Tennessee Bill of Sale — and Form RV-F1301201 Explained
Tennessee has no numbered general-purpose bill of sale form, and the Department of Revenue's document list for titling a used vehicle bought privately does not include a bill of sale — the county clerk's office, where all Tennessee titling happens, works from the properly assigned title, proof of ID and Tennessee residency, an odometer statement if applicable, and the registration if a plate is being transferred. A written bill of sale is still a useful record for both parties. Form RV-F1301201 is often mislabeled as "the" Tennessee bill of sale; it is actually the Affidavit of Non-Dealer Transfers, used for gifts, sales at 75% or less of fair market value, and transfers between relatives (spouses, siblings, lineal relatives, and spouses of lineal relatives) — not an ordinary arm's-length sale.
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State rules change. We check these requirements against official state sources, but details can go out of date. Confirm with your state's motor vehicle agency before you rely on them. If you notice anything wrong or outdated, email support@billofsale.app.
About These Forms
Covers: Tennessee Bill of Sale — and Form RV-F1301201 Explained
Agency: Tennessee Department of Revenue — Vehicle Services
Purpose: Documents a private vehicle sale in Tennessee — parties, vehicle, price, and date — as a record for buyer and seller. It is not on the Department of Revenue's used-vehicle title document list, which centers on the properly assigned title.
When required: Not required to title a used vehicle bought in an ordinary private sale. Tennessee sets no fixed day count, but the buyer must title and register the vehicle at the county clerk's office before driving it on a public road. The state title fee is $8.50.
What RV-F1301201 is
RV-F1301201 is the Tennessee Department of Revenue's Affidavit of Non-Dealer Transfers of Motor Vehicles and Boats. The edition we read is Rev. 5-22. It is a sworn tax statement, not a bill of sale.
The Department lists it for gift, low-price and lineal-relative transfers. An ordinary private sale at a normal price is titled with the assigned title, and no affidavit is needed.
When you need it
- A transfer to a tax-exempt relative: a spouse, sibling, child, grandchild, great-grandchild, parent, grandparent or great-grandparent, or the spouse of a child, grandchild or great-grandchild.
- A gift to anyone else.
- A low selling price, meaning 75% or less of the fair market value. The form says fair market value comes from an authoritative pricing guide such as the N.A.D.A. Official Used Car Guide.
What it asks for
- The seller's and buyer's names, addresses, phone numbers, and FEIN or driver license numbers.
- The vehicle or boat: year, make, VIN or serial number, date of sale, its fair market value, and any lien, with the amount owed and the lender.
- Your relationship, if the transfer is between relatives.
- For a gift or low price: what was given in exchange (money, a loan taken over or paid off, work done, or other value), any trade-in of a like kind, the total sales price, and the reason the price is low.
What you swear to
Both parties sign under penalty of perjury that the form shows the full amount paid. The total includes money paid to someone else, such as a lender; if nothing was paid, the price is $0. The form warns that reporting too little can lead to sales tax, penalty and interest charged to the buyer.
Titling a used vehicle in Tennessee
- Go to your county clerk's office with proof of identity and Tennessee residency, the valid title, an odometer disclosure statement if needed, and your current registration if you are moving a plate over.
- Add the affidavit only for a gift, a low price or a relative transfer.
Tennessee Vehicle Sale Requirements
What to Include in a Tennessee Bill of Sale
A complete bill of sale usually includes:
- Seller name, address
- Buyer name, address
- Year, make, model
- VIN
- Odometer
- Sale price
- Date of sale
- Both signatures
Official Source
Check with the Tennessee DOR for any state-specific form, or use our free generator above to pre-fill a Tennessee bill of sale.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I title a car in Tennessee?
What is Tennessee's sales tax on vehicle purchases?
Is Form RV-F1301201 a bill of sale?
Which relatives are exempt from sales tax on a vehicle transfer in Tennessee?
Sources we checked
- RV-F1301201 Affidavit of Non-Dealer Transfers (Rev. 5-22), Tennessee Department of Revenue (read 2026-09-25)
- Titling a vehicle, Tennessee Department of Revenue (read 2026-09-25)
- Taxation of car and boat sales, Tennessee Department of Revenue (read 2026-09-25)
Tennessee Templates by Vehicle
Tennessee Bill of Sale Hub
All Tennessee requirements: notarization, transfer deadlines, tax rates, and additional forms.
View Tennessee guide →