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BY NIC MILLER
STAR STAFF
nic.miller@elizabethton.com

After 16 years, Tennessee drivers have a new design for vehicle tags.

“I think that the new tags are beautiful,” said Mary Gouge, Carter County Clerk. “I am ready for a change.”

The new look was unveiled in October 2021, after a statewide vote in which 42% of the voters selected the new design.

Gov. Bill Lee said that the winning design of the new vehicle tags “represents the state’s unique Grand Divisions — West, Middle and East.” The tags feature a blue background and the Tennessee tri-star emblem in the middle as well as an “In God We Trust” option.

The governor’s office expects up to 100,000 plates to be produced each week as residents update their tags.

“We have had a normal amount of people come in to renew their tags and receive the new plates,” Gouge said. “All the people that are due to renew their tags in January are coming in now, renewing their plates to the new design early.”

Gouge said residents have shown plenty of excitement when receiving the new, fresh design.

The redesign follows a state statute that requires an update every eight years if funds are approved by the General Assembly. The statute requires the design to display a geographical outline of Tennessee, as well as the words “Volunteer State” and “TNvacation.com” on the plates.

The Carter County Courthouse does provide a self-service kiosk in Hampton for residents to renew their vehicle tags, but Gouge said with the issuance of new tags, anyone renewing their vehicle plates this year will have to come to the Carter County Courthouse.

Residents will be required to obtain the new vehicle tags when they are notified that their current tags are about to expire. They can renew in-person at the Carter County Courthouse, by mail or online by going to www.tncountyclerk.com.

Those who do not renew in person will be charged a $5 mailing fee.