Free Tennessee As-Is Bill of Sale
Tennessee's lemon law (TCA § 55-24-101) protects buyers only on new vehicles purchased from dealers — private as-is sales receive no lemon law coverage whatsoever. Under the TN UCC (TCA § 47-2-316), an "AS IS" clause must be conspicuous to waive implied warranties. The TN Consumer Protection Act (TCA § 47-18-104) applies to businesses and merchants, not private individuals, so casual private sellers are not liable under that statute — though outright fraud remains actionable.
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Tennessee As-Is Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Sales Tax Details
Tennessee imposes a 7% sales tax on private vehicle sales, collected at the county clerk's office at the time of title transfer. The county local option tax (up to 2.75%) applies only to the first $1,600, and a 2.75% state single article tax applies to the part from $1,600.01 to $3,200.
Inspection Requirements
Tennessee does not require a safety inspection at the time of a private vehicle sale. No Tennessee county requires a vehicle emissions test: the state program ended in Hamilton, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson and Wilson counties in January 2022, and Davidson County ended its program on February 5, 2022.
Tennessee As-Is Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Use Form RV-F1301201 (Affidavit of Non-Dealer Transfers of Motor Vehicles) only if the transfer is a gift, a sale at 75% or less of fair market value, or between relatives — an ordinary arm's-length sale does not need it.
- Sign the back of the Tennessee certificate of title, including the odometer disclosure section.
- Draft an as-is bill of sale with "AS IS — NO WARRANTIES" in conspicuous (bold, capitalized) text.
- Record the full VIN, year, make, model, actual sale price, odometer reading, date, and both parties' names and addresses.
- Both parties sign and retain a copy of the bill of sale.
- Seller removes Tennessee license plates — plates belong to the seller and must not transfer with the vehicle.
- Buyer submits the assigned title, proof of ID and residency, and the 7% sales tax to the county clerk before driving on a public road.
Common Pitfalls
- Skipping a written bill of sale: Tennessee doesn't list one for titling, but without it the seller has no documented proof of the as-is terms and sale price if the buyer later disputes the transaction.
- Failing conspicuousness on the AS IS clause: under TCA § 47-2-316, the disclaimer must be visually distinct — body-text size and weight won't do; use bold or all-caps.
- Leaving plates on the vehicle: Tennessee plates stay with the seller; transferring the vehicle with plates still attached makes the seller liable for future toll violations, parking tickets, and accidents.
- Underreporting the sale price: private sales are subject to sales tax, and a sale at 75% or less of fair market value must be documented on the RV-F1301201 affidavit, signed under penalty of perjury.
- Expecting an emissions test to catch problems: no Tennessee county requires one since 2022, so the buyer should arrange a mechanic's inspection before signing an as-is sale.
Pro Tip
In a Tennessee as-is sale, make the AS IS clause conspicuous, document the sale price accurately, use the RV-F1301201 affidavit only for gifts, low-price sales, or relative transfers, and hand over a properly assigned title to protect both parties.