Tennesseans in Rutherford County will notice a few changes this year when renewing their vehicle tags, according to a press release by Rutherford County Clerk Lisa Duke Crowell.
The most noticeable change, beginning Friday, January 14, is the official end of vehicle emissions testing in the county. This change also takes place in Hamilton, Sumner, Williamson, and Wilson counties.
However, beginning February 1, 2022, the registration fee for vehicles in Rutherford County that would have required emissions testing will see a slight fee increase of $4.00, according to the press release. A resolution passed by the state allowed for counties that ceased the emissions requirement to increase the county fees. The increase was approved by the full County Commission in October 2021.
“This is not to be confused with a wheel tax increase,” Rutherford County Clerk Lisa Duke Crowell said in a statement. “It is a registration increase and will appear in the county fee area on the renewals or registrations.”
The final change Rutherford County drivers will notice in 2022 is the new standard license plate design which began being distributed on January 4. The new plate sports a navy blue background with white letters and numbers. In its center is the state’s iconic Tri-Star emblem with the words “The Volunteer State” in the top left corner. The new license plate design replaces the current plate that launched in 2006 with modifications in 2011, 2016 and 2017.
Additionally, Rutherford County Clerk’s Office will no longer issue the month stickers for the license plates; the new decals will have both the month and year of expiration.
Finally, as reported in the press release, Rutherford County drivers can also look forward to a new one-stop County Clerk’s Office and Driver Services Center, which is expected to open in the beginning of 2023. The center will house the County Clerk’s Office and offer the same services as the downtown and Smyrna locations to include motor vehicle needs, passports, and marriage licenses. There will be two drive-through windows and a 24-hour kiosk for tag renewals. The Department of Safety will have offices at this express facility for services such issuing Real IDs, duplicate or new licenses or photo identification cards, handgun carry permit renewals, copies of driver records, and services for new citizens coming into the state.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Car Emission Tests” by Tim Evanson. CC BY-SA 2.0.
