Vehicle lifts in Tennessee: plate lights, hitch lifts and help

Put a scooter on the back of a car and the first thing a Tennessee driver tends to ask is simple: will the plate still be legal? A platform on a hitch sits right where the plate and its lamp usually are, and nobody wants a traffic stop on the way to church.

We can tell you what one Tennessee law on plate lighting says, word for word, and where our research ran out. We will also point you to the state's own help with vehicle modifications and to lifts that keep a plate and lights on the back of the load.

Tennessee law on plates and plate lights

The display rules for Tennessee registration plates sit in section 55-4-110 of the Tennessee Code, titled "Display of registration plates." In 2013 the General Assembly added a lighting rule to that section. Public Chapter No. 223 (Senate Bill 131) reads:

"(c)(1) Except as provided in subdivision (c)(2), for all motor vehicles that are factory-equipped to illuminate the registration plate, the registration plate shall be illuminated at all times that headlights are illuminated."

The exception in (c)(2) covers antique motor vehicles. The act also says a violation that comes only from an unlit plate "shall be considered a nonmoving traffic violation and no points shall be added to a driver's record for such violation." It took effect July 1, 2013.

Why this matters for a lift: if your car has a factory plate lamp, a lift that moves the plate onto its own frame also needs a way to keep that plate lit whenever your headlights are on. Many hitch lifts ship with a plate mount, and some offer a riser or a lighting kit. Ask what comes in the box before you buy.

Where we stopped

We could not open the current full text of section 55-4-110. The free public copy of the Tennessee Code asked for a verification step that we do not bypass, so we cannot quote its mounting height or visibility wording, and we found no Tennessee text that names wheelchair carriers or lifts. Before you mount a lift, check the current section yourself or ask the state's motor vehicle office or your local law enforcement agency how they apply it to a carrier.

Help with vehicle modifications from Tennessee VR

Tennessee's Vocational Rehabilitation program sits in the Department of Human Services. Its draft program manual section on Transportation Services (9.82), marked with an effective date of 10/01/2026, says VR may pay for "Vehicle repairs necessary to support participation in vocational rehabilitation services," and adds: "Vehicle modifications are provided under Rehabilitation Technology Services." The same section separates repair from modification, "as modification is considered a rehabilitation technology service."

In practice that means a lift tied to getting or keeping a job is a question for a VR counselor, and the decision runs through the person's employment plan. The document is labeled a draft, so ask your counselor how it applies to you today.

Lifts that suit Tennessee roads and driveways

Every lift below is matched to a vehicle and a device, so the weight of the scooter or chair and the class of your hitch decide most of it.

• Bruno ASL-700 Chariot. A lift that rolls on its own wheels behind the vehicle, so the load rests on the Chariot rather than the car. It lifts up to 350 lb, and its lighting includes a license plate holder, brake and running lights and turn signals, which speaks directly to the plate question above.
• Harmar AL100HD. A powered hitch lift for heavier scooters, rated for 400 lb and needing a Class III hitch or higher. A license plate mount is in the box, and a license plate riser is an available add-on.
• Harmar AL065. A hitch-mounted hoist that guides a manual chair, small powerchair or scooter inside the vehicle, up to 200 lb. Its heaviest component is 23 lb. Because the device rides inside, nothing hangs over the plate on the road.
• Harmar AL435T Tailgater. A truck-bed hoist with an offset arm that reaches 43 in to the curb or over a 24 in tailgate, lifting up to 400 lb. For pickup owners, the plate stays where the truck put it.

Rain, ice and a long tornado season

NOAA's Tennessee climate summary puts the long-term average at 52.2 inches of precipitation a year, and the wettest year on record, 2018, brought 67.1 inches. A scooter riding outside on a hitch lift spends a lot of Tennessee miles in the wet, so a fitted cover is worth considering; Harmar offers one as an add-on for the AL100HD, and Bruno offers a vinyl cover for the Chariot.

Winter brings "occasional damaging snow and ice storms," with snowfall from 1 to 4 inches a year in the south to nearly a foot in the northeast. Salt and slush coat whatever hangs off the back of the car. Rinse the platform and check the plate lamp after a storm. The summary also counts about 21 tornadoes a year from 1985 to 2019, peaking in spring, which is one more reason some families prefer a hoist that keeps the device inside.

Borrowing and trying equipment in Tennessee

The Tennessee Technology Access Program is the state's assistive technology program; the AT3 Center lists device loan, device demonstration and device reutilization there. TTAP describes its loans as a way for people "to see whether a specific device will meet their needs before making a purchasing decision," which is useful when you are still choosing the scooter that the lift will carry.

Ordering and delivery to Tennessee

We work with a team of credentialed local specialists to guarantee timely, safe, and optimal delivery and installation. Faith Mobility ships to the lower 48 states and DC. Shipping is free on orders over $500 ($15 under $500), we cover the sales tax on every order, and most products are processed in 2-5 business days, though some brands differ. See our Tennessee shipping page, and start with the vehicle lift fit check so the lift matches your car and your device.

Questions about vehicle lifts in Tennessee

Does Tennessee require my plate to be lit when I carry a scooter?

Public Chapter 223 of 2013 amended Tennessee Code 55-4-110 so that, for vehicles factory-equipped to light the plate, the plate "shall be illuminated at all times that headlights are illuminated." If a lift moves your plate, plan for a lamp on the new mount. An unlit-plate-only violation is nonmoving, with no points added.

Can a hitch lift legally cover my Tennessee license plate?

We could not confirm this. We were unable to read the current text of section 55-4-110 and found no Tennessee text that mentions wheelchair carriers. The safest path is a lift that relocates the plate onto its own mount, with lighting, and a check with the state's motor vehicle office or local law enforcement before you drive.

Will Tennessee Vocational Rehabilitation help pay for a vehicle lift?

Possibly, when it supports work. The VR program manual's draft transportation section says vehicle modifications "are provided under Rehabilitation Technology Services" and treats repair and modification separately. Funding depends on eligibility and your employment plan, so a VR counselor at the Department of Human Services is the person to ask.

Which lift keeps a scooter out of Tennessee rain?

A hoist that lifts the device into the vehicle, such as the Harmar AL065, keeps it dry and leaves the plate area clear. If you prefer an outside platform, look for a fitted cover. NOAA's summary gives Tennessee a long-term average of 52.2 inches of precipitation a year, so covers earn their keep.

Browse the vehicle lift collection, use the fit check, or take the full assessment if you are choosing the scooter and the lift together. Questions? Email us at info@faithmobility.com.

Sources

• Tennessee Public Chapter No. 223 (2013), Senate Bill 131, amending Tenn. Code Ann. 55-4-110
• TN Department of Human Services, VR Program Manual 9.82 Transportation Services (draft, effective 10/01/2026)
• TN Department of Human Services: Vocational Rehabilitation
• NOAA NCEI State Climate Summaries: Tennessee (2022)
• Tennessee Technology Access Program: core programs
• AT3 Center: Tennessee
• Bruno ASL-700 Chariot product page, Harmar AL100HD product page, Harmar AL065 product page, Harmar AL435T product page