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The bottom line: Selling a car privately in Tennessee is one of the simpler state processes. No notarization, no release of liability form, and no emissions requirement. You sign over the title, remove your plates, and the buyer handles the rest.
You’re responsible for signing the title correctly and removing your license plates before the buyer drives away. The buyer then has 30 days 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.
Key Takeaways
- Title notarization: Tennessee does not require it. Sign in blue or black ink, exactly as your name appears on the front of the title.
- Missing title: A replacement costs $14.00. Download Form RV-F1315201 and submit it to your county clerk’s office with your ID and the fee. Processing typically takes 7 to 10 business days.
- Buyer deadline: The buyer has 30 days to complete title transfer and registration at their county clerk’s office.
- License plates: They stay with you, not the car. Remove them before the buyer drives away.
- Release of liability: Tennessee has no required form. The completed title transfer and your bill of sale serve as proof you no longer own the vehicle.
- Bill of sale: Not legally required in Tennessee, but strongly recommended. It doesn’t need to be notarized.
- Emissions testing: Tennessee has no emissions testing requirement in any county. The program ended completely in 2022.
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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 $14.00. Processing typically takes 7 to 10 business days.
If you still owe money on the car:
Tennessee is an electronic lien state. Your lender holds the lien electronically through the state’s system. Once you pay off the loan, they release the lien and a paper title is mailed to you.
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.
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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.
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Step 5: Meet with Buyers Safely
Always meet at public places like bank parking lots during daylight hours.
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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.
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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.
Tennessee does not require title notarization for private party sales. No notary is needed.
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 to do this. After that, late fees may apply.
Step 8: Sign Bill of Sale (Recommended)
A bill of sale isn’t required by Tennessee law, 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.
Tennessee doesn’t have an official state bill of sale form, so a generic document works fine. It doesn’t need to be notarized. 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
Remove your license plates before the buyer drives away. In Tennessee, plates belong to you (the owner), not the car.
You can transfer the plates to another vehicle you own through your county clerk’s office for a $1 fee, or you can destroy them if you don’t need them.
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
Tennessee does not have a required release of liability form for sellers. 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 DMV Resources
State Resources:
- Tennessee Department of Revenue, Vehicle Services
- 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) | $14.00 | Before sale |
| Lien payoff (if applicable) | Loan balance | Before sale |
| Plate transfer (optional) | $1.00 | 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 to complete title transfer and registration at their county clerk’s office. If the 30th day falls on a weekend or holiday, the next business day is the deadline.
Missing the deadline can result in late fees. 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?
No, Tennessee doesn’t require title notarization. The title assignment itself never needs a notary. Just sign in blue or black ink, exactly as your name appears on the front.
When is a bill of sale required in Tennessee?
A bill of sale isn’t required by Tennessee law for private vehicle sales. 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.
It doesn’t need to be notarized, and there’s no official state form. A generic document is fine.
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. Tennessee is an electronic lien state, meaning your lender holds the lien electronically. Once you pay off the loan, they release the lien and you’ll receive a paper title by mail. 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. You’ll need a copy of the Letters Testamentary (or Letters of Administration) to show you have legal authority to sign.
For smaller estates that didn’t go through probate, Tennessee allows an Affidavit of Heirship to transfer ownership. For vehicle gifts or family transfers, use Form RV-F1301201 (Affidavit of Non-Dealer Transfers). 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 $14.00. 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, hand over the paperwork, and remove your plates. 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?
No, Tennessee license plates stay with you (the seller). Remove them before the buyer leaves. You can transfer them to another vehicle you own for $1 at your county clerk’s office, or destroy them if you don’t need them.
The buyer gets new plates when they register the car. Don’t let the buyer drive off with your plates on 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.