Tennessee Bill of Sale Requirements

Tennessee requirements

• The Department of Revenue says current Tennessee residents obtain titles for new and used vehicles from their county clerk office, so that is where the buyer files.
• For a used vehicle, the state lists proof of identification and residency, a valid certificate of title, an odometer disclosure statement if applicable, and a copy of the current registration if a plate is being transferred.
• A bill of sale is not on the state list of required documents for a used vehicle title, but it records the price and the date of transfer, which matters for sales tax on a non-dealer sale. Keep a signed copy and confirm with your county clerk what it wants to see.
• Tennessee publishes an Affidavit of Non-Dealer Transfers for gift, low selling price or lineal relative transfers. Our template is a general-purpose bill of sale and is not a substitute for that affidavit.
• The Department of Revenue does not list notarization as a requirement for a bill of sale in a private vehicle sale. Confirm signing requirements with the county clerk handling your transfer.
• For a vehicle with no title in hand, the state has separate guidance under What to Do if You Do Not Have a Title, so check that before signing anything.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I transfer a vehicle title in Tennessee?

At your county clerk office. The Department of Revenue sets the requirements statewide, but the county clerk issues the title and collects the tax and fees.

Does Tennessee require a bill of sale for a private car sale?

The state list of documents for a used vehicle title covers identification, residency, the assigned title, an odometer disclosure when applicable, and the current registration if a plate moves. A bill of sale is still worth having as proof of price and date, and the county clerk may ask for it.

Official sources

• https://www.tn.gov/revenue/title-and-registration/vehicle-titling/titling-a-vehicle.html
• https://www.tn.gov/revenue/title-and-registration/vehicle-titling.html