• Home
• Passports
• Name Change
• Birth/Death Certificates
• Guardianship/Conservators
• Business Information
  • Business Tax Licensing
  • Tax Reporting
  • Beer Permits
  • License Termination
  • Transient Vendor Permit
  • Hotel/Motel Tax
  • FAQ's
• Estates/Wills
  • Probate
  • Costs/Fees
  • TN Inheritance Tax Information
• Marriage License
  • Information & Fees
  • Officiate Information
• Emissions Testing
  • Information
  • Locations
  • Exemptions
  • Failed Test
• License Plates
  • RENEW ONLINE
  • Renew In Person
  • Renew by Mail
  • Disabled Plates and Placards
  • Specialty Plates
  • Boat Registration
• Vehicle Title
  • New Vehicle
  • Pre-Owned Vehicle
  • Reconstructed or Salvage Title
  • Duplicate Title
  • Note a Lien
• Notary Public
  • Application
  • Duties/Liabilities
  • Affidavits/Acknowledgements
  • Notary Name Change
• Forms

To Obtain a Tennessee Title on a Pre-Owned Vehicle

The owner of the vehicle must appear in person to apply for a Tennessee Title on a new vehicle. If the owner is unable to appear in person, a Power of Attorney form must be completed and notarized authorizing someone else to transact the title transfer on the owner's behalf. POWER OF ATTORNEY FORM
Please note that only one owner's signature is required if the vehicle is titled to two or more owners and their names are joined by the conjunction "or". When the conjunction "and" is used, all parties must sign or submit notarized Power of Attorney. The owner of the vehicle or the Power of Attorney must submit the following:

• Title signed by the previous owner on the reverse side of the title, indicating the name and full address of the new owner and lien holder (if applicable), the date of transfer and the purchase price. Never assign a certificate of title leaving the purchasers name blank (open title)

• Bill of Sale if vehicle was purchased from a dealer.

• Odometer Statement (required on all vehicles less than ten years old).

• Emissions Testing Certificate unless transferring license plate.

• Affidavit of Non-Dealer Transfers of Motor Vehicles required if:

• Vehicle was a gift from a spouse, sibling, child, grandchild, great grandchild, parent, grandparent, great grandparent, or spouse of lineal relative).

• Vehicle was purchased at a low selling price considered to be 75% or less of the fair market value by reference to the most recent issue of an authoritative automotive pricing manual, such as the N.A.D.A. Official Used Car Guide, SE Edition).

• Transfer fee of $17.50 if transferring license plate from another vehicle.

• Transfer fee of $87.50 if purchasing a new license plate.

Please Note: If vehicle is purchased from individual, sales tax will be collected by the Motor Vehicle Department in the Office of the Rutherford County Clerk. If vehicle was purchased out of state, additional sales tax may be due.

Additional Vehicle Title Links:
Title a New Vehicle
Get a Replacement Title
Note a Lien
Reconstructed or Salvage Vehicle Titles

Links