Official fees
Tennessee motorcycle fee chart
Base registration (motorcycle/autocycle)
$19.50
Shelby County (Memphis) wheel tax
$20
Davidson County (Nashville) wheel tax
$55
Knox County (Knoxville) wheel tax
$36
Title fee (new purchase)
$14.00
Sales tax (new purchase)
7% + capped local + single article
Figures verified July 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with your county clerk (TN Dept. of Revenue) - counties can add small local fees.
- Base registration
- $19.50/yr
- County wheel tax
- $0–$55/yr (varies by county)
- Title fee
- $14.00
- Sales tax
- Same 3-layer structure as cars
- Emissions test
- None, statewide
Overview
Buying a bike brings the same $14 title fee and three-layer sales tax as a car purchase - 7% state, local tax capped at the first $1,600, and the state single article tax on the $1,600–$3,200 slice. There's no motorcycle-specific tax break; the only real savings versus a car is the lower $19.50 base registration itself.
Same state, other costs
More Tennessee vehicle costs
Common questions
Tennessee motorcycle fees FAQ
- How much does it cost to register a motorcycle in Tennessee per year?
- $19.50 statewide, plus your county's wheel tax if it has one. In Shelby County (Memphis) that's $39.50 total; in Davidson County (Nashville) it's $74.50; in a no-wheel-tax county it's just $19.50.
- Do motorcycles pay a lower wheel tax than cars in Tennessee?
- It depends entirely on the county. Shelby County explicitly charges less for motorcycles ($20) than cars ($75). Davidson County and Knox County apply the same flat wheel tax to motorcycles as they do to cars - there's no statewide rule, so check your specific county.
- Is motorcycle sales tax different from car sales tax in Tennessee?
- No - same three layers: 7% state tax on the full price, local option tax on the first $1,600, and the state single article tax on the $1,600–$3,200 slice. A $10,000 motorcycle and a $10,000 car owe identical tax in the same county.
- Do motorcycles need an emissions test in Tennessee?
- No - no Tennessee county requires an emissions test for any vehicle type anymore. The last counties to drop the requirement did so in early 2022.
- How do I title a custom-built or kit motorcycle in Tennessee?
- Assembled and kit bikes generally need a Tennessee-assigned VIN and a physical inspection before the county clerk will issue a title - contact your county clerk before you buy parts so you know what documentation the inspection will require.
- Are scooters and mopeds registered the same way as motorcycles?
- If it's street-legal and requires a title, generally yes - same $19.50 base fee and process. Very low-powered mopeds and e-bikes that fall under Tennessee's separate definitions for those categories may not need vehicle registration at all; check with your county clerk if you're unsure which category your machine falls into.
Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.
