What Tennessee custom plates cost and how long they take
Tennessee custom license plates run $25 per year on top of your standard vehicle registration fee. That means if your registration costs $150, you'll pay $175 total in the year you order the plate. The $25 renewal fee applies every year you keep the custom plate active.
Processing takes roughly two to four weeks from the time the Tennessee Department of Revenue approves your design. You'll receive your plate by mail. During that wait, you can continue driving with your current plate — there's no gap in your registration.
Not all custom designs are available. Tennessee rejects plates that use profanity, impersonate government plates, or duplicate existing plates in the state. The approval process is where most rejections happen, so having a backup design in mind saves time.
Key Takeaways
- Custom plates cost $25 per year on top of your regular registration renewal fee, and you pay this amount every year you keep the custom design.
- You order through the Tennessee Department of Revenue website or by mail, and the plate arrives in two to four weeks after approval.
- Tennessee rejects designs with profanity, government-style formatting, or duplicates of plates already issued in the state.
- You can request a refund if your design is rejected, and you can order a replacement plate if yours is lost or damaged.
Ordering online through the Tennessee Department of Revenue
The fastest route is the Tennessee Department of Revenue website. Go to the vehicle registration section and look for the custom plate option. You'll enter your vehicle information, design your plate (up to seven characters, depending on the style you choose), and pay the $25 fee by credit or debit card.
Before you submit, check whether your design is already taken. The system shows you real-time availability as you type. If the exact combination you want is gone, you'll see that when ready and can adjust on the spot.
After you submit, the Department of Revenue reviews your design — usually within five business days. You'll receive an email confirming approval or rejection. If approved, your plate ships within two weeks. If rejected, the Department explains why and you can resubmit a different design.
Ordering by mail if you prefer paper forms
You can also request a custom plate process by mail from the Tennessee Department of Revenue. Call their main line to request Form RV-F1320 (the custom plate process). Fill it out with your vehicle details and your desired plate design, then mail it with a check for $25 to the address on the form.
Mail processing takes longer — expect three to five weeks for the Department to receive your form, review it, and send you a decision. If approved, add another two weeks for the plate to arrive. This route works if you don't have online access or prefer to keep a paper record of your order.
What happens if Tennessee rejects your design
Rejections usually fall into three categories: the design contains profanity or offensive language, it mimics a government plate format, or it duplicates a plate already issued in Tennessee. The Department of Revenue will tell you which rule your design violated.
You can resubmit a new design at no additional charge. There's no limit on resubmissions, so you can try multiple variations until one is approved. Keep in mind that very short designs (two or three characters) are more likely to be taken already, so longer combinations give you better odds.
If you decide not to reorder, you can request a refund of your $25 fee. The refund goes back to the payment method you used, and it typically processes within one to two billing cycles.
Renewing or replacing your custom plate
When your vehicle registration renews each year, you can renew your custom plate at the same time. You'll pay the $25 custom plate fee again along with your standard registration renewal. The plate itself doesn't expire — you keep the same design year after year as long as you pay the fee.
If your plate is lost, stolen, or damaged, you can order a replacement through the Department of Revenue. Replacement plates cost $10 and arrive in two to three weeks. You don't lose your design — the replacement will have the same custom characters.
If you want to change your design later, you can order a new custom plate with different characters. The old design becomes available for someone else to order once you stop renewing it.
Combining custom plates with special interest plates
Tennessee offers both custom plates (where you choose the characters) and special interest plates (where the design is set by the state, but you choose the characters). Some special interest plates — like those supporting universities, military branches, or wildlife conservation — also allow customization.
If you want a custom plate that supports a cause, check whether Tennessee offers a special interest version first. These sometimes have different fees or renewal rules. The Department of Revenue website lists all available special interest plates and their costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer my custom plate to a different vehicle?
Yes. When you register your new vehicle, you can request to keep the same custom plate. The plate transfers with you, and you pay the $25 renewal fee as part of your new vehicle's registration. The old vehicle's registration will end without a custom plate unless you order a new one for it.
What if someone else has already ordered the exact design I want?
That design is unavailable. The online system shows you this when ready when you search. You'll need to choose a different combination of letters and numbers. Tennessee doesn't have a waitlist for taken designs — once someone else has it, you can't get it unless they stop renewing it.
Do custom plates cost more to renew than regular plates?
Yes, but only the $25 custom plate fee is extra. Your base registration renewal cost stays the same. So if your registration renewal is normally $150, you'll pay $175 with the custom plate fee added on.
How many characters can my custom plate have?
It depends on the plate style you choose. Most standard custom plates allow up to seven characters (letters, numbers, or a mix). Some special interest plates have different limits. The online system will show you the character limit for whichever style you select.
What if I move out of Tennessee — can I keep my custom plate?
No. Custom plates are specific to Tennessee registration. If you move to another state, you'll need to register your vehicle there and order a custom plate through that state's system if they offer them. You can't transfer a Tennessee plate to another state.