Low/Medium Speed Vehicles

AUTHORITY:
Tenn. Code Ann. Sections 55-1-122, 55-1-123 and 55-1-125, 55-8-101 and 55-8-102,
and 55-50-102
U.S. Code 49 CFR 571.500
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

DESCRIPTION:

• “Low Speed Vehicle” means any four wheeled electric or gasoline vehicle, excluding golf carts, whose top speed is greater than twenty miles per hour (20mph) but not greater than twenty-five miles per hour (25mph), including neighborhood electric vehicles. Low speed vehicles must comply with the standards in 49 CFR 571.500.
• “Medium Speed Vehicle” means any four wheeled electric or gasoline vehicle, excluding golf carts, whose top speed is greater than thirty miles per hour (30mph) but not greater than thirty-five miles per hour (35mph), including neighborhood electric vehicles and Mini-Trucks. Medium speed vehicles must meet or exceed the federal safety standards set forth in 49 CFR 571.500.
• “Golf Cart” means a motor vehicle that is designed and manufactured for operation on a golf course for sporting or recreational purposes and equipped with safety belts installed for use in the left front and right front seats and that is not capable of exceeding speeds of twenty miles per hour (20 mph).
• A golf cart that has been designed and manufactured for on road use, or has been modified to meet all of the requirements and federal safety standards may be registered as a “Low or Medium Speed Vehicle”.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Individuals applying for title and registration on a low or medium speed vehicle must submit a Low or Medium Speed Affidavit that certifies the vehicle has been sufficiently modified to meet all low or medium speed vehicle requirements. The affidavit must be submitted with the registration application as a condition of registration.
• Clerks are authorized to title and register these vehicles as low or medium speed vehicles if all documentation requirements are met.
• A county of municipality may prohibit the operation of low or medium speed vehicles on any road under its jurisdiction if the governing body of the county or municipality determines that the prohibition is necessary in the interest of safety.
• The department of transportation may prohibit the operation of low or medium speed vehicles on any road under its jurisdiction if it determines that the prohibition is necessary in the interest of safety.
• Any person operating a low or medium speed vehicle must have in possession a valid Class D driver license.

NOTE(S):

• A surety bond should be required to support a title-only application for an ATV purchased for more than $3,000 where the owner does not have a certificate of title or an MSO. This is for former titling and non-titling states. There is no distinction. A registration document will not be sufficient to issue a title.

The following chart outlines which plate off-highway vehicles should be issued based on vehicle specifications:

Mini Trucks:

Mini trucks can receive a medium speed registration or a Class I registration. “Medium Speed Vehicle” means any four wheeled electric or gasoline vehicle, excluding golf carts, whose top speed is greater than thirty miles per hour (30mph) but not greater than thirty-five miles per hour (35mph), including neighborhood electric vehicles and Minitrucks. Medium speed vehicles must meet or exceed the federal safety standards set forth in 49 CFR 571.500. Customers must submit the low or medium speed affidavit https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/revenue/documents/forms/titlereg/RV-F16031Fill-in.pdf when registering a vehicle as such. Mini Trucks are also permitted to receive a Class I license plate.