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Tennessee · Paperwork

Tennessee bill of sale — requirements and free generator

Tennessee is blunt about what a bill of sale is not: the Department of Revenue states that "a notarized bill of sale is not sufficient proof of ownership" — only a properly endorsed title showing the chain of ownership transfers a vehicle, and the transfer happens at your county clerk’s office. Where the bill of sale earns its keep is taxes. The clerk collects sales tax at titling: 7% state tax on the full price, plus your county’s local option tax on the first $1,600, plus the state single article tax of 2.75% on the slice from $1,600.01 to $3,200. Casual sales between private parties are fully taxable; the exception is sales between spouses, siblings, or lineal relatives, which are tax-exempt but must be reported on the Affidavit of Non-Dealer Transfers — the same affidavit the clerk requires for gifts and low-price sales. There is no grace period: a Tennessee buyer must title and register before operating the vehicle on a public road, though a 30-day Temporary Operation Permit can bridge the gap. The standard title fee is $14, plus county fees. No notarization anywhere.

Not legal advice — general information for Tennessee. Last reviewed: July 2026.

Tennessee: bill of sale — required in some cases · notarization: not required

The endorsed title transfers ownership — the DOR states a notarized bill of sale is not sufficient proof. Gifts, low-price sales, and family transfers file the Affidavit of Non-Dealer Transfers; the county clerk collects 7% state tax plus local and single-article tax at titling.

Official state form: Affidavit of Non-Dealer Transfers (RV-F1301201) — for DMV title/registration paperwork, use the official form; keep this generated document as your signed record of the deal.

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MOTOR VEHICLE BILL OF SALE

State of Tennessee

1. The Parties. This Bill of Sale is made effective as of ______________________ (the “Sale Date”) by and between ______________________, with a mailing address of ________________________________________ (the “Seller”), and ______________________, with a mailing address of ________________________________________(the “Buyer”).

2. The Property.The Seller agrees to sell, transfer, and deliver to the Buyer the following described property (the “Property”):

  • Year: ________
  • Make: ______________________
  • Model: ______________________
  • Color: ____________
  • Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): ______________________
  • Odometer Reading: ____________ miles

3. Consideration. The Buyer agrees to pay the Seller the total sum of $____________ USD, receipt of which is acknowledged by the Seller as full payment for the Property.

4. Ownership. The Seller certifies that the Seller is the legal owner of the Property, that the Property is sold free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, and claims, and that the Seller has full right and authority to sell and transfer it.

5. Odometer Disclosure Statement

Federal law (49 U.S.C. § 32705) requires that you state the mileage upon transfer of ownership. Failure to complete an odometer statement, or providing a false statement, may result in fines and/or imprisonment. I, ______________________, certify to the best of my knowledge that the odometer reading of ____________ miles:

  • ☑ reflects the ACTUAL mileage of the vehicle;
  • ☐ exceeds the odometer’s mechanical limits;
  • ☐ is NOT the actual mileage — WARNING: ODOMETER DISCREPANCY.

6. Condition. The Buyer accepts the Property in its present condition, “AS-IS, WHERE-IS”, with all faults. The Seller makes no warranties, express or implied, including any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, except the warranty of ownership stated above.

Seller’s Signature

Printed Name: ______________________

Date: ____________________

Buyer’s Signature

Printed Name: ______________________

Date: ____________________

Generated with the free Brixaz bill of sale generator (brixaz.com/tools/bill-of-sale). General information, not legal advice. For vehicles, the certificate of title transfers ownership — this document is supporting proof of the sale.

Tennessee requirements for a private sale

  • ✓The endorsed title is the ownership document — "a notarized bill of sale is not sufficient proof of ownership" (TN Dept. of Revenue, article SB-3); with no title, the buyer faces the surety bond or certification-of-ownership process.
  • ✓Title and register at the county clerk before operating the vehicle on a public road or highway (TN DOR, VTR-46); a 30-day Temporary Operation Permit is available if you cannot title immediately.
  • ✓The county clerk collects at titling: 7% state sales tax, the county’s local option tax on the first $1,600 of the price, and the 2.75% state single article tax on the portion from $1,600.01 to $3,200 (TN DOR, VTR-34).
  • ✓Gifts, low-price sales, and transfers between relatives require the Affidavit of Non-Dealer Transfers of Motor Vehicles and Boats (form RV-F1301201); sales between spouses, siblings, or lineal relatives are tax-exempt but still file it (TN DOR, GI-13).
  • ✓Standard title fee: $14, plus county processing fees that vary by county.
  • ✓The title assignment carries the odometer disclosure — federal law requires it for model year 2011 and newer vehicles.

Notarization: not required

Tennessee does not require notarized signatures on its own titles or on a bill of sale — and pointedly, notarizing a bill of sale does not turn it into proof of ownership. The state honors other states’ notary rules when an out-of-state title requires them, but a Tennessee-to-Tennessee sale never needs a notary.

Official form

Tennessee has no official bill-of-sale form for a standard private sale. Its official document is narrower: the Affidavit of Non-Dealer Transfers of Motor Vehicles and Boats (RV-F1301201, tn.gov), required when the sale is a gift, a low-price transfer, or between close relatives. For everything else, a written bill of sale like this one documents the price the county clerk taxes.

Worked example: selling a car in Tennessee

Say you buy a 2017 Ram 1500 in Nashville for $12,000. At the Davidson County Clerk’s office the math stacks three layers: 7% state tax on $12,000 = $840; Davidson’s 2.25% local option tax on the first $1,600 = $36; and the 2.75% state single article tax on the $1,600.01–$3,200 slice = $44. Total: $920 in tax, plus the $14 title fee and county fees. You cannot legally drive the truck to work first and title later — Tennessee requires title and registration before the vehicle operates on a public road. If instead your brother sold you the same truck for $3,000, the sale would be tax-exempt as a sibling transfer — but only with the Affidavit of Non-Dealer Transfers filed at the clerk’s counter.

Tennessee bill of sale FAQ

Can I title a car in Tennessee with just a bill of sale?

No. The Department of Revenue is explicit that a notarized bill of sale is not sufficient proof of ownership — you need the properly endorsed title showing the chain of ownership. If the title is lost, the seller should order a duplicate before the sale; otherwise the buyer faces the surety bond process.

How much is sales tax on a used car bought from a private seller in Tennessee?

Three pieces, all collected by the county clerk at titling: 7% state tax on the full price, your county’s local option tax on the first $1,600 (rates vary by county), and the 2.75% state single article tax on the portion between $1,600.01 and $3,200. On most cars the local and single-article pieces together add roughly $80 or less.

What is the Affidavit of Non-Dealer Transfers and when is it required?

Form RV-F1301201 is the Department of Revenue’s sworn statement for person-to-person transfers that are gifts, unusually low-price sales, or sales between close relatives. Family sales (spouses, siblings, lineal relatives) pay no sales tax at all, but the affidavit is how the exemption gets reported at the county clerk’s office.

How long do I have to title a car in Tennessee after buying it?

There is no waiting period to use up — the vehicle must be titled and registered in your name before you operate it on a public road. If you cannot get to the clerk’s office right away, a Temporary Operation Permit covers up to 30 days. Practically, buyers ride to the county clerk with the seller the same day.

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