Kentucky vs Tennessee: Vehicle Registration Cost Comparison
Comparing what the same vehicles cost to register each year in Kentucky versus Tennessee, computed from both states' current official fee schedules:
| Scenario | Kentucky | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| New $45k gas SUV | $21.00/yr | $29.00/yr |
| 3-yr-old $35k gas car | $21.00/yr | $29.00/yr |
| New $55k EV | $147.00/yr | $229.00/yr |
| 10-yr-old $8k car | $21.00/yr | $29.00/yr |
For most vehicles, Kentucky is the cheaper state to register in — though the gap varies a lot by vehicle value and age. Keep in mind annual registration is only part of the picture: sales/excise taxes at purchase, insurance, and local property taxes on vehicles can outweigh the registration difference.
Kentucky in short
Kentucky registration is a flat $21 per year, but vehicles also owe annual state and local ad valorem property tax based on NADA value, collected at renewal — typically a few hundred dollars for newer vehicles. EVs and plug-in hybrids pay an inflation-indexed ownership fee (about $126) with renewal; the fee on conventional hybrids was eliminated in 2025. A 6% motor vehicle usage tax applies at purchase.
Tennessee in short
Tennessee's state registration fee is about $29 for passenger vehicles (including county issuance), but most counties add a wheel tax — $0 in some rural counties, $36 in Knox, $55 in Davidson — that varies widely. EVs pay a $200 annual fee rising to $274 on January 1, 2027 and inflation-indexed after; hybrids and plug-in hybrids pay $100.
All figures computed from official fee schedules — sources: https://drive.ky.gov/Pages/EV-HV-Fee.aspx · https://revenue.ky.gov/Property/Motor-Vehicles/Pages/default.aspx — last reviewed 2026-07-16.