A Tennessee car bill of sale is a written record of a vehicle sale that names the seller, the buyer, the vehicle and the price. Tennessee requires a notarized bill of sale for some title applications[1], but a notarized bill of sale alone does not prove ownership[3]. Download the free form below or fill it in online.
Last Updated: October 2026. This guide is reviewed regularly to reflect current Tennessee law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.
Build Your Document
Answer a few simple questions to make your document in minutes
Save and Print
Save progress and finish on any device, download and print anytime
Sign and Use
Your valid, lawyer-approved document is ready
| Document Name | Tennessee Vehicle Bill of Sale Form |
| Other Names | Tennessee Car Bill of Sale, Tennessee Automobile Bill of Sale |
| DMV | Tennessee Driver Services |
| Bill of Sale Required? | Usually no for a titled vehicle. A notarized bill of sale is required for a vehicle with no Tennessee title, a lost or damaged title, or a title held by a lienholder[1.1] |
| Avg. Time to Fill Out | 7 minutes |
| # of Fillable Fields | 64 |
Bills of sale differ by what is being sold. FormsPal has five Tennessee templates: one each for motor vehicles, trailers, boats and firearms, plus a general form for other personal property. Pick the one that matches your sale, then download the PDF from its card below.
The Tennessee motor vehicle bill of sale records the sale of a car, truck or other motor vehicle. It names the seller and the buyer, describes the vehicle and states the price. A notarized bill of sale is required with some title applications.[1]
| Alternative Name | Car Bill of Sale |
| Seller’s Signature | Required (signs the title, and a bill of sale replacing a lienholder-held title must be notarized) |
| Buyer’s Signature | Signature line on the form |
| Notarization | Required when the bill of sale replaces a title (untitled vehicle, lost title, lienholder-held title), otherwise optional |
| Download | PDF Template |
This bill of sale for trailers records the sale of a trailer. Use a separate bill of sale for the vehicle that tows it.
| Alternative Name | Trailer Bill of Sale |
| Seller’s Signature | Signature line on the form |
| Buyer’s Signature | Signature line on the form |
| Notarization | Not covered on this page |
| Download | PDF Template |
Tennessee boat bill of sale records the transfer of a specific vessel from one person to another. It names the seller and the buyer, describes the boat and states the price.
| Alternative Name | Vessel Bill of Sale |
| Seller’s Signature | Signature line on the form |
| Buyer’s Signature | Signature line on the form |
| Notarization | Not covered on this page |
| Download | PDF Template |
This firearm bill of sale records the sale of a firearm. It lists the make, model, caliber and serial number, the details of both parties and the purchase price.
| Alternative Name | Gun Bill of Sale |
| Seller’s Signature | Signature line on the form |
| Buyer’s Signature | Signature line on the form |
| Notarization | Not covered on this page |
| Download | PDF Template |
The Tennessee general bill of sale records the sale of personal property or equipment. Use it when none of the other templates fits.
| Alternative Name | Generic Bill of Sale |
| Seller’s Signature | Signature line on the form |
| Buyer’s Signature | Signature line on the form |
| Notarization | Not covered on this page |
| Download | PDF Template |
Tennessee requires a notarized bill of sale and a sworn statement for a title application on a vehicle that is not new and has no Tennessee title, existing or pending. The statement explains why the vehicle has not been titled. A title from the state where it was last registered can be sent instead.[1]
Applications for certificate of title for other than new vehicles for which there is not currently in existence a tennessee certificate of title, or pending application for same, must be accompanied by a notarized bill of sale and sworn statement, certifying as to why the vehicle has not heretofore been titled, or certificate of title from the state in which previously registered.
If you hold a bill of sale but no title, our guide to getting a vehicle title with a bill of sale explains your options.
Tennessee sets bill of sale requirements only in special cases. When a lender holds the title, the seller's separate bill of sale must show the lienholder's name and address and be signed before a notary, and a bill of sale for a vehicle with no Tennessee title must be notarized as well.[4.3] Most forms, including ours, record the parties, the vehicle, the price and the date.
Two statutory points apply to the title application itself:
The Tennessee car bill of sale form runs four pages. The steps below follow the form from top to bottom, and each one names the matching part of the form. Fill in the PDF with the PDF editor or print it and write by hand.
Write the date of the sale on the DATE line at the top of page 1.
Section 1 on page 1 asks for the seller's details:
Section 2 asks for the same details for the buyer:
Section 3 is a sentence naming the seller and the buyer, followed by the vehicle's details:
On page 2, enter the purchase date and the total purchase price in U.S. dollars.
Check the one option that fits your sale:
Select the payment type: cash, check with the check number, cashier's check or money order. Then check whether taxes are included in the purchase price.
Page 3 has three paragraphs to read before signing: the seller's ownership and no-liens confirmation, the as-is terms and the entire-agreement clause. Nothing is filled in here.
The seller and the buyer each sign and date their own line. The form also has a witness line.
Page 4 holds the notary acknowledgment, which the notary public completes. If the bill of sale replaces a title (no Tennessee title, a lost or damaged title, or a title held by a lender), it must be notarized.[1.1]
When a vehicle has a Tennessee title, the seller endorses an assignment and warranty of title on it, with a statement of all liens or encumbrances. The seller delivers the title to the buyer when the vehicle is delivered.[4.2] The buyer then applies for a new title with a valid certificate of title properly assigned and an odometer disclosure statement, if applicable.[2] For a gift, a low-price sale or a transfer between lineal relatives, the county clerk also needs the Affidavit of Non-dealer Transfers of Motor Vehicles and Boats.[2.1]
The title transfer process varies with your situation, so check with the Tennessee Department of Revenue. Applications for registration go only through your local county clerk, for new and used vehicles alike.[6.1] Buyers commonly gather these documents before applying:
Form RV-F1310401 or Certification of Ownership is used when it’s impossible to provide other proper documentation to obtain a title.
A vehicle power of attorney is a legal document allowing a person to appoint someone else to handle the matters concerning the vehicle.
Short answers on the paperwork for a Tennessee vehicle sale. Each answer carries a numbered reference to the matching entry in the Sources section at the end of this page.
Sometimes. A notarized bill of sale is required with a title application for a vehicle that is not new and has no Tennessee title in existence or pending.[1] The title is what proves ownership, so a valid certificate of title properly assigned is needed, along with an odometer disclosure statement, if applicable.[2]
The seller signs the certificate of title over to the buyer, with a statement of all liens or encumbrances, and delivers it when the vehicle is delivered.[4.2] The buyer's title application needs a valid certificate of title properly assigned and an odometer disclosure statement, if applicable.[2] A notarized bill of sale is added when no Tennessee title exists or is pending.[1]
Other Tennessee Forms
General information, not legal or tax advice.
