About Replacing Car Registration in Tennessee

Replacing a lost car registration in Tennessee is essential if you lose your vehicle’s current registration documents or believe they may have been stolen. You must also order a replacement if you damage your vehicle’s original registration certificate to the point that it is no longer legible.

In addition to replacing lost vehicle registration cards, you must also replace your license plates and validation decals if you damage or misplace these at any time. If you operate your motor vehicle without valid license plates and registration stickers, you could face penalty fees and traffic citations.

To learn more about these requirements and the steps you must take to replace your credentials once they acquire damages or disappear from your vehicle, review the information below.

Replacing a Lost Car Registration in Tennessee

You must purchase duplicate registration credentials from your local county clerk’s office if your original certificate of registration becomes damaged or lost. Additionally, you must obtain a replacement if you believe that another individual may have stolen this credential from you.

To replace car registration credentials after they sustain damages or disappear from your possession, you may mail a request directly to your local county clerk’s office. With your request, you must include payment for the applicable fee, as well as your vehicle’s license plate number and vehicle identification number (VIN).

To find more details about replacing your vehicle registration, review our free car registration guide.

Replacing Tennessee Car Registration Plates and Stickers

To obtain auto registration replacement plates and validation stickers after these important credentials become damaged or disappear from your automobile, you must submit an application to your local county clerk office.

When completing the replacement car registration form, you must be able to provide your vehicle’s license plate and decal number, as well as its identification number (VIN), make and model year.

Note: If you lose your vehicle’s license plates or registration decals, or you believe that these items may have been stolen from you, you must file a police report with a local law enforcement agency.

When completing your official application for replacement plates and/or decals, you must provide the name of the police officer and law enforcement agency that filed your report.

Can you print your car registration online in Tennessee?

Unfortunately, you cannot print a duplicate car registration online in Tennessee. These types of transactions must be processed by mail.

When do you need a Tennessee DMV copy of registration credentials?

You may need a duplicate vehicle registration you damage or lose your original registration card, license plates or validation stickers at any time, as these items serve as proof of paying registration taxes and fees on your car, truck, SUV or minivan.

If a police officer pulls you over and you cannot present valid proof of your vehicle’s registration, you may receive a traffic ticket.

Moreover, you may need to purchase replacement credentials if you legally change your name due to marriage, adoption, divorce or court order and wish to obtain a registration card that displays your new legal name.

Before you may replace your auto registration credentials after changing your name, however, you must update the name on your Tennessee driver and vehicle records, and provide the DOR with certified proof of the name change.

In addition, you must change your name on you Social Security card and present official documents verifying the name change.

Get helpful information on replacing a car registration and much more in our free vehicle registration guide.