How to Sell a Car in Tennessee

The steps and process for selling a vehicle online are different in every state. Learn how to sell your used car or truck privately in Tennessee.

Whether you live in Eastern, Central, or Western Tennessee, if you are thinking about privately selling your used car or truck, you’ve come to the right place. With an estimated 2.7 million registered trucks and cars in the state of Tennessee, it’s no wonder that thousands of private vehicle sellers from the Volunteer State have used Autotrader to sell their car. Below, we’ve outlined the four steps and forms required for how to sell a car in the state of Tennessee so you can sell your car quickly for the most cash.

Remember, most states consider the vehicle title a legal document, so the legal names (no nicknames) of both parties involved should be used, along with legible handwriting using black or blue ink. Mistakes, errors, and using correction fluid, like White-Out, may void the document so be careful and take your time filling it out.

Step 1: Allow the buyer to have the car inspected by a third party
Step 2: Organize and gather all related vehicle documentation
Step 3: Transfer the title
Step 4: Remove your plates and cancel your insurance

Step 1: Allow the buyer to have the car inspected by a third party

Many vehicle shoppers who buy a car privately pay for a pre-purchase vehicle inspection conducted by a qualified and licensed auto mechanic of their choosing. Although the buyer pays for this inspection, the seller and buyer must agree on when and where the inspection is to be held. If the inspection does find any issues with the car, it is a good idea for you as the seller to keep the report for your records. Tennessee does not require this inspection and doesn’t have any forms that need to be filled out, but it’s a good idea for the buyer to have the inspection performed prior to the purchase.

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Step 2: Organize and gather all related vehicle documentation

Find all maintenance records, the owner’s manual and other paperwork related to the vehicle. If you can provide the buyer with extensive and detailed maintenance records, this will help provide the buyer with confidence that you’ve maintained the car in a proper and regular manner. You may even want to consider including a vehicle history report from a service like CarFax or AutoCheck.

The most important document when selling a car is the certificate of title. If there is a lien on the title, the lienholder must release interest in the vehicle before the car is sold. This can be achieved either by the seller paying off the car or by getting a lien release from the lienholder.

Some states require a bill of sale for a private vehicle transaction, but Tennessee is not one of them. While a bill of sale isn’t required, it’s always a good idea to have one. You can find a template for a bill of sale from services like LegalZoom to make it quick and easy.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) odometer disclosure requirements were updated in December 2020 impacting certain private vehicle sales in Tennessee: For a vehicle transfer that occurs from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2030, any vehicle of model year 2011 or newer (2012, 2013, etc.) will require an odometer disclosure. Starting on January 1, 2031, any vehicle that is less than 20 model years old will require an odometer disclosure. Previously, the NHTSA required disclosure was for only the first 10 years. Cars older than 2010 are exempt from odometer disclosures. Tenneessee's Departmtne of Revenue provides an odometer disclosure statement on their website.

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Step 3: Transfer the title

If the vehicle’s title has been lost, stolen or badly damaged, you can get a replacement/duplicate Tennessee title by filling out form RV-F1315201. With that form filed at the DMV plus a $11 fee you can get a duplicate title.

The buyer and the seller both need to fill out the relevant sections on the back of the title. This information includes the legal name, address, and signature of the buyer and the seller(s) along with the date of the sale, and the odometer reading. Make sure you fill out the odometer reading if the vehicle is less than 10 years old. When this is filled out accurately and legibly, it makes it easy for the buyer to transfer registration and acquire a new plate.

If there is more than one seller named on the title and their names are separated by “or” then only one of the sellers needs to sign vehicle title in order to transfer it to the buyer. If there is more than one seller named on the title and their names are separated by “and” or “and/or” then both sellers need to sign the title before it is transferred to the buyer. The same applies to multiple buyers.

If you’re wondering about gifting a car to a relative, you’re going to need to file a Non-Dealer Transfer Affidavit (form RV-F1301201). For inheriting a car, it’s a similar process to the one outlined below, but you’ll need to file an affidavit of inheritance with the county along with the title of the vehicle in question. To transfer and change the title and registration to a surviving spouse’s name, you’ll want to use form RV-F1315201. There is no fee to change the name if it is done within the first year from the date of death; after wards, the regular vehicle title fee applies. The previously mentioned affidavit of inheritance may also be required.

A notary does not have to witness the buyer and the seller signing the vehicle title if it is a Tennessee title. However, if the title is from another state, it will need be notarized with one exception: Kentucky vehicle titles do not need to be notarized if sold to a Tennessee buyer.

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Step 4: Remove your plates and cancel your insurance

The seller must remove their license plates before handing the vehicle over to the buyer. If you do not do so, you may be liable for any violations after the buyer has taken possession of the vehicle. Make sure to cancel your insurance as soon as possible after you’ve removed your plates so you don’t continue paying to insure a car that you no longer own.

For more information, visit the Tennessee DMV website. The Tennessee DMV also provides this helpful list of vehicle forms as well.

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Questions about selling your car in Tennessee? We have answers.

What paperwork do I need to privately sell a car in Tennessee?

Is a Bill of Sale required for selling a car in Tennessee?

Do I remove my license plate when I sell a car in Tennessee?

Does a bill of sale have to be notarized in Tennessee?

Does a vehicle title have to be notarized in Tennessee?