Nashville Unscripted · Moving to Nashville
You have 30 days, there’s no emissions test, and it doesn’t happen at the DMV. Here’s exactly what to bring to the Davidson County Clerk, what it costs, and the order that gets it done in one trip.
The short answer: new Nashville residents must title and register their vehicles with the Davidson County Clerk, not a Driver Services Center, within 30 days of moving in. Bring your out-of-state title (or your registration plus your lender’s details), your ID, and proof of your Davidson County address. Expect to pay roughly $100–$110 the first time. No emissions test is required.
New to Nashville?
Find Your Nashville Home Base While You Get Settled
Many new residents spend their first few weeks in a hotel or furnished VRBO while they sort out licenses, registration and insurance.
Browse Nashville Hotels → Browse Nashville VRBOs →The 30-Day Rule
⚠ 30-Day Window
Tennessee requires new residents to register their vehicles within 30 days of establishing residency. The same 30-day window applies to switching to a Tennessee driver’s license, and both clocks start when you move in.
Most people get the license first. A Tennessee license is the simplest ID to bring to the clerk, because without one you need extra proof of address (see below). The two jobs are handled by different agencies in different buildings. Driver’s licenses come from the Tennessee Department of Safety, while titles and plates come from the county clerk, so you can’t do both in one stop.
No Emissions Test in Davidson County
Ignore Older Guides
The Metro Council ended Davidson County’s emissions testing program. Since February 5, 2022, residents titling, registering or renewing a vehicle no longer need an emissions test. If a guide, or a friend who moved here years ago, tells you to get one first, that advice is out of date.
Where to Go: Appointment or Walk-In
New-to-state registrations at the Davidson County Clerk can be done as a walk-in or by appointment. Book the appointment on nashville.gov. Walk-in lines at the main office can run long, especially mid-morning on weekdays.
Main Office
Howard Office Building, 700 President Ronald Reagan Way, Suite 101, Nashville, TN 37210
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:20 p.m.
Branch offices (motor vehicle transactions only, Monday–Friday 9 a.m.–5 p.m.): Hermitage, Green Hills, Madison, North Nashville (26th Ave N) and South Precinct (Harding Pl). Call ahead or check nashville.gov to confirm a branch handles new-to-state titles before you go there instead of the main office.
What to Bring
Bring originals, not photocopies.
If You Own the Car Outright
Bring your original out-of-state title. You’ll surrender it to the clerk, and Tennessee issues you a new Tennessee title.
If You Have a Loan or Lease
If a lender holds your title, bring your most recent out-of-state registration plus your lienholder’s name and mailing address. The state handles the title transfer with your lender. For a leased car, bring your current registration. Leasing companies sometimes require extra paperwork, such as a power of attorney, so call your leasing company before your appointment.
Everyone Also Needs
- ID. A Tennessee driver’s license or ID covers both identity and address. If you’re still using an out-of-state license, bring it plus two documents showing your Davidson County home address, such as a lease, a utility bill or a bank statement.
- Odometer disclosure statement, if it applies to your vehicle. The clerk’s office has the forms.
- Payment for title and registration fees (see below).
Car Insurance
Switch to a Tennessee policy when you move. Tennessee’s minimum liability coverage is 25/50/25: $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 property damage. The property damage minimum rose from $15,000 in January 2023, so ignore guides that still say 25/50/15. Bring your insurance card to the clerk in case it’s asked for. Our Tennessee car insurance guide covers what’s required and what’s worth adding.
Buying or Selling a Car After the Move?
Plenty of new residents sell the old car or buy a different one once they settle in. For private-party sales in Davidson County, the clerk notes that a notarized bill of sale is helpful to have alongside the signed-over title. If you buy from a dealer outside Tennessee, an itemized bill of sale showing the price, any trade-in and any tax collected is part of the required paperwork.
Buying or Selling a Car in Tennessee?
Get Your Bill of Sale Ready
A signed bill of sale records the price, date and vehicle details, which makes titling with the county clerk go smoothly.
Create a Tennessee Vehicle Bill of Sale →What It Costs
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| State registration | $29.00/year |
| Metro vehicle regulatory fee (wheel tax) | $55.00/year |
| Postage & handling: new plate + decal | $7.00 |
| Title fee (first Tennessee title) | ~$14.00 |
| Hybrid vehicle surcharge | +$100.00/year |
| Fully electric vehicle surcharge | +$200.00/year |
| Typical first visit (gas vehicle) | ~$100–$110 |
Davidson County’s $55 wheel tax is among the highest in Tennessee, which is why Nashville registration costs more than in many surrounding counties. A card convenience fee may apply, so bring a check or cash if you want to avoid it. Specialty and personalized plates cost extra.
Your Tennessee Plates
You’ll get Tennessee plates at registration. Take your old plates off the car, and check your former state’s rules on returning or cancelling them, since some states require it before you can cancel your old insurance or registration.
Renewing After Year One
After the first in-person visit, you don’t have to go back each year. Renew online, by mail, in person, or at one of the county’s self-service tag renewal kiosks. Renewal notices are mailed to your address on file. When you renew online, give your new decal time to arrive by mail before your current one expires.
The One-Trip Order for New Residents
- Get Tennessee car insurance in place.
- Coming from California, Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Nevada, Oklahoma, Vermont or West Virginia? Order a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) from your former state first. Tennessee requires it for your license, and it must be dated within 30 days of your Driver Services visit.
- Get your Tennessee driver’s license at a full-service Driver Services Center. In Nashville, that’s Hart Lane (624 Hart Lane) or Hickory Hollow (Antioch). The downtown Snodgrass Tower location is express-only, handling renewals and duplicates, so new residents can’t transfer there.
- Book your registration appointment on nashville.gov.
- Visit the Davidson County Clerk with your title or registration, license and payment.
- Leave with Tennessee plates, and your Tennessee title follows.
More Nashville Moving Resources
Everything Else About Moving to Nashville
Cost of living, neighborhoods, schools, what Nashville traffic is really like, and what nobody tells you before you move.
Nashville Moving Guide → Tennessee Driver’s License Guide →→ Tennessee Car Insurance Requirements
→ Nashville DUI Laws 2026
→ Best VRBOs in Nashville
→ Nashville Parking Guide
Last updated October 2026. Fees, documents and office procedures are set by the Davidson County Clerk and the Tennessee Department of Revenue and can change. Verify current requirements at nashville.gov and tn.gov before your visit. This guide is for general information, not legal advice. This post contains affiliate links.