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. County and municipal local option taxes may add up to 2.75% on top of the state rate.
Inspection Requirements
Tennessee does not require a safety inspection at the time of a private vehicle sale. However, county emissions testing (visual inspection and OBD scan) applies in Shelby, Davidson, Rutherford, Williamson, Wilson, Hamilton, and Sullivan counties for vehicles 3–25 years old — the buyer must pass this test to register.
Tennessee As-Is Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Complete Form RV-F1301201 (Affidavit of Non-Dealer Transfers of Motor Vehicles) — required for ALL private party sales in Tennessee; this form documents the sale price for tax purposes and protects the seller.
- 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 retains the completed RV-F1301201 for their records.
- Seller removes Tennessee license plates — plates belong to the seller and must not transfer with the vehicle.
- Buyer submits title, RV-F1301201, and 7% sales tax to the county clerk within 30 days.
Common Pitfalls
- Skipping Form RV-F1301201: this affidavit is mandatory for all private party sales in Tennessee — omitting it can delay title transfer and leaves the seller without documented proof of the as-is 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: the 7% sales tax is calculated on the declared price in the RV-F1301201 and title — deliberately understating the price to reduce tax is tax fraud under TCA § 67-1-1440.
- Ignoring county emissions requirements: if the buyer lives in one of the seven emissions-testing counties, the vehicle must pass an emissions check before registration — a high-mileage as-is vehicle may fail, creating post-sale conflict unless the buyer understands this upfront.
Pro Tip
Tennessee's mandatory RV-F1301201 affidavit is the single most overlooked step in private vehicle sales — complete it, make the AS IS clause conspicuous, and document the sale price accurately to ensure a clean title transfer and protect both parties.