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The bottom line: Selling a car privately in Tennessee is one of the simpler state processes. You sign over the title, plates stay with the seller, and the buyer handles the rest at their county clerk.
You’re responsible for signing the title correctly. After the sale, the buyer has 30 days from purchase date to complete registration at their county clerk’s office.
If you’re not sure what your car is worth, you can compare offers from multiple services with Sell Car Advisor before committing to a private sale.
Tennessee at a glance
- Title required to sell: yes
- Title notarization required: not required
- Cost to replace a lost title: $14 (plus county fees)
- Replacement title processing time: varies by county; typically 7 to 10 business days, with 3 business days in Shelby County and 4 to 6 weeks by mail
- Title replacement available online: no
- Bill of sale required: recommended
- Bill of sale notarization required: no, except when the title is held by a lienor (TCA § 55-3-118(b))
- Emissions testing required to sell: no
- Safety inspection required to sell: no
- License plates stay: with the seller
- Buyer’s deadline to register: 30 days from purchase date
- Buyer penalty for missing deadline: title penalties may apply (varies by county)
- Form to release yourself from liability: None required
- Deadline to file release of liability: Not required
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Step-by-Step Process for Tennessee
Step 1: Prepare Your Tennessee Paperwork
Documents you’ll need:
- Vehicle title – Must be in your name and clear of liens
- Valid Tennessee driver’s license – Names must match exactly
- Lien release documentation – If you still owe money on the car
If your title is missing:
You’ll need to get a replacement first. Download Form RV-F1315201 and submit it to your county clerk’s office with your ID and $14 (plus county fees).
Processing time: varies by county; typically 7 to 10 business days, with 3 business days in Shelby County and 4 to 6 weeks by mail.
If you can’t get a title:
Tennessee allows one narrow exception, spelled out in TCA § 55-3-203. To qualify: vehicle must be 12+ years old, sold to a licensed dismantler or scrap metal processor for parts, dismantling, or scrap; 3-business-day waiting period before processing; ID, signature, and thumbprint collected at pickup.
That’s the only exception. For any other sale in Tennessee, you need a properly endorsed title to transfer ownership.
If you never had a title at all, your options depend on the car’s value and age. Cars worth $3,000 or less, or 30 years or older, qualify for a Certification of Ownership at your county clerk. Higher-value newer cars need a surety bond, which the state approves before the title is issued.
For more on this path, watch our video: Can You Sell a Car Without a Title in Tennessee?
If you still owe money on the car:
When you pay off the loan, the lienor signs the title release section, returns the tear-away portion with date and signature, or sends a lien release letter on lienor letterhead with the VIN to the Vehicle Services Division.
Contact your lender for their specific payoff and lien release timeline. If you owe more than the car is worth, you’ll need to pay the difference at closing.
Learn more: How to Sell a Financed Car?
Name matching requirement:
Check your title carefully. The name on your driver’s license must match the name on the title exactly. If you got married or changed your name, bring documentation showing the name change.
Step 2: Prepare Your Car
Clean your car inside and out, gather maintenance records, and run a VIN check to get the best price and build buyer confidence.
Learn more:
Step 3: Price Your Car
Learn more: Best Free Car Valuation Tools
Step 4: Advertise Your Car
Facebook Marketplace works best in Tennessee, especially in Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville where buyer activity is highest. Cars.com and Autotrader are good for reaching buyers statewide and from neighboring states like Kentucky, Virginia, and Georgia.
Tennessee’s truck market is strong year-round, and no emissions testing requirement makes older and higher-mileage cars easier to sell locally. Peddle or Wheelzy will buy your old or damaged car directly, and Carvana will give you competitive offers if you have a newer car.
Best for Newer Cars
-
Offer amount 35% 5/5
-
Process ease 20% 5/5
-
Offer validity 15% 4/5
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Pickup / drop-off 15% 4/5
-
Payment speed 15% 4/5
- Accepts cars with active loans
- Trade-in can save on sales tax
- License plate starts the quote
- Direct deposit option available
Best for Older Cars
-
Offer amount 30% 5/5
-
Quote speed 20% 5/5
-
Pickup speed 20% 4/5
-
Vehicle acceptance 15% 5/5
-
Process ease 15% 5/5
- Quote stays valid for 7 days
- Handles all the paperwork too
- Buys cars that are missing keys
- Pays cash or check at pickup
Best for Junk Cars
-
Offer amount 30% 5/5
-
Quote speed 20% 5/5
-
Pickup speed 20% 5/5
-
Vehicle acceptance 15% 4/5
-
Process ease 15% 4/5
- Assists with replacement titles
- Buys cars stripped for parts
- Driver pays you before loading
- Quote often needs a phone call
Learn more:
Step 5: Meet with Buyers Safely
Always meet at public places like bank parking lots during daylight hours.
Learn more:
Step 6: Handle Payment and Negotiate
Cash for cars under $5,000, cashier’s check (verify at bank), or meet at buyer’s bank for wire transfer.
Learn more:
Step 7: Complete the Tennessee Title Transfer
The assignment section is on the back of your Tennessee title. The owner (or owners) listed on the front must sign in the first “reassignment” section on the back. Print and sign your name exactly as it appears on the front of the title.
Fill in all required fields completely. You’ll need the buyer’s full name and address, the date of sale, the sale price, your signature, and the current odometer reading. Federal law requires odometer disclosure on vehicles with a model year of 2011 or newer.
Use blue or black ink only. Do not use white-out, correction fluid, or cross-outs on the title. Any errors void the document and you’ll need to apply for a duplicate title before you can complete the sale.
If both you and a co-owner are listed with “AND” between your names, both of you must sign. If the title uses “OR,” either owner can sign alone.
The buyer takes the signed title to their county clerk’s office to complete registration. They have 30 days from purchase date to do this. After that, title penalties may apply (varies by county).
Step 8: Sign Bill of Sale (Recommended)
Tennessee law doesn’t require a bill of sale, but it’s recommended for your protection. It documents the sale price, date, vehicle details, and both parties’ information in case any disputes come up later.
Bill of sale form: generic (no state form). Bill of sale notarization required: no, except when the title is held by a lienor (TCA § 55-3-118(b)). You can use our free bill of sale generator to create one in minutes.
Learn more: What is Bill of Sale for a Car? (Seller Guide + Templates)
Step 9: Handle Tennessee License Plates and Registration
In Tennessee, license plates stay with the seller.
You can transfer to another vehicle you own for $1, or surrender at the county clerk's office.
The buyer gets new plates when they register the car at their county clerk’s office.
Learn more: How to Remove License Plates Safely?
Step 10: Submit the Release of Liability
Form to release yourself from liability: None required. Deadline to file release of liability: Not required. The completed title transfer is what officially transfers ownership.
Keep your copies of the signed title and bill of sale for your records. These create a paper trail showing you’re no longer responsible for the vehicle.
Step 11: Cancel Insurance
Cancel your insurance only after the title transfer is complete.
Learn more: When to Cancel Car Insurance After Selling a Car?
Tennessee Sale Checklist
Before the Sale
At the Sale
After the Sale
Tennessee DMV Resources
State Resources:
- Tennessee Department of Revenue, Vehicle Titling
- County clerk offices handle all titling and registration locally across Tennessee’s 95 counties. Find your local office through your county government website.
- For a directory of all state DMV websites, visit: List of 50 States DMV Websites
Phone Support:
- Tennessee Department of Revenue: (615) 741-3101
Tennessee Fees and Costs
| What You Pay? | Cost | When? |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate title (if needed) | $14 (plus county fees) | Before sale |
| Lien payoff (if applicable) | Loan balance | Before sale |
| Plate transfer (optional) | $1 | After sale, if transferring to another vehicle |
| Everything else | $0 | Buyer pays |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the buyer have to transfer the title after we complete the sale?
The buyer has 30 days from purchase date to complete title transfer and registration at their county clerk’s office. If the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, the next business day is the deadline.
If the buyer misses the deadline, title penalties may apply (varies by county). As the seller, this is not your responsibility once you’ve signed the title correctly and handed it over.
Do I need to get the title notarized when I sign it over in Tennessee?
Title notarization required: not required.
Tennessee doesn't require the title assignment to be notarized for in-state titles. If the title is held by a lienor, the seller and buyer must execute a notarized bill of sale instead. Just sign in blue or black ink, exactly as your name appears on the front.
When is a bill of sale required in Tennessee?
In Tennessee, a bill of sale is recommended.
It’s still smart protection for both parties. It documents the agreed sale price, which can protect you if questions come up about taxes or ownership later.
Bill of sale form: generic (no state form). Bill of sale notarization required: no, except when the title is held by a lienor (TCA § 55-3-118(b)).
Can I sell my car if I still owe money on it in Tennessee?
Yes, but you need to coordinate lien release with your lender first.
When you pay off the loan, the lienor signs the title release section, returns the tear-away portion with date and signature, or sends a lien release letter on lienor letterhead with the VIN to the Vehicle Services Division. That paper title is what you sign over to the buyer.
If you owe more than the car is worth, you’ll need to pay the difference out of pocket at closing.
My car was inherited. What additional Tennessee forms do I need?
If the estate went through probate, the executor or administrator can sign the title as seller using Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration as authority.
If the estate didn’t go through probate, Tennessee uses Form RV-F1310501 (Affidavit of Inheritance) signed by all heirs, plus a copy of the death certificate, to transfer ownership at the local county clerk.
For vehicle gifts or family transfers, use Form RV-F1301201 (Affidavit of Non-Dealer Transfers of Motor Vehicles and Boats) to claim the sales tax exemption.
Contact your county clerk’s office to confirm which path fits your situation.
Both my spouse and I are on the Tennessee title. Do we both need to sign?
It depends on how the title reads. If “AND” appears between your names, both of you must sign the title assignment section. If “OR” appears between your names, either one of you can sign alone.
Check the front of your title carefully before the sale. Having both spouses present at signing avoids any complications.
What if I make a mistake on the Tennessee title?
Don’t try to fix it yourself with white-out or cross-outs. A corrected or altered title is invalid in Tennessee and the county clerk won’t accept it.
Download Form RV-F1315201 and apply for a duplicate title at your county clerk’s office. The fee is $14 (plus county fees). Once you receive the clean duplicate, you can complete the sale.
The buyer is from out of state. Does Tennessee require anything special?
Your obligations as the seller are the same. Sign the title correctly and hand over the paperwork. The process on your end doesn’t change.
The buyer takes the signed Tennessee title to their home state DMV to complete registration. Their state may have additional requirements, like a VIN inspection, but that’s their responsibility to sort out.
Learn more: How to Sell a Car Out of State?
Do Tennessee license plates transfer to the buyer?
In Tennessee, license plates stay with the seller.
You can transfer to another vehicle you own for $1, or surrender at the county clerk's office.
The buyer gets new plates when they register the car.
Article Update History
This guide reflects Tennessee's current title transfer process and has been checked against official Tennessee Department of Revenue requirements.
Originally posted and shared with our readers.
Sources
"not required" Accessed May 7, 2026
"yes" Accessed May 7, 2026
Emissions Testing Required to Sell?
"no" Accessed May 7, 2026
"with the seller" Accessed May 7, 2026
Buyer Registration Deadline After Sale
"30 days from purchase date" Accessed May 7, 2026
"$14 (plus county fees)" Accessed May 7, 2026
Replacement Title Processing Time
"varies by county; typically 7 to 10 business days, with 3 business days in Shelby County and 4 to 6 weeks by mail" Accessed May 7, 2026
"recommended" Accessed May 7, 2026
Bill of Sale Notarization Required?
"no, except when the title is held by a lienor (TCA § 55-3-118(b))" Accessed May 7, 2026
Duplicate Title Application Form
"Form RV-F1315201" Accessed May 7, 2026
Sell Without Title: Legal Authority
"TCA § 55-3-203" Accessed May 7, 2026
Electronic Title Handling Note
"Tennessee primarily uses paper titles. ELT system was authorized in 2024 (TCA § 4-3-1904) but lien notation remains a paper process at county clerks." Accessed May 7, 2026
Inherited Vehicle Title Transfer Form
"Form RV-F1310501 (Affidavit of Inheritance)" Accessed May 7, 2026
"Form RV-F1301201 (Affidavit of Non-Dealer Transfers of Motor Vehicles and Boats)" Accessed May 7, 2026