County Clerk James L (Jimmy) Poss is urging local motorist to update their motor vehicle registration soon. Poss explained that renewals can now once again be made 90 days before their expiration date.
“Traditionally, registrations could be renewed up to 90 days from the expiration date. As long as you were within that 90-day period, you could go ahead and renew that registration, but beginning January 1, 2022, when the state made the change from the green mountain plate to the blue plate, they made us stick to a 30-day renewal window because of the slow plate production and low supply.”
“Now, as we are approaching the end of the year, supplies have picked up, so anyone who still has the green mountain plate and needs to switch to the blue plate with a registration renewal in October, November, or December may do so now. Just stop by the office to get your new plate,” Poss said.
Motorists can visit www.tncountyclerk.com to renew online, while new plates can be renewed in person, online, by mail, or by kiosk. If you choose not to renew in person, the renewal fee will include $5 for mailing.
If you have failed to renew your registration prior to expiration, Poss said it’s imperative that you get that done as soon as possible. “I am still seeing several people come in from July, August, and September that are still operating with a standard Tennessee plate. They need to make sure to update to the new blue plate. Everyone must have the new plate by December 31,” County Clerk Poss said.
A partial state fee waiver also remains in effect through June 30, 2023 on the registration renewals of vehicles. The typical renewal fee is $29 for Class B vehicles but with the waiver, the fee is currently $5.25.
According to the law, the state has waived the state registration fees for Class A and Class B motor vehicles upon the renewal of the motor vehicle’s registration if the renewal occurs after July 1, 2022 and before June 30, 2023. Plates expiring before or after this period will be subject to the ordinary registration fee.
Class A includes motorcycles and autocycles, and Class B includes passenger motor vehicles and motor homes. The state portion of the fee that is waived under this law is ordinarily $16.75 for Class A and $23.75 for Class B.
Other fees that are earmarked for safety and system improvement purposes, as well as the electric vehicle registration fees and county fees are not waived.
Drivers who need to renew expired license plates should check with their local county clerk to see which fees still apply.
