Vehicle Registration Exemptions - Tennessee

Reciprocal agreements for nonresident owned vehicles (including proportional registration of commercial vehicles)

The commissioner is authorized to enter into reciprocal agreements with proper officials of other states under which agreements motor vehicles of nonresident owners properly licensed and bearing license tags or plates of those states may be operated over the highways of Tennessee, and without being registered or licensed in the state; provided, that the officials of any other state grants like privileges to citizens of Tennessee operating motor vehicles in that state or states.

The commissioner may likewise enter into agreements or arrangements with the duly authorized representatives of other jurisdictions relating to the proportional registration of commercial vehicles in interstate or combined interstate and intrastate commerce. The apportionment may be made on a basis commensurate with and determined on the miles traveled on and use made of the highways of Tennessee as compared with the miles traveled on and use made of other jurisdictions' highways or any other equitable basis of apportionment.

Volunteer first aid or rescue squad vehicles

Exempted if:

• The vehicle is used exclusively as a lifesaving, rescue, or first-aid vehicle and is not rented, leased or loaned to any private individual, firm or corporation;
• No charges are made by the organization for the use of the vehicles; and
• The organization is chartered by the state as a volunteer, nonprofit organization.

The equipment must be painted a distinguishing color and conspicuously display in letters and figures, not less than three inches (3″) in height, the identity of the volunteer lifesaving or first-aid crew or rescue squad having control of its operation; provided, that the equipment be used exclusively for lifesaving, first-aid, or rescue activities.

Before the equipment may be operated upon the highways Tennessee without license plates, there must be filed with the department a certification by the county clerk of the county in which the equipment is based, certifying a description of the equipment and the name of the lifesaving or first-aid crew, or rescue squad.

“Rescue squad” means only those persons or organizations who are members of the Tennessee Association of Rescue Squads, except that in counties having a population of 600,000 or more, according to the 1970 federal census or any subsequent federal census, “rescue squad” includes persons and organizations which meet the requirements but who are not members of the Tennessee Association of Rescue Squads.

Citations

• Tenn. Code Ann. 55-4-101 Registration required before operation, etc.
• Tenn. Code Ann. 55-1-103 “Motor vehicle” defined
• Tenn. Code Ann. 55-1-122 “Low speed vehicle defined
• Tenn. Code Ann. 55-1-125 “Medium speed vehicle defined
• Tenn. Code Ann. 55-4-121 Reciprocal agreements concerning nonresidents
• Tenn. Code Ann. 55-4-127 Exemptions for volunteer first aid or rescue squad vehicles