A Tennessee bill of sale is a form that records a sale or trade of personal property between a buyer and a seller. Like a receipt, a bill of sale verifies the transfer of ownership of an item from one person to another and proves that the transfer was legal and agreed upon.
You should use a bill of sale in the state of Tennessee whenever buying or selling a car (or any vehicle), a boat, a firearm, or an animal such as a horse.
How to Register a Vehicle in Tennessee
Register a new vehicle by submitting a manufacturer’s statement of origin, a new vehicle invoice, and a copy of your current registration to your local county clerk’s office.
Register a used vehicle by submitting a valid certificate of title (accompanied by an odometer disclosure statement, if applicable) and a copy of your current registration to your local county clerk’s office.
Bill of Sale – By Type (5)
A form to buy or sell a motor vehicle in the state of Tennessee. In many states, a bill of sale is required to register a vehicle at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Vehicle Bill of Sale
A document to transfer ownership of recreational water vehicles (such as motorboats, sailboats, yachts, and jet skis) in the state of Tennessee.
Boat Bill of Sale
A form to buy or sell a trailer (or any non-motorized vehicle pulled by another vehicle) in the state of Tennessee and register it at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Trailer Bill of Sale
A document to transfer ownership of a gun (such as a handgun, rifle, or shotgun) in the state of Tennessee, and avoid legal or criminal issues involving the weapon after it is sold.
Firearm Bill of Sale
A form to record the transfer of a motorcycle in the state of Tennessee. By detailing information about the bike being sold, you can protect yourself from fraudulent sales.
Motorcycle Bill of Sale
Requirements
You do not need a bill of sale in Tennessee to sell or purchase a vehicle or firearm, but you do need one to sell, purchase, and register a vessel. The Tennessee Department of Revenue (DOR) website doesn’t provide an official form for vehicles, but the Tennessee County Clerk provides a form for vessels. It is still a good idea to have a bill of sale for vehicles and firearms as a sales transaction record.
Language and Copy Requirements
- Language: Bill of sale and other DOR and TWRA forms do not come in different languages in Tennessee, but parties to the document may use an interpreter to translate the form and the parties’ answers. The completed translation must be accompanied by a Certificate of Accurate Translation to be considered valid.
- Number of Copies: You need at least three copies of a vessel bill of sale since the state requires one, and the buyer and seller should each have a copy. However, for a vehicle bill of sale, which is not required by the state, a copy for each party should suffice.
Vehicle Registration Forms
- Bill of Sale (not required but strongly encouraged)
- Odometer Disclosure Statement
- Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin (or Certificate of Title)
- Proof of insurance [1]
- $25,000 in property damage (per accident)
- $50,000 for total injuries (per accident)
- $25,000 for an individual’s injuries (per accident)
- A copy of current registration (if you’re transferring an existing license plate to a newly bought vehicle)
- Registration fees
- Valid driver’s license or ID
- Certification of ownership (if the vehicle is valued at less than $3,000 or is more than 30 years old)
- Motor vehicle power of attorney (if relevant)
- If any of the required titling or registration documents are unavailable, you can obtain a temporary vehicle permit for 30 days to locate the paperwork. To apply, you must provide your Tennessee license, ownership documents for your vehicle, an Application for Temporary Operation Permit, or Form RV-F1314401, and the $10 fee.
Boat Registration Forms
- Application for Boat Certificate of Number (the form is not available online, but you may obtain one through a county clerk’s office)
- Bill of Sale
- Proof of previous registration (if purchased used from out of state, a signed title may be helpful for this condition, but Tennessee does not require boat titles) [2]
- Proof of payment of registration fees [3]
Sample
