1-12345
10-1234
1D-1234
10D-123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1949 Embossed yellow numbers on black state-shaped plate with border line; "1949 TENN." embossed in yellow block letters centered at bottom none 1-12345
10-1234
1D-1234
10D-123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1950 Embossed black numbers on silver state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 50" embossed in black block letters centered at bottom none 1-12345
10-1234
1D-1234
10D-123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1951 Embossed white numbers on orange state-shaped plate with border line; "51 TENN." embossed in white block letters centered at bottom none 1-12345
10-1234
1D-1234
10D-123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1952 Embossed black numbers on white state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 52" embossed in black block letters centered at bottom none 1-12345
10-1234
1D-1234
10D-123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1953 Embossed blue numbers on silver state-shaped plate with border line; "53 TENN." embossed in blue block letters centered at bottom none 1-12345
10-1234
1D-1234
10D-123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1954 Embossed yellow numbers on black state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 54" embossed in yellow block letters centered at bottom none 1-12345
10-1234
1D-1234
10D-123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1955 Embossed red numbers on white state-shaped plate with border line; "55 TENN." embossed in red block letters centered at bottom none 1-12345
10-1234
1D-1234
10D-123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1956 Embossed white numbers on dark blue state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 56" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom none 1-12345
10-1234
1D-1234
10D-123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1957 Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; embossed white state outline around numbers; "TENN. 57" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom none 1/A 1234
10/ 1234
10/A 1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) First 6" x 12" plate.
1958 Embossed black numbers on white plate with border line; "TENN" embossed in black block letters centered at top, surrounded by state outline; "19" embossed in top left corner and "58" in top right corner none 1A-12-34
10-A1-23		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1959 Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "TENN" embossed in white block letters centered at top, surrounded by state outline; "59" embossed in top left corner none 1A-1234
10-1234
10-A123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1960 Embossed black numbers on white plate with border line; "TENN" embossed in black block letters centered at top, surrounded by state outline; "60" embossed in top right corner none 1A-1234
10-1234
10-A123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1961 As 1959 base, but with "61" embossed in top left corner none 1A-1234
10-1234
10-A123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1962–65 As 1960 base, but with "62" embossed in top right corner none 1-1234
1A-1234
1AB-123
10-1234
10-A123
10-AB12		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) Revalidated for 1963, 1964 and 1965 with stickers.
1966–70 Embossed black numbers on white plate with border line; "TENN" embossed in black block letters centered at top, surrounded by state outline; county name on sticker in debossed box centered at bottom (cutting off border line); smaller debossed boxes for revalidation stickers at top corners none AB-1234 AA-0001 to
TZ-9999
1971–75 As 1966–70 base, but with full border line around plate and no county-name sticker none 1-A1234
1-AB123
10-A123
10-AB12		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
ABC-123 AAA-001 to approximately ANA-999[2] Supplemental plates issued in counties that had exhausted their allocations of county-code plates.
1976–82 Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate; pale yellow state seal screened behind numbers; blue banner graphic screened at top containing "TENNESSEE" in white serifed letters in the center; debossed boxes for revalidation stickers at bottom corners "Volunteer State" screened in blue serifed letters centered at bottom 1-A1234
1-AB123
10-A123
10-AB12		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) First base not to feature the state shape since 1935, and first to use the full state name since 1936. Staggered registration introduced, with month sticker in box at bottom left.
ABC-123 AAA-001 to approximately BPA-999[2] Supplemental plates issued in counties that had exhausted their allocations of county-code plates.
1983–87 Embossed blue numbers on white plate; "Tennessee" screened in green serifed letters centered at top; debossed boxes for revalidation stickers at bottom corners "Volunteer State" screened in green serifed letters centered at bottom, surrounded by green state outline 1-A1B23
1-ABC12
10-1A23
10-12A3
10-123A
10-12AB		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
ABC-123 BRK-001 to approximately CZS-999[2] Supplemental plates issued in counties that had exhausted their allocations of county-code plates.
1988–93 Embossed red numbers on white plate; blue circle with three white stars (from the state flag) screened in the center; "Tennessee" screened in blue serifed letters centered at top; county name on blue sticker in debossed box centered at bottom; smaller debossed boxes in all four corners none ABC 123 ABB 001 to ZZZ 999 (see right) Revalidation stickers placed in boxes at top corners; boxes at bottom corners reserved for county and city tax decals. Serials began at DBB 001 and ran to ZZZ 999, followed by BBB 001 through CZZ 999; vowels and Y were not used until 1993, when Y and then A were used as the first letter (the last serial issued was in the APP series).
1994 – December 1999 Embossed red numbers on white plate; Tennessee State Capitol screened in blue in the center; "BicenTENNial" screened at top, offset to left, with "TENN" in blue serifed letters and the remainder in red handwritten font; "1796" and "1996" screened in blue to the right; county name on blue sticker in debossed box centered at bottom; smaller debossed boxes in all four corners "VOLUNTEER STATE" screened in red serifed letters centered below "BicenTENNial" and years 123 ABC 001 ABB to 999 ZZZ (see right) Commemorated Tennessee's 200 years of statehood. Arrangement of revalidation stickers and county and city tax decals same as on 1988–93 base. Serials began at 001 BBB and ran to 999 ZZZ; vowels and Y were not used until 1997, when Y, A, E and U were used as the first letter in that order (the last serial issued was in the UKX series).
January 2000 – December 2005 rising sun over state silhouette Sounds good to me / Volunteer State ABC 123 AAA 000 to ? County sticker applied at bottom. Color of Tennessee-shaped graphic had to be brightened mid-issue to avoid interference with serial numbers. Last plate to be embossed. Later issues include digitally screen-printed barcode.
January 2006 – February 2011 rolling hills The Volunteer State 123-ABC 001-BBB to
999-ZZZ		 County sticker applied at bottom. First plate to be digitally screen-printed. All issues contain barcode. Vowels not used in this serial format.
February 2011 – April
2016		 A12-34B A00-01A to Z99-99Z "www.tnvacation.com" added between numbers and county sticker.
April 2016 – present 1A2-3B4 0A0-0A1 to 2H9-9M9 (as of July 31, 2017)

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.[3]

County1939-651971-761976-831983-88
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

Optional types

Image Type First issued Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
Ducks Unlimited Embossed black on white; "TENNESSEE" screened in green at top; green Ducks Unlimited logo at left; green bar at bottom containing "Ducks Unlimited" in white D/U1234 D/U0001 to D/U9999
1234D/U 0001D/U to present
Freemasonry Screened black on white; "TENNESSEE" screened in blue at top; blue square containing yellow Square and Compasses at left; blue bar at bottom containing "MASON" in yellow M/L1234 M/L0001 to present

Non-passenger plates

Image Type First issued Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
Motorcycle 2001 Embossed black on white with border line; "TENNESSEE" screened at top; "TN" embossed at bottom ZA1234 ZA0001 to approximately ZD9500
2002 As above, but without embossed "TN" ZD9501 to ZW9999
2005 1234ZA 0001ZA to 9999ZL
2007 Screened black on white; "TENNESSEE" screened at top 0001ZM to 9999ZV
2008 1ZA234 0ZA001 to 9ZV999
2012 12ZA34 00ZA01 to present

References

  1. ↑ "Old Tennessee License Plates". LeatherLicensePlates.com. Retrieved June 10, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Tennessee License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Tennessee County Codes". 15q.net. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
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