The U.S. state of Tennessee first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1905. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1915, when the state began to issue plates.
, plates are issued by the Tennessee Department of Revenue through its Vehicle Services Division. Only rear plates have been required since 1977.
Passenger baseplates 1915 to 1961 In 1956, the United States, Canada, and Mexico came to an agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Automobile Manufacturers Association and the National Safety Council that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles (except those for motorcycles) at in height by 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.
No slogans were used on passenger plates during the period covered by this subsection. ImageDates issuedDesignSerial formatSerials issuedNotes1915Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; vertical "1915" and "TENN" at left and right respectively; "EXPIRES DEC 31, 1915" at bottom1234523001 to approximately 27000Issued only to new registrants from July 1 through December 31, 1915, with serials following on from those on pre-state-issued plates.1916Embossed black serial on cream plate; vertical "1916" and "TENN" at left and right respectively; "EXPIRES DEC 31" at bottom123456001 to approximately 370001917Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; vertical "1917" and "TENN" at left and right respectively123456001 to approximately 540001918Embossed black serial on light green plate with border line; vertical "TENN" and "1918" at left and right respectively123456001 to approximately 690001919Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; vertical "TENN" and "1919" at left and right respectively123456001 to approximately 870001920Embossed black serial on gray plate with border line; vertical "TENN" and "1920" at left and right respectively123456001 to approximately 950001921Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; vertical "TENN" and "1921" at left at right respectively123451 to approximately 940001922Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; vertical "TENN" and "1922" at left and right respectively12345625001 to approximately 1480001923Embossed dark blue serial on gray plate with border line; vertical "TENN" and "1923" at left and right respectively12345625001 to approximately 1790001924Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; vertical "TENN" at left and "1924" centered at bottom123-45625-001 to approximately 205-0001925Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "TENN. 25" at bottom123-45625-001 to approximately 240-0001926Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" used as separator; "TENN 1926" at bottom123-456100-001 to approximately 349-0001927Embossed white serial within state outline on lavender plate; vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" used as separator; "TENN" at top right and "27" at bottom right123-45650-001 to approximately 326-000First base to feature the state shape in any form.1928Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" used as separator; "TENN 1928" at right123-45650-001 to approximately 348-0001929Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "TENN 1929" at left123-4562-001 to approximately 323-0001930Embossed dark blue serial on silver plate with border line; vertical "TENN" used as separator; vertical "1930" at right123-45650-001 to approximately 405-0001931Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; vertical "1931" used as separator; vertical "TENN" at right123-45615-001 to approximately 367-0001932Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; vertical "TENN" and "32" at right123-45610-001 to approximately 347-0001933Embossed cream serial on brown plate with border line; "33" and vertical "TENN" at right123-45610-001 to approximately 359-0001934Embossed white serial on medium blue plate with border line; "34" and vertical "TENN" used as separator123-45610-001 to approximately 309-0001935Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "35" and vertical "TENN" at left123-45610-001 to approximately 332-0001936Embossed blue serial on silver state-shaped plate with border line; "TENNESSEE 1936" at top123-45610-001 to approximately 343-000First use of the full state name.1937Embossed black serial on yellow state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 1937" at bottomC30-001 to approximately C371-000Weight classes introduced, with C used for vehicles weighing 3,500 lb or less, and D for vehicles above 3,500 lb.D12-345D4-000 to approximately D11-5001938Embossed blue serial on silver state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 38" at bottom123 456100 001 to approximately 443 000Weight classes same as 1937, but with no letter used for vehicles weighing 3,500 lb or less.D12 345D85 001 to approximately D95 0001939Embossed red serial on silver state-shaped plate with border line; "1939 TENN." at bottom1-1234510-12341D-123410D-123Coded 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.1940Embossed orange serial on black state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 40" at bottom1-1234510-12341D-123410D-123Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1941Embossed white serial on black state-shaped plate with border line; "1941 TENN." at bottom1-1234510-12341D-123410D-123Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)Embossed black serial on white state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 42" at bottom1-1234510-12341D-123410D-123Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)Revalidated for 1943 with black tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II.1944Embossed white serial on black state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 44" at bottom1-1234510-12341D-123410D-123Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1945Embossed blue serial on silver state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 1945" at bottom1-1234510-12341D-123410D-123Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1946Embossed green serial on silver state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 46" at bottom1-1234510-12341D-123410D-123Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1947Embossed white serial on black state-shaped plate with border line; "1947 TENN." at bottom1-1234510-12341D-123410D-123Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1948Embossed black serial on yellow state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 48" at bottom1-1234510-12341D-123410D-123Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1949Embossed yellow serial on black state-shaped plate with border line; "1949 TENN." at bottom1-1234510-12341D-123410D-123Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1950Embossed black serial on silver state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 50" at bottom1-1234510-12341D-123410D-123Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1951Embossed white serial on orange state-shaped plate with border line; "51 TENN." at bottom1-1234510-12341D-123410D-123Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)Issued in the colors of the University of Tennessee.1952Embossed black serial on white state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 52" at bottom1-1234510-12341D-123410D-123Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1953Embossed blue serial on silver state-shaped plate with border line; "53 TENN." at bottom1-1234510-12341D-123410D-123Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1954Embossed yellow serial on black state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 54" at bottom1-1234510-12341D-123410D-123Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1955Embossed red serial on white state-shaped plate with border line; "55 TENN." at bottom1-1234510-12341D-123410D-123Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1956Embossed white serial on dark blue state-shaped plate with border line; "TENN. 56" at bottom1-1234510-12341D-123410D-123Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1957Embossed white serial within state outline on black plate with border line; "TENN. 57" centered at bottom 1234 1234 1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)First 6" x 12" plate.1958Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "TENN" within state outline centered at top; "19" at top left and "58" at top right1A-12-3410-A1-23Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1959Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "TENN" within state outline centered at top; "59" at top left1A-123410-123410-A123Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1960Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "TENN" within state outline centered at top; "60" at top right1A-123410-123410-A123Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1961Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "TENN" within state outline centered at top; "61" at top left1A-123410-123410-A123Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1962 to present