County Clerk

Motor Vehicles

Here you will find information you will need to renew the license plate on your vehicle among other necessities. We hope these instructions will save you valuable time and make the process a little easier.  If you have any questions about license plate renewal, please call the County Clerk's office at (615) 862-6251.

Every new owner of a vehicle (private and/or commercial) shall apply to the Davidson County Clerk for the issuance of a Certificate of Registration.  Collection of state and local sales taxes, where applicable, is done by this office when application is made.

Every owner, private and commercial, shall renew these tags in the main office or branches.

REGISTRATION RENEWAL

Take your vehicle along with the renewal notice you may have received in the mail from the State of Tennessee Department of Revenue to one of the six official vehicle emissions inspection stations within Davidson County.  If you did not receive a renewal notice from the State, you will need either your title or a copy of your title from your lien holder and/or your vehicle’s prior registration sheet.  You do not need a renewal slip to have your vehicle tested.

If your vehicle fails the emissions test, you may choose to have it repaired or adjusted. You may return to an inspection station for one free retest within a specific period of time.  Emissions testing is performed by SysTech International, a for profit corporation not affiliated with the County Clerk's office.

All vehicles must be tested every year except:

  • A 1974 model or older vehicle
  • Motorcycles
  • Vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating greater than 10,500 lbs.

After you have satisfied the emissions test requirement, you may renew by mail or in person.  You'll save yourself time if you mail in your renewal.  Our office will process your work and return it the same day we receive it.

To register by mail, refer to Renewal By Mail.

To register in person, take all of the documents mentioned above to one of the registration offices or the
Main Office
523 Mainstream Drive in the Riverview Business Center II at Metro Center
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (M-F)

Renewals are processed at all locations. 

All new issue Specialty/Personalized License Plates must be picked up at 523 Mainstream Drive in the Riverview Business Center II at Metro Center or you may choose to renew your plate by mail. 

Boats are registered only at 523 Mainstream Drive in the Riverview Business Center II at Metro Center.  See Boats, Watercrafts and Trailers page.  Checks accepted on Davidson County banks only.

Renewal Amounts
Private Passenger Vehicles
Item Cost
Metro Sticker $55.00
Registration 24.00
Postage & Handling 1.00
TOTAL 80.00
SPECIALTY PLATES
PERSONALIZED, COLLEGE, ETC.
Item Cost
Metro Sticker $55.00
Registration See State Form
Postage & Handling 2.00
TOTAL  
Commercial Vehicles
Item Cost
Metro Sticker $66.00
Registration See State Form
Postage & Handling 1.00
TOTAL  
MOTORCYCLES
Item Cost
Metro Sticker $55.00
Registration 17.00
Postage & Handling 1.00
TOTAL 73.00

Please note: If you have a Specialty, Personalized and/or Military license plate, please call our office to be sure your license plate is available (at the branch you want to go to).  It is not possible to keep every (type of) Specialty, Personalized and/or Military license plate at our branch offices.

If you have any questions about license plate renewal, please call the County Clerk's Office at (615) 862-6251.

RENEWAL BY MAIL

To register by mail, send us your valid inspection certificate (we cannot accept photocopies), your renewal notice, or a copy of your registration, and your check for the correct registration amount (see "Renewal Amounts" above).  You should mail in your renewal at least three (3) mailing days prior to your vehicle’s registration expiration date.  If you did not receive a renewal notice in the mail, you will need your title to renew your license plates.  If you have a lien on your vehicle a photocopy of your title from the lien holder should be adequate to renew.  Your check should be made payable to Davidson County Clerk.  Make sure your check has your current TN Driver License number and daytime phone number printed or written on the check.  Checks are accepted on Davidson County banks only.

Send to:
John Arriola
Davidson County Clerk
P.O. Box 196333
Nashville, TN 37219-6333

ORGAN DONOR AWARENESS

You may include an additional $1.00 for the organ donor awareness foundation.  This organization assists in educating citizens on the importance of organ donation.  For more information you may contact:

Tennessee County Clerk's Organ Donor Awareness Foundation
P.O. Box 40889
Nashville, TN. 37204-0889
(615) 327-2037

TITLE APPLICATION ISSUANCE

Title applications are processed at all locations. Your title will be mailed to you.

DISABLED / HANDICAPPED PLATES

Disabled / handicapped plates are processed at all locations.  If this is a first time application, you will need to provide an “Application for Disabled Person License Plate and/or Placard”.  Your doctor must complete this application.

DISABLED / HANDICAPPED PLACARD

Disabled / handicapped placards are processed at all locations.  You will need to provide an Application for Disabled Person License Plate and/or Placard (below).  This application is required for first time applications.  Your doctor must complete this application.

The “Application for Disabled Person License Plate and/or Placard” form is available for download and/or printing.  The FREE Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view/print this document.

VEHICLE SATELLITE OFFICES

All Branches are Handicap Accessible (Click on Address for Map)

  • Hermitage Police Precinct
    3701 James Kay Lane
    9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (M-F)
    (near corner of Central Pk. and Dodson's Chapel Rd.)
  • South Police Precinct
    5101 Harding Place (front entrance)
    9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (M-F)
  • Green Hills Grace's Plaza
    2131 Bandywood Dr.,
    Suite 205-B South Hillsboro Pk.
    entrance (elevator to second floor)
    9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (M-F)
  • Old Madison Library
    501 Heritage Drive(corner of Old Hickory Blvd. and Heritage Drive)
    9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (M-F)

*Please see note in the Holiday Schedule*

County Clerk's Holiday Schedule

MOTOR VEHICLE DEALER DEPARTMENT

This department was established to provide personal and more efficient service for all the new and used car dealers in Davidson County.  The department processes all transactions such as titling, transfers, title replacements and renewals.  The Dealer Department works closely with the Tennessee Department of Revenue, Title & Registration Division to correct titles and make other corrections for Taxpayers.  They also issue Auto Dealer tags.

Please note:  If you recently purchased a new vehicle from a dealership and have not yet received your license plate, please contact the auto dealership.  The dealership is responsible for handling the license plate and title work for you.

For Dealers; the Dealer Department may be reached at (615) 862-6252.

VEHICLE EMISSION TESTING

The federally mandated emissions inspection program is operated by SysTech International and is not a part of the Metropolitan Government.

SysTech International TEST FEE $9.00

Locations and Hours of Operation For specific information about vehicle emissions testing and their locations, please call the emissions testing program information hotline at 1-866-623-8378 or visit their website at www.nashvillevip.org

Nashville Stations (Click on Address for Map)

The above stations are open:

  • 7:00 am-6:00 pm Monday and Tuesday
  • 7:00 am-5:00 pm Wednesday- Friday

Antioch Station 1317 Antioch Pike

The above station is open:

  • 7:00 am-7:00 pm Monday - Friday
  • 9:00 am-1:00 pm on Saturday

*No additional emissions testing information is available from the Davidson County Clerk's Office.

The emissions testing facilities get busy at the end and first of the month, so to avoid the long lines, the best time to get your emissions test is within 90-days prior to your expiration date and in the middle of the month.

You may get your emissions tested at emissions testing facilities outside of Davidson County however those facilities are operated by other companies.  Please note that even though those emission testing stations are testing vehicles for the same requirements, they might charge more than what the Davidson county stations charge.  Please be sure to hold on to your emissions passing certificate especially if you use these stations. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What if I fail my emissions test?
Please refer to http://www.nashvillevip.org/NashvilleVIP//site/whatifufail.htm
How do I get a temporary tag for my vehicle?
The price of a temporary tag is $12.00 as of 10/29/2007.  For questions, please call (615) 862-6251.
How do I renew my driver license?
For information on issuing or renewing a driver license, please contact the Tennessee Department of Safety or visit their web site at http://state.tn.us/safety/driverlicense/dlmain.htm.
As of September 2007, the main office of the County Clerk’s Office at 523 Mainstream Drive can renew and issue most duplicate Tennessee Driver’s Licenses.  For questions, please call (615) 862-6050.
What if I do not receive a renewal notice from the State?
The State of Tennessee Department of Revenue mails registration renewal notices as a courtesy.  If you did not receive a notice from the State you may still renew your registration by following the instructions on this page.  The County Clerk's Office does not issue or mail this notice.
What do I need to bring when with me to title and register a used vehicle?
http://state.tn.us/revenue/vehicle/titling/titlingtnresident.htm
How do I get a replacement title?
To get your title immediately, you may also make application through the State of Tennessee Department of Revenue, Title and Registration Division, at 44 Vantage Way.  The State’s fee is $5.00. The FREE Acrobat Reader is required to view downloads.
You may download an Affidavit for Duplicate Certificate of Title online.  
This form must be accompanied by a copy of your driver license.  To apply through the County Clerk’s office, your application may be made at our main office, 523 Mainstream Drive or at any one of our satellite offices. 
The County Clerk’s fee is $10.50 and your title will be mailed to you.
What should I do if my tag and/or decal is lost or stolen?
You should contact the police at (615) 862-8600 to file a police report and get a Complaint/Incident Number.  You will need that Incident # when you visit the County Clerk's Office.  For more information, call (615) 862-6251.
I am in the military and I want to title and register, or renew, my vehicle in Tennessee, how do I go about doing this?
Please contact the Tennessee Department of Revenue at (615) 741-3101 ext. 157 or visit their website at: http://www.tennessee.gov/revenue/vehicle/register/militaryinstruct.htm
Can I title and register a vehicle for someone else?
For security reasons, you can title and register a vehicle in place of someone else if you have a notarized Power of Attorney (PoA) from that person.  For more information, call (615) 862-6251.
What are the situations that someone would need a notarized PoA?
When transferring ownership for someone else or when making application in someone else’s name for:
  • Title and registration
  • Duplicate Title
  • Replacement License Plate
  • Registration update for vehicle previously out of commission.

How do I register my vehicle if I am moving from out of State?
If you are moving here from out of state and own your car, you will need the title and the emissions certificate.  The following vehicles are exempt from the emissions testing requirement: a 1974 or older vehicle, motorcycles, or vehicles with a GVWR greater than 10,500 pounds.  If your car is financed, you will need the previous registration* (see information below), the full address of the finance company and the emissions test.  If your car is leased, you will need your previous registration, a power of attorney from the leasing company, the emissions test, a copy of your lease agreement, and a Tennessee tax-exempt number for the leasing company.  If you do not have this number, we will have to collect Tennessee sales tax.

*If your car is financed and titled in one of the following states, you must have your title:
  • Arizona (prior to 1/1/03 ONLY)
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Maryland
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • New York
  • Oklahoma
  • South Dakota
  • Wisconsin
These states are not title holding states; the titles are mailed to the owner rather than the lienholder.
How do I get a temporary tag for my vehicle?
The price of a temporary tag is $12.00. For questions, please call (615) 862-6251.

QUICK TIPS

  1. Get your emissions test done in the middle of the month, within 90-days prior to your registration expiration date.
  2. Very few people mail in their registration renewal.  Most people renew their registration in person on the last two or first two business days of the month.  For your convenience, please take advantage of renewing via the mail.
  3. The Harding Place/South Precinct branch is the second busiest in the county.  Please refer to the Hermitage Precinct branch or the Green Hills branch.
  4. Write yourself a note for which day you are going to get your emissions tested.  Allow for plenty of time before your expiration date just in case your vehicle doesn’t pass emissions so you have enough time to have it repaired, retested, and to get your new decals.