Temporary Permits for Private or Commercial Vehicles in Tennessee

Tennessee issues short-term operating credentials that allow limited vehicle operation while permanent registration is pending or before full commercial credentials are active.

What Is a Temporary Vehicle Permit in Tennessee?

In Tennessee, a private-vehicle temporary permit is a Temporary Operation Permit (TOP) issued through a participating county clerk's office. Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-4-115, the Department of Revenue, at its discretion and through designated officials, may grant a temporary permit to operate a vehicle for which application for registration has been made but for which permanent credentials are not yet available. A second TOP may be issued to a registrant who continues to experience difficulty obtaining a certificate of title following expiration of the first permit.

For commercial operations, Tennessee distinguishes between registration-related trip permits, fuel-use trip permits, and size-and-weight permits. Under the same statutory framework, a trip permit authorizes one trip into the state and becomes invalid either upon exiting the state or upon the expiration of seventy-two (72) hours after entry into the state, whichever occurs first. A separate IFTA temporary fuel use permit may be issued for a period not to exceed seven consecutive days.

Who May Need a Temporary Permit

A temporary permit may be required in the following situations:

A private vehicle has been purchased, and a permanent Tennessee plate cannot be issued immediately because of an unresolved title issue.
A dealer has sold a motor vehicle or motorcycle, and permanent registration plates have not yet arrived.
A trailer has been purchased from a Tennessee trailer manufacturer and must be transported through the state.
A commercial vehicle enters Tennessee before IRP or IFTA credentials are active.
A vehicle or load exceeds Tennessee's size or weight limits.

Private Vehicle Temporary Tags in Tennessee

Temporary Operation Permits (Red Tags)

Tennessee's Temporary Operation Permit program is available to vehicle owners experiencing title problems, such as a missing certificate of title or a delayed manufacturer's certificate of origin. A TOP permits limited operation until the permanent title and registration are completed. TOPs cannot be issued for salvage vehicles.

Dealer Drive-Out Tags (Green Tags)

Licensed motor vehicle dealers issue Temporary Operation Plates, also known as dealer drive-out tags, for use on automobiles and motorcycles while registration plates are ordered. Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-4-226(c)(4), as amended by Public Chapter No. 734 of 2022, dealer drive-out tags are valid for 60 days. All dealers operating under the Revenue EZ Tag program are required to use print-on-demand dealer drive-out tags.

Five-Day Trailer Temporary Plates (Yellow Tags)

Tennessee trailer manufacturers issue Five-day Trailer Temporary Plates, commonly known as yellow tags, to purchasers of trailers that must be transported through Tennessee. Each plate covers a five-day period from the date of issuance.

Commercial Vehicle Temporary Permits in Tennessee

Commercial vehicles may require temporary operating authority in place of full IRP or IFTA credentials. Trip permits apply to freight motor vehicles subject to registration under the International Registration Plan.

IRP 72-Hour Trip Permits

A 72-hour trip permit is required prior to entering Tennessee for any freight motor vehicle that has an IRP registration but is not registered or apportioned for Tennessee. A 72-hour trip permit covers both interstate and intrastate movement within Tennessee.

IFTA 7-Day Temporary Fuel Use Permits

A 7-Day Temporary Fuel Use Permit is required prior to entering Tennessee for any freight motor vehicle not currently licensed under IFTA. The permit covers a period not to exceed seven consecutive days and is valid only for the vehicle to which it is issued. In lieu of licensing under IFTA, carriers may elect to satisfy motor fuel use tax obligations on a trip-by-trip basis.

TDOT Oversize/Overweight Permits

A single-trip or annual OS/OW permit must be obtained before traveling with oversize and/or overweight loads on Tennessee roadways. The TDOT Oversize & Overweight Permit Office issues these credentials and prescribes operating rules in the interest of public safety and highway preservation.

When a Temporary Permit Is Required

A private vehicle owner may need a Temporary Operation Permit after purchase when a permanent Tennessee plate cannot be issued immediately due to a title problem. New Tennessee residents may need similar documentation when transferring out-of-state titles and registrations through the local county clerk. A dealer must issue a drive-out tag whenever plates have not yet arrived for a vehicle sold at retail.

A commercial operator may need a temporary permit when:

The vehicle is subject to IRP and is not apportioned for Tennessee travel.
The vehicle is subject to IFTA, and Tennessee fuel-tax licensing is not active.
The movement involves dimensions or weights that exceed statutory limits defined by TDOT.

How to Get a Temporary Permit in Tennessee

Where To Apply

For private vehicles, the Application for Temporary Operation Permit is filed with a participating Tennessee county clerk in the registrant's county of residence. If the clerk's office is closed, VTR-33 authorizes application at a neighboring county clerk's office. Dealers and trailer manufacturers obtain their temporary plates directly from the Department of Revenue through the Temporary Plate Application Form.

For commercial carriers, IRP trip permits and IFTA fuel use permits are obtained through approved wire-service contractors listed by the Tennessee Department of Revenue Motor Carrier Section. Oversize/overweight permits are obtained through the TDOT OS/OW Permit Office using the TnTRIPS online permitting system.

Documents Commonly Required

For a Temporary Operation Permit, the registrant generally submits the following:

Ownership documentation, such as a bill of sale or manufacturer's certificate of origin.
Proof that the owner has taken active steps to obtain a title and registration for the vehicle.
A valid driver license.
Payment of the issuance fee.

For commercial trip permits through a wire service, the operator provides vehicle identification, current IRP or IFTA registration status, and routing information sufficient to describe the trip into Tennessee.

Temporary Permit Fees in Tennessee

The Department of Revenue and TDOT publish separate fee schedules for each class of credential. The table below summarizes the principal charges drawn directly from agency fee pages.

Permit type	State fee	Validity	Issuing agency
Private vehicle Temporary Operation Permit (Red Tag)	$10.00	Until title issue is resolved (maximum two under VTR-32)	Tennessee county clerk
Dealer drive-out tag (Green Tag)	$6.50	60 days	Tennessee dealer, through EZ Tag
Five-day Trailer Temporary Plate (Yellow Tag)	$9.00	5 days	Tennessee trailer manufacturer
IRP 72-Hour Trip Permit	$30.00 + wire service fees	72 hours	Approved wire-service contractors
IFTA 7-Day Temporary Fuel Use Permit	$30.00 + wire service fees	7 consecutive days	Approved wire-service contractors

TDOT OS/OW permit charges depend on the dimension or weight category and the type of permit:

OS/OW category	Single-trip fee	Annual fee
Excess width, 8'6" up to 14'	$20.00	$750.00
Excess width, 14'1" up to 16'	$30.00	$1,500.00
Excess width over 16'	$30.00 + $5.00 per additional foot	$2,250.00
Excess length	$20.00	$500.00
Excess height	$20.00	$100.00
Excess weight	$20.00 + $0.06 per ton-mile	$300.00 (up to 100,000 lbs) – $3,500.00 (up to 165,000 lbs)
Bridge analysis fee (weights 165,000–250,000 lbs)	$100.00	—
Bridge analysis fee (weights 251,000–500,000 lbs)	$300.00	—
Mobile home, width up to 14'	$50.00	$1,000.00
Mobile home, width up to 16'	$100.00	$2,000.00

Can a Tennessee Temporary Permit Be Used Across State Lines?

For private vehicles, a Tennessee dealer drive-out tag permits operation of a motor vehicle purchased in Tennessee while the owner transports it toward the destination jurisdiction for permanent registration. A Temporary Operation Permit is specific to the title-resolution process administered through the home county clerk's office and is not intended to substitute for registration in another state.

For commercial carriers, an IRP 72-Hour Trip Permit covers a single trip into Tennessee and remains valid for both interstate and intrastate movement either until the vehicle exits the state or upon expiration of the seventy-two-hour period, whichever occurs first. An IFTA 7-Day Temporary Fuel Use Permit covers Tennessee fuel tax obligations for the particular vehicle for which it has been issued and is administered separately from the registration credential. Oversize/overweight movement remains subject to TDOT permitting, independent of trip-permit status.

Penalties for Driving Without the Proper Temporary Permit

Tennessee imposes both registration-related and criminal penalties for operating without the required temporary credential.

Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-4-115, operating a motor vehicle on a temporary operation permit that has expired or is otherwise in violation of its terms constitutes a Class C misdemeanor.
A commercial vehicle that enters Tennessee without a required IRP or IFTA trip permit is subject to enforcement under the applicable motor-carrier statutes of Title 55, Chapter 4.
Movements on Tennessee highways without a required TDOT OS/OW permit are subject to enforcement and bonding requirements under the TDOT OS/OW Permit Office.
Late registration and failure to obtain a Tennessee title after purchase from out-of-state sources may trigger additional registration penalties under Title 55, Chapter 4.

Contact Information

Tennessee Department of Revenue
500 Deaderick Street, Nashville, TN 37242
Phone: (615) 741-3101
Official Website: Tennessee Department of Revenue