Starting Jan. 1, 2027, Tennessee state law requires applicants seeking initial registrations for certain motor vehicles to provide documentation that the applicant is a U.S. citizen, County Clerk Bill Knowles said.
The law also exempts those who are lawful permanent residents of the United States, or whose presence in the United States has been authorized by the federal government for a specific purpose and for a specified period of authorized stay.
Brooke Weaver, who will soon be sworn in as the new county clerk, said, "You must prove citizenship when you register your vehicle for the first time. Proof of citizenship is not required when you renew."
https://www.chattanoogan.com/2026/8/26/522536/Starting-Jan.-1-Applicants-For-New.aspx