Tennessee License Plate Display Law — 2025 Guide
Tennessee requires only a rear license plate.
The Law at a Glance
Recent Changes
Tennessee plates carry the outline of the state and three-star flag emblem. Some early Tennessee plates were parallelogram-shaped to approximate the state's outline. Tennessee issued Sons of Confederate Veterans plates since 1999 — about 3,000 plates with SCV logo in 2015.
State-Specific Notes
Tennessee is a single-plate (rear) state.
Plate Design Details
ABC 1234 — three letters, four digitsLetter Exclusions
A, E, I, O, and U are not used (no vowels at all in standard format).
Historical Plates Still Valid
Earlier valid plates include various 'Tennessee' designs. An 'In God We Trust' standard alternate uses 123 ABCD format.
Notable Facts
Tennessee is one of two states (with Texas) that excludes ALL vowels from passenger plate serials — to avoid accidental obscenities in random combinations. Tennessee carries the outline of the state itself and the three-star Tri-Star emblem from the state flag. Some early Tennessee plates (1937–1956) were parallelogram-shaped to approximate the state's outline.
How atroq Frames Stay Compliant in Tennessee
atroq frames in Tennessee are engineered to comply with all display requirements. The frame's recessed sticker windows keep renewal stickers visible. The frame's thickness does not obscure the alphanumeric serial, state name, or the issuing jurisdiction. atroq's universal mounting fits Tennessee's standard 6 × 12 inch passenger plates. Since Tennessee requires only a rear plate, customers typically order single frames.
Design your Tennessee-compliant frame
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