Tennessee is closing a gap in its vehicle registration process that allowed drivers to obtain license plates without proving they had insurance or showing proper identification. Two new state laws, both stemming from reporting that first exposed the issue, are set to change that.
The push for reform has a personal face. Lawanda Page lost her son, Chazan Page, in April 2024 in what she described as a hit-and-run. She has since become an advocate for road safety and was vocal in her support of the new legislation.
“What were your thoughts on the fact that this wasn’t already in place?” she was asked. “Well, I was shocked,” Page replied.
She believes uninsured and unlicensed drivers create serious risks for everyone on the road. “There needs to be some type of way to make sure we help hold people accountable,” she said.
While encouraged by the new laws, Page acknowledged more work remains. “I’m pleased about that. I think that is a start.”
Insurance Now Required for Registration
The first law, HB 1690, sponsored by Representative Tim Hicks, requires proof of insurance before a vehicle can be registered in Tennessee. Hicks framed the legislation as a matter of personal responsibility.
“It’s about being responsible. It’s about making people accountable,” he said.
Under the new law, if the Tennessee Department of Revenue flags a driver as uninsured and they fail to provide proof of coverage, they will face a $500 penalty, a significant jump from the previous $25 fine. Continued failure to show proof brings an additional $1,000 penalty, and repeat violations within a three-year period will result in a $1,500 fine along with possible suspension or revocation of vehicle registration.
Hicks said the old penalty structure was part of the problem. “It’s going to be a lot cheaper to get insurance versus paying the fines. Currently, the way the law is, it’s cheaper to pay the fines than it is to get insurance. And I hate to do that, but I think that’s what you have to do to make something credible and to make people accountable and to make folks pay attention to a law,” he said.
Hicks had been working toward this fix for two years. He introduced a similar registration proposal in 2025 through HB 864, but pulled it before it reached either chamber floor. HB 1690 is the result of that continued effort and takes effect July 1, 2027.
Legal Status Now Required to Register a Vehicle
The second law, HB 1708, is part of a broader immigration package and was sponsored by Representative Kip Capley. It requires anyone registering a vehicle in Tennessee to be a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident, or someone authorized by the federal government to be in the country for a specific purpose or time period.
Under the bill, a Tennessee driver’s license or state-issued photo ID serves as proof of citizenship. A temporary Tennessee driver’s license or temporary photo ID counts as proof of lawful permanent residence or temporary lawful presence. This law takes effect January 1, 2027.
Not everyone supports the change. Undocumented immigrants who spoke about the legislation said they rely on having a vehicle to get to work.
“It’s difficult not having transportation to move around,” said Gerardo Rodriguez, speaking in Spanish.
Lisa Sherman, executive director of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, previously stated that the legislation limits access for people who need it most.
When Page was asked about that concern, she offered her perspective. “If you are legally here and you’re working and you’re doing everything you need to do, I don’t think we’re attacking,” she said.