Tennessee: Is there an annual vehicle safety inspection?
Tennessee does not require safety inspections of private passenger cars, including when a car is sold or brought from another state.
The Department of Revenue's registration guidance lists title, registration, odometer, residency, and identity documents, but no inspection, for current and new residents. This answer is inferred from that list, because no statute was found that says so directly. Commercial vehicles are handled separately.
What the law says
Someone moving from another state must file an application for certificate of title and registration through their local county clerk. Please take with you the most current out-of-state registration and the name and address of the company where you are sending car payments (if applicable). If you do not have that information, you must furnish your out-of-state title.
Sources
- Tennessee Department of Revenue, Initial Registration Official · tn.gov
- Tennessee Department of Revenue, Title and Registration contact Official · tn.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Tennessee Department of Revenue, Title and Registration
- Phone
- (888) 871-3171
- Website
- tn.gov
How bordering states compare
- Alabama No safety inspectionAlabama does not require safety inspections for private passenger cars, either regularly or when a car is sold.
- Arkansas No safety inspectionArkansas does not require safety inspections for private passenger cars, either regularly or at registration.
- Georgia No safety inspectionGeorgia has no safety inspection for private cars; emissions tests are required in 13 metro Atlanta counties.
- Kentucky No safety inspectionNo. Kentucky does not require safety inspections of private cars; cars brought from other states get a VIN and odometer check.
- Mississippi No safety inspectionMississippi repealed its annual motor vehicle safety inspection law effective July 1, 2015.
- Missouri Regular safety inspectionMissouri requires a safety inspection every two years, but most cars under ten years old with under 150,000 miles are exempt.
- North Carolina Regular safety inspectionNorth Carolina requires an annual safety inspection before a vehicle's registration can be renewed.
- Virginia Regular safety inspectionVirginia requires registered vehicles to pass a safety inspection every 12 months at a State Police-licensed station.