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Free Tennessee Vehicle Bill of Sale

Tennessee processes every motor vehicle title transfer through the local county clerk on behalf of the Department of Revenue's Vehicle Services Division. The state publishes its own bill of sale, Form RV-F1301201, which doubles as the affidavit clerks use to verify purchase price and family-transfer exemptions. With no statewide safety inspection and no emissions testing since 2022, the bill of sale, signed-over title, and Application for Title (RV-F1301401) are the three documents that actually determine whether your transfer goes through cleanly.

Tennessee Requirements: Transfer title within 30 days. 7% sales tax.

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Tennessee Vehicle Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know

Primary Form
RV-F1301201
Affidavit of Non-Dealer Transfers of Motor Vehicles and Boats (Bill of Sale)
Agency
TN DOR
Tennessee Department of Revenue, Vehicle Services Division
Primary ID Field
VIN
Sales Tax
7%
Title Required
Yes
Seller signs the title over to the buyer (Tennessee uses an open-title process). Buyer takes the assigned title, the RV-F1301201 bill of sale, and Application for Title RV-F1301401 to their county clerk within 30 days of purchase.
Inspection
Not required

Sales Tax Details

Tennessee uses a unique single-article sales tax structure: 7% state tax on the full purchase price, plus 2.75% local single-article tax on the portion from $1,600.01 to $3,200, plus the local option tax (typically 2.25%-2.75%) on the first $1,600. Combined effective rate runs 9.25%-9.75%. County wheel tax also applies at registration.

Exemption: Transfers between spouses, parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren, and siblings are exempt from sales tax when documented with an Affidavit of Non-Dealer Transfer (RV-F1301201) noting the family relationship. Gifts and inheritances also qualify with proper paperwork.

Inspection Requirements

Tennessee has no statewide safety inspection. The Knox/Hamilton/Davidson/Rutherford/Sumner/Williamson/Wilson county vehicle emissions program ended statewide in early 2022, so no emissions test is required anywhere in TN as of 2024.

Registration

Registration for this vehicle type is handled by County Clerk (all title and registration work in Tennessee is processed at the county clerk's office, not at a state DMV) — not the same agency that handles cars in Tennessee. Plan for separate filings.

Tennessee Vehicle Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist

  1. Complete Form RV-F1301201 (Affidavit of Non-Dealer Transfer / Bill of Sale) with full VIN, year, make, model, exact purchase price, and odometer reading
  2. Have the seller sign over the Tennessee title in the assignment area, including printed name, signature, date of sale, and odometer disclosure
  3. Both buyer and seller sign the RV-F1301201 in front of a notary if the title is missing or if you are claiming a family-transfer tax exemption
  4. Buyer completes Form RV-F1301401 (Application for Tennessee Certificate of Title and Registration)
  5. Bring proof of TN residency, valid driver's license, and current proof of insurance to the county clerk
  6. Pay 7% state sales tax plus the local single-article tax tier and county wheel tax at the clerk's window
  7. File everything with the county clerk within 30 days of the sale date to avoid penalty interest on the title transfer

Common Pitfalls

  • Writing "$1" or "gift" on the bill of sale to dodge tax — TN clerks will assess tax against NADA clean retail value if the price looks artificially low
  • Forgetting that Tennessee's single-article tax is calculated in tiers (7% on first $1,600, 2.75% on $1,600.01-$3,200, then 7% again above) — many buyers underestimate total tax owed at the clerk window
  • Assuming you can go to a "DMV" — Tennessee has no DMV; all title and registration work happens at the county clerk's office where the buyer resides
  • Skipping notarization on a family-transfer exemption — the RV-F1301201 must be notarized AND state the relationship to qualify for the sales tax waiver
  • Missing the 30-day transfer deadline, which triggers a late title penalty and interest on the unpaid sales tax
  • Believing you still need an emissions test — the statewide vehicle emissions program ended in 2022 and no Tennessee county currently requires one

Pro Tip

Tennessee's county-clerk-driven system is faster than most state DMVs once you have the right paperwork in hand. The two form numbers to remember are RV-F1301201 (bill of sale / affidavit) and RV-F1301401 (title application) — bring both, file within 30 days, and budget for the layered single-article sales tax plus your county wheel tax.

Tennessee Vehicle Bill of Sale — FAQs

Does Tennessee require its state-issued bill of sale, or can I use my own?
Tennessee strongly prefers Form RV-F1301201 (the Affidavit of Non-Dealer Transfer) because county clerks use it to verify both the sale price and any family-transfer exemption. A private bill of sale is accepted only if it includes everything the state form does: full VIN, year/make/model, odometer reading, exact purchase price, buyer/seller names and addresses, signatures, and date. If you are claiming a tax exemption for a family transfer, the state form is effectively mandatory because it must be notarized and contain the specific relationship affidavit language clerks look for.
How is Tennessee sales tax actually calculated on a used car purchase?
Tennessee layers three taxes. First, 7% state sales tax applies to the entire purchase price. Second, the local option tax (typically 2.25%-2.75% depending on county) applies to the first $1,600 of price. Third, a state single-article tax of 2.75% applies only to the portion of price between $1,600.01 and $3,200. Above $3,200 you pay just the 7% state rate. On a $20,000 vehicle in a county with a 2.75% local rate, expect roughly $1,944 in total tax, plus your county's wheel tax at registration.
I'm buying a car from my parent — do I owe sales tax?
No, Tennessee exempts transfers between spouses, parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren, and siblings from sales tax. To claim the exemption, you and your parent must both sign Form RV-F1301201 in front of a notary and explicitly state the family relationship on the affidavit. Bring the notarized form, the signed title, and Application RV-F1301401 to your county clerk. Without the notarized affidavit, the clerk will charge full sales tax based on the higher of your stated price or the NADA clean retail value.
Does Tennessee still require an emissions or safety inspection?
No on both counts. Tennessee has never required a statewide safety inspection, and the vehicle emissions inspection program — which had been required in Davidson, Hamilton, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson, and Wilson counties, plus the City of Memphis — was eliminated statewide in early 2022. As of today, no Tennessee county requires any inspection to transfer title or register a vehicle. You only need the title, bill of sale, application, and proof of insurance.
Where do I take my paperwork — is there a Tennessee DMV?
Tennessee does not have a DMV. The Department of Revenue's Vehicle Services Division sets the rules, but all title and registration transactions are handled at the county clerk's office in the county where the buyer lives. You cannot use any county clerk — it must be your home county. Bring the signed-over title, Form RV-F1301201, Form RV-F1301401, your TN driver's license, proof of insurance, and payment for tax, title fee, registration, and county wheel tax. Most clerks process the transfer same-day.

Other Tennessee Templates

🚗Car Bill of Sale🚙Used Car Bill of Sale🏍️Motorcycle Bill of Sale⛵Boat Bill of Sale🚛Trailer Bill of Sale🐴Horse Bill of Sale🏎️ATV Bill of Sale🔫Gun / Firearm Bill of Sale🏕️RV Bill of Sale📄General Bill of Sale🖨️Free Printable Bill of Sale📏Odometer Disclosure Bill of Sale⚠️As-Is Bill of Sale🎁Gift Bill of Sale

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