Aug. 3, 2015
Commodore fans living in Tennessee can now show their school spirit with one of two specialty license plates. The state of Tennessee has approved two plate options — one with the generic Star V logo and another with the logo of the 2014 NCAA Baseball Championship, and Commodore fans can choose which one they prefer on their vehicle.
Fans are strongly encouraged to read the accompanying question and answer section as it will provide answers to nearly every question that may arise. Fans should note that the policies and procedures are those of the state of Tennessee, not the Vanderbilt athletic department.
Q: I’m a Tennessee resident. How do I pre-order one of Vanderbilt’s two newly approved athletic license plates?
A: Commodore fans will pre-order online. On that form you will indicate which of the two plates you want along with required information that is easy to provide.
Q: How much do the Vanderbilt plates cost?
A: $40. That does not include state and local renewal and registration fees. This charge is $35 for the license plate and $5.00 for processing fees incurred by Vanderbilt Athletics.
Q: How soon will I receive my new plate?
A: The State of Tennessee requires a pre-sale of at least 1,000 plates each for the newly approved athletic plates before it will begin the production process. That production process requires about four months after reaching the 1,000 plate mark.
Q: How do I transition from my current plate to the Commodore plate?
A: Once your new plate is ready, you surrender your current plate to your respective county clerk. The state will pro-rate any remaining equity in the old plate.
Q: Can we order personalized plates on the initial list from the organization?
A: No, the initial list must consist of numerical plates only. Once the plate is produced a personalized plate request may be sent to the Tennessee Department of Revenue by completing a Personalized Plate application and submitting the associated fee. You will receive a random number based upon when your order is received.
Q: How do I actually receive my plate?
A: You will be notified by the state when the plate you ordered is available. You can elect to wait until your next renewal date, or you can surrender your current plate to the respective county clerk any time after the notice. Your county clerk will issue the new plate to you.
Q: What if I order the CWS baseball plate and 1,000 are not pre-ordered?
A: The state will not produce any plate that does not have at least 1,000 orders. Vanderbilt will ask buyers during the ordering process if they would be willing to take the Star-V plate in case the baseball order does not hit the minimum. That indication is on the order form.
Q: Is there a deadline to order?
A: Fans ordering CWS baseball plates should place their order on or before September 30, 2015. Fans ordering the generic Star V plate should order prior to November 30, 2015. These deadlines are essential in keeping the process moving along; Vanderbilt has until June 30, 2016 to complete this process for the Department of Revenue.
Q: Where does my money go?
A: The state will take a share of this and the remaining portion will go to Vanderbilt’s athletic endowment fund designated for student-athlete scholarships.
Q: Can I get a disabled specialty plate?
A: No, however, a disabled driver decal is available through the local county clerk’s office. Disabled persons who currently own or elect to purchase new specialty earmarked plates may obtain a “Disabled Driver Decal” and take advantage of disabled parking privileges by certification of a permanent disability by a licensed physician or Christian Science Practitioner listed in the Christian Science Journal. There is no fee associated for this decal.
Q: What do the stacked characters on the license plate mean?
A: The stacked characters on the license plate are assigned by the Tennessee Department of Revenue and are for office use only for the purpose of unique identification.
Q: Do I have to order my plate online?
A: Yes. There is no process for walk-up purchases.
