Overview
Electric and hybrid vehicles pay an additional annual surcharge on top of the base fee - $200 for a fully electric vehicle through the end of 2026 (climbing to $274 in 2027), $100 for hybrids and plug-in hybrids - meant to replace the gas tax revenue those vehicles don't generate. Use the calculator below for your exact county and vehicle type.
01 - Official fees
Tennessee registration fees fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger car / truck | $26.50 | |
| Motorcycle / autocycle | $19.50 | |
| Shelby County (Memphis) wheel tax | $75 | $20 for motorcycles |
| Davidson County (Nashville) wheel tax | $55 | same for motorcycles |
| Knox County (Knoxville) wheel tax | $36 | all motorized vehicles, incl. motorcycles |
| Electric vehicle surcharge | $200 | rises to $274/yr Jan 1, 2027 |
| Hybrid / plug-in hybrid surcharge | $100 |
Figures verified June 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.
02 - Step by step
How to register a vehicle in Tennessee
- 1
Have the title (or dealer paperwork) and proof of Tennessee liability insurance ready.
- 2
Visit your county clerk's office - Tennessee registers vehicles at the county level, not a state DMV.
- 3
The clerk verifies insurance, collects any sales tax owed on a new purchase, and calculates your county's wheel tax.
- 4
Pay the base registration, wheel tax if applicable, and EV/hybrid surcharge if it applies to your vehicle.
- 5
Renew annually - most counties mail a renewal notice, but registration is due by your expiration month regardless.
03 - Same state, other costs
More Tennessee vehicle costs
04 - Common questions
Tennessee registration fees FAQ
How much does it cost to register a car in Tennessee per year?
$26.50 statewide, plus whatever your county's wheel tax is. In a no-wheel-tax county that's the whole bill; in Shelby County (Memphis) it's $101.50; in Davidson County (Nashville) it's $81.50; in Knox County (Knoxville) it's $62.50.
Which Tennessee counties don't charge a wheel tax?
Roughly a third of the state's 95 counties charge no wheel tax at all - it's set locally, county by county, and some cities layer on their own on top of the county's. Check your county clerk's fee page; there's no statewide list because it changes as county commissions vote to add or repeal it.
Do electric vehicles pay more to register in Tennessee?
Yes - $200 a year on top of the base $26.50, through registrations renewing before January 1, 2027. After that the EV surcharge rises to $274 and then adjusts for inflation. Plug-in and standard hybrids pay a separate $100 surcharge instead.
Is registration cheaper if I register online?
The state fees are identical either way; what changes is convenience. Most Tennessee county clerks offer online renewal (often through tncountyclerk.com) which skips the counter line, though a small card-processing fee sometimes applies that a mailed or in-person payment avoids.
Do I need an emissions test to register in Tennessee?
No - no Tennessee county still requires it. The last holdout counties, including Davidson (Nashville) and Shelby (Memphis), ended emissions testing in early 2022.
Why is my county clerk charging me a bit more than $26.50?
Beyond the wheel tax, some counties add a small local processing or issuance fee of a dollar or two on top of the state's $26.50 - separate from the wheel tax and set by the county rather than the state.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.