How to get dealer plates in Tennessee
What Tennessee dealer plates cost, the types you can get, how to apply, and the rules on using them. Verified as of July 2026.
TN dealer plates at a glance:
- Issued by
- County Clerk (license via the TMVC)
- Cost per plate
- ~$47 first, ~$24 each additional (by county)
- Requirement
- Active TN Motor Vehicle Dealer license
- Use them for
- Demos, inventory moves, dealership business
- Term
- Annual
Informational only — confirm current fees and rules with your County Clerk (license via the TN Motor Vehicle Commission) before you apply.
DealerVLO tracks your inventory, deals, and paperwork so the plates are the only thing left on your list. $99/month, free to try — no credit card.
What Tennessee dealer plates are
Tennessee splits dealer credentials in two: the Motor Vehicle Commission licenses the dealership, but dealer plates come from the County Clerk in your dealership's county — commonly around $47 for the first plate and about $24 for each additional per county clerk fee schedules, with small county-to-county variation.
You'll register your MVC license with the clerk's office first (a nominal fee — Davidson County charges $5), then order plates against it. Since it's county-administered, expect small procedural differences from one county to the next.
Types of TN dealer plates
For TMVC-licensed dealers, issued by the County Clerk — commonly around $47 for the first plate and about $24 each additional (county fee schedules vary slightly). Used on dealership-owned vehicles for demonstration and dealership business.
Tennessee's dealer-issued temporary tags for sold vehicles — what the buyer actually leaves on while title and registration process.
How to get dealer plates in Tennessee
- 1
Get your TMVC dealer license first
Plates require an active Motor Vehicle Commission license — the $50,000 bond, $300,000 liability insurance, and the $600 application come first.
- 2
Register the license with your County Clerk
Take the MVC license to the County Clerk in your dealership's county and register it (Davidson County's fee is $5, other counties similar).
- 3
Order your plates
Commonly about $47 for the first plate and $24 each additional — confirm the exact county schedule when you register. Order what the operation needs — demos, auction runs, service moves.
- 4
Renew annually through the clerk
Plates renew annually through the same clerk's office. Keep the MVC license, bond, and insurance current — the plates hang on the license.
Rules on using TN dealer plates
- Plates go on dealership-owned vehicles for dealership business — demos, transport, auction runs
- Sold vehicles go home on a dealer-issued drive-out tag, not your dealer plate
- The plates are county-issued: procedures and small fees vary by county
- Keep the MVC license, $50,000 bond, and liability insurance current — the plates ride on all three
- Misuse (personal use, lending plates) risks the plates and draws Motor Vehicle Commission attention
Common questions
How much are dealer plates in Tennessee?+
Commonly around $47 for the first plate and about $24 for each additional, purchased through the County Clerk in your dealership's county — exact amounts vary slightly by county, so confirm the local schedule. Registering your MVC license with the clerk adds a nominal fee (Davidson County: $5).
Who issues Tennessee dealer plates?+
Your County Clerk — not the Motor Vehicle Commission that licenses the dealership. You register the MVC license with the clerk's office first, then order plates against it.
How many dealer plates can a Tennessee dealer get?+
Order what the operation needs — additional plates run about $24 each, and Tennessee doesn't publish a strict volume-tier table like Ohio. Keep the count defensible against your inventory and sales activity.
Can my customer drive home on my Tennessee dealer plate?+
No — Tennessee dealers issue the buyer a temporary drive-out tag at delivery while the title work processes. Dealer plates stay with the dealership's inventory.
When do Tennessee dealer plates renew?+
Annually, through the same County Clerk's office that issued them. Keep the MVC license, bond, and insurance current across the same dates so nothing lapses out of sync.
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