Verified Tenn. Code Ann. §55-5-114(d) · Checked October 2026 · 5 sources
What an expired-registration ticket costs in Tennessee
First offense Tenn. Code Ann. §55-5-114(d)
Up to $50 fine (Class C misdemeanor)
Verified October 2026 against the sources on this page
Operating a vehicle without displaying current registration is a Class C misdemeanor in Tennessee (Tenn. Code Ann. §55-5-114(d)), the state’s lowest criminal grade, punishable by up to 30 days or a fine of up to $50, or both (§40-35-111(e)(3)); in practice registration cases are fine-driven. No grace period appears in the registration statutes: a registration is valid only until its annual expiration date (Tenn. Code Ann. §55-4-101(f)), which the Department of Revenue says is the last day of the registration month shown on the plate decal, and registrants must renew by that date.
By Mario Bailey
What to do now
- 1
Renew and display current registration
The offense is operating without displaying current registration (Tenn. Code Ann. §55-5-114(d)), and in practice registration cases are fine-driven.
- 2
Know the statutory ceiling
Class C is Tennessee’s lowest criminal grade: the maximum is 30 days or a $50 fine, or both, under §40-35-111(e)(3), plus court costs.
Tennessee at a glance
- Grace period
- None
- Misdemeanor?
- Yes, Class C misdemeanor
- Jail, first offense
- Up to 30 days on paper
- Dismissed if you renew?
- No state rule; Knox County dismisses
- Late renewal fee
- Not settled by state sources
First offense, ordinary passenger vehicle. Each label compares Tennessee with every verified state.
Is driving on expired tags a crime in Tennessee?
Yes, Class C, the lowest misdemeanor grade, with a statutory maximum of 30 days and a $50 fine under §40-35-111(e)(3).
Can it be dismissed?
No statewide rule found: neither Tenn. Code Ann. §55-5-114 nor the registration statutes cited here set a renew-and-dismiss path. Some courts publish one locally. For example, Knox County General Sessions Court says that if, before your court date, you give the clerk proof of a valid renewed registration when you pay your court costs, the citation is dismissed and you do not have to appear. Ask the clerk of the court on your citation whether it does the same.
Frequently asked questions
How much is an expired-tags ticket in Tennessee?
The statutory maximum fine is $50, the offense is a Class C misdemeanor under Tenn. Code Ann. §55-5-114(d), capped by §40-35-111(e)(3), plus court costs.
Is driving on expired tags a crime in Tennessee?
Technically yes, a Class C misdemeanor, the lowest criminal grade, with a $50 maximum fine.
Sources
This summary was checked against the following sources on the date shown above. Fines and fees change, verify before relying on specifics.
- Tenn. Code Ann. §55-5-114 (FindLaw)
- Tenn. Code Ann. §40-35-111, misdemeanor penalty caps (FindLaw)
- Tenn. Code Ann. §55-4-101, registration validity period (FindLaw mirror)
- VR-1, renewal notices and registration expiration date (Tennessee Department of Revenue)
- Traffic and Citation Court, Avoid Appearing in Court (Knox County General Sessions Court)
Read next
- Va. Code 46.2-646, plainly: what Virginia's expired registration law says and costs
- How to Get an Expired Registration Ticket Dismissed
- How much is a ticket for driving without registration? Eight states, from the statutes
- Pulled over on expired tags: the ticket, the late fee, the tow, and the points
Other tickets in Tennessee
Driving Without Insurance in Tennessee
Expired Registration: other states
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General legal information, not legal advice. Statutes and penalty schedules summarized from the sources above as of October 2026.