Tennessee Bill of Sale for a Car
A bill of sale may be required for a private car sale in Tennessee, depending on the situation. Tennessee does not require a bill of sale when the properly assigned title documents the private sale, but a notarized bill of sale is required in specific situations such as obtaining a temporary operation permit when the title is not yet available, and a bill of sale alone is never sufficient proof of ownership.
Compiled from Tennessee DMV guidance — verify current rules with the state · 2026-07-08 · Reviewed by the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team
Bill of sale
Conditional
Bill of sale notary
Conditional
Official form
None (any document)
Official source: revenue.support.tn.gov · Free printable Tennessee template →
What a Tennessee car bill of sale must include
- Buyer and seller names and addresses
- Vehicle year, make, model
- Vehicle identification number (VIN)
- Sale price
- Date of sale
- Odometer reading (if not disclosed on title)
- Seller signature (notarized when the bill of sale is the supporting document)
Tennessee uses Department of Revenue form RV-F1317001 (Odometer Disclosure Statement) when the disclosure is not made on the title; federal exemptions apply, including vehicles 20 or more model years old and vehicles with a GVWR over 16,000 pounds.
Before you sign: run the VIN
Once you sign, the car — and its problems — are yours. The $9.99 Full VIN Report shows open recalls for that VIN, plus complaints and service bulletins for the model, and the original window sticker where available, in about a minute. One-time, no subscription. Run the report →
FAQ
Do you need a bill of sale to sell a car privately in Tennessee?
Sometimes. Tennessee does not require a bill of sale when the properly assigned title documents the private sale, but a notarized bill of sale is required in specific situations such as obtaining a temporary operation permit when the title is not yet available, and a bill of sale alone is never sufficient proof of ownership.
Does a Tennessee car bill of sale have to be notarized?
In some cases. When a bill of sale is used (e.g., for a temporary operation permit or casual-sale documentation), Tennessee asks that it be notarized, though the Department of Revenue cautions a notarized bill of sale is not sufficient proof of ownership by itself.
Is there an official Tennessee bill of sale form?
Tennessee does not publish a single official statewide car bill of sale form. Any document containing the required details — VIN, price, date, and both parties' names and signatures — is acceptable. Avoid third-party "form fee" services; the details, not the template, are what the state needs.
What should a Tennessee car bill of sale include?
At minimum: buyer and seller names and addresses; vehicle year, make, model; vehicle identification number (vin); sale price; date of sale; odometer reading (if not disclosed on title). Tennessee uses Department of Revenue form RV-F1317001 (Odometer Disclosure Statement) when the disclosure is not made on the title; federal exemptions apply, including vehicles 20 or more model years old and vehicles with a GVWR over 16,000 pounds.
What should I check before signing the Tennessee bill of sale?
Confirm the VIN on the document matches the dashboard and door-jamb VIN character-for-character, and check the vehicle's history first: the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report shows open recalls for that VIN, plus complaints and service bulletins for the model and the original window sticker where available. Once you sign, the car — and its problems — are yours, so they're cheaper to find before you sign.
Sources: bill-of-sale, notarization, and odometer requirements from Tennessee DMV/DOR/DOT guidance (linked above), with some details confirmed via official-domain search where the state site blocked direct access. Requirements change by statute — confirm with the state before you sign. Cite this page: CarWhere, "Tennessee Bill of Sale for a Car," carwhere.com/titles/bill-of-sale/tennessee, verified 2026-07-08.