Frequently Asked Questions

What does the plate cost?

Your pre-order is $40 — the $35 state specialty-plate fee (set by Tennessee law) plus a $5 non-refundable processing fee that covers payment and administration. After the plate is issued, the specialty plate is $35 per year at renewal, in addition to your regular vehicle registration.

Where does the money go?

After the state’s expenses, the specialty-plate proceeds are split by statute: 50% funds Launch Tennessee’s mission to educate and empower the next generation of Tennessee entrepreneurs — with capital, commercialization support, and connections (including its partnership with the Entrepreneurs’ Organization of Nashville), 40% supports the Tennessee Arts Commission, and 10% goes to the state highway fund. The plate was authorized by Public Chapter 822 (2026).

What happens if 1,000 plates aren’t reserved in time?

Tennessee requires 1,000 pre-orders before a new specialty plate goes into production, and the deadline is set by law. If we don’t reach 1,000 in time, you receive the choice you made when you reserved: a refund of your $35 plate fee (the $5 processing fee is non-refundable), or you can convert your $35 into a donation to Launch Tennessee. See our Refund Policy for details.

When and where do I get my plate?

Once 1,000 plates are reserved, the state produces the plates and ships them to county clerk offices. If you placed an initial order, you’ll get a letter from your county clerk when your plate is ready to pick up at your local clerk’s office — the same place you handle your regular vehicle registration.

Will my plate be mailed to me?

Not by default. Tennessee routes initial-order specialty plates through county clerk offices rather than mailing them directly to buyers, so you’ll pick yours up locally once your clerk’s letter arrives. Some county clerks will mail a new plate for a small handling fee (for example, Rutherford County charges $7.00) — but that’s a county-by-county option you arrange directly with your own clerk, not something we can guarantee statewide.

Can I personalize it?

Not on the first batch. The state does not offer personalized (vanity) lettering on a specialty plate’s initial production run — every first-batch plate carries a state-assigned plate number. Once the initial order is produced, you can order a personalized version of the plate through the state’s official personalized-plates site, using Tennessee’s standard personalized-plate process and fees.

Is the design final?

Not yet. The plate design shown on this site is a placeholder pending final approval by the Tennessee Department of Revenue. The final artwork is an all-black plate carrying LaunchTN’s tri-star mark and the line THINK BIG.

Why is there a white border, and can I get the all-black look?

Tennessee plates are printed with a 1/4″ unprinted border around the artwork — the design cannot run to the edge of the plate, so every plate the state issues has one. It is not part of our design and we cannot remove it.

A standard black license-plate frame covers that border, which gives you the fully blacked-out look. We do not sell frames, and one is not included with your reservation — but any standard US 6″×12″ frame fits, and they are widely available for a few dollars.

Who is behind this campaign?

Drive Tennessee Forward is a partnership between Launch Tennessee (LaunchTN) — the state’s official sponsoring agency — and EO Nashville, the Nashville chapter of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization, which is written into the authorizing legislation. Pre-order funds are collected by EO Nashville.

What happens when I renew each year?

The $35 specialty fee is annual and renews with your vehicle registration. Every renewal keeps funding Tennessee entrepreneurship — so the plate supports the mission for as long as you drive it.

Can I reserve more than one?

Yes — as a separate order for each plate. Tennessee’s applicant list needs the name and address of the person who will register each individual plate, which one order with a quantity of two cannot express. So each order covers one plate. If you have two cars, complete your first reservation and then place a second one; the link is on your confirmation page.