What a Tennessee bill of sale is and why you need one

A bill of sale is a written record that you and the buyer (or seller) sign to show that a car has changed hands. In Tennessee, it serves as proof of the transaction — who owned the car, who owns it now, the price paid, and the date. The state does not require a bill of sale to transfer a title, but having one protects both you and the other person by creating a paper trail if questions come up later about the sale.

If you are selling a car, a bill of sale shows the buyer that you were the legal owner and that you received payment. If you are buying a car, it shows that you paid for it and when. Neither the Tennessee Department of Revenue nor any court will accept a verbal agreement as proof of ownership or sale — they want a signed document.

You can use the official Tennessee bill of sale form, which the state provides, or you can write one yourself as long as it includes the required information. Many people use the state form because it is straightforward and accepted everywhere.

Key Takeaways

  • Tennessee does not legally require a bill of sale to transfer a car title, but having one protects both the buyer and seller by documenting the transaction in writing.
  • The official Tennessee bill of sale form includes spaces for the seller's and buyer's names and addresses, the vehicle identification number (VIN), the sale price, and the date — all of which must be filled in and signed by both parties.
  • You can obtain the state form from the Tennessee Department of Revenue website or pick up a copy at your local county clerk's office.
  • Both the buyer and seller must sign the bill of sale in front of a notary public or witness, depending on whether the title is being transferred at the same time.

Where to get the Tennessee bill of sale form

The Tennessee Department of Revenue publishes an official bill of sale form called the Form RV-F1406101. You can read it from the Department of Revenue website at tn.gov/revenue. Search for "bill of sale" and you will find a PDF you can print at home.

If you do not have internet access or prefer a paper copy, visit your county clerk's office in person. Most county clerks keep copies of the form on hand and will give you one for free. You can also call ahead to confirm they have it before you make the trip.

Some car dealerships and title services also have copies, though you are not required to use theirs — the state form works everywhere in Tennessee.

What information to fill in on the form

The Tennessee bill of sale asks for specific details about the car and the people involved in the sale. Here is what each section requires:

  • Seller's name and address: The person who currently owns the car writes their full legal name and street address.
  • Buyer's name and address: The person buying the car writes their full legal name and street address.
  • Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): This 17-character code appears on the driver's side of the dashboard, visible through the windshield, and also on the title document. Do not guess or abbreviate — copy it exactly.
  • Year, make, and model: Write the year the car was manufactured, the brand name (Ford, Honda, Toyota, etc.), and the specific model name.
  • Sale price: Write the amount paid in both numbers and words — for example, "$5,000" and "Five Thousand Dollars." This prevents disputes about the amount later.
  • Date of sale: Write the date the money changed hands and the buyer took possession of the car.
  • Odometer reading: Write the current mileage shown on the car's odometer. Tennessee law requires this to prevent fraud.

Fill in every blank. If a field does not explore to your situation, write "N/A" rather than leaving it empty — this shows the form was completed intentionally, not abandoned halfway through.

How to sign and witness the bill of sale

Both the seller and buyer must sign the bill of sale. Tennessee does not require the signatures to be notarized if the bill of sale is being used only as a record of the sale between the two parties. However, if the buyer is going to use the bill of sale to transfer the title at the county clerk's office, the clerk may ask for a notarized signature or a witness signature.

To be safe, have both signatures witnessed by a third person who is present when you sign, or have them notarized at a bank, library, or notary service. A notary public will verify your identity, watch you sign, and stamp the document with an official seal. This costs between $5 and $15 depending on the notary.

If you use a witness instead of a notary, the witness should write their name, address, and phone number on the form and sign next to the buyer's and seller's signatures. The witness does not need to be a professional — any adult who is not related to either party and is present during the signing will do.

What happens after you sign the bill of sale

Once both parties have signed, each person should keep a copy for their records. The seller should keep their copy to show they no longer own the car. The buyer should keep their copy as proof of purchase until the title is officially transferred.

The buyer will then take the bill of sale, the current title, and a completed title transfer form to the county clerk's office in the county where they live. The clerk will process the title transfer and issue a new title in the buyer's name. This usually takes a few days to a few weeks depending on how busy the office is.

The seller should not sign over the title until the bill of sale is complete and signed by both parties. Once the title is signed over, the seller has no legal claim to the car, so make sure the buyer has the bill of sale and understands what happens next.

What to do if you are buying a used car from a private seller

If you are the buyer, ask the seller to complete the bill of sale before you hand over any money. Do not pay first and ask for the paperwork later — you need the signed bill of sale as proof that you own the car and that you paid for it. If the seller refuses to sign a bill of sale, that is a red flag that something may be wrong with the car's ownership or history.

Before you sign, verify that the VIN on the bill of sale matches the VIN on the car itself and on the current title. Check that the seller's name on the bill of sale matches the name on the title. If they do not match, the seller may not be the legal owner, and you could end up in a dispute over who owns the car.

Ask the seller to show you the current title and verify that there are no liens (claims by a lender or creditor) against the car. If there is a lien, the lender must sign off on the transfer before the title can be issued in your name. The bill of sale alone does not clear a lien.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use the official Tennessee form, or can I write my own bill of sale?

You can write your own as long as it includes the seller's and buyer's names and addresses, the VIN, the year and model of the car, the sale price, the date, and the odometer reading. Both parties must sign it. The official form is simpler and accepted everywhere, so most people use it, but a handwritten bill of sale is legally valid if it has all the required information.

What if the seller will not sign a bill of sale?

Do not buy the car. A bill of sale is your only proof that you paid for it and that the seller agreed to transfer ownership. Without it, you have no legal protection if the seller claims they never sold it to you or if someone else shows up with a claim to the car. Walk away from the deal.

Does the bill of sale transfer the title, or do I need to do something else?

The bill of sale does not transfer the title by itself. It is a record of the sale. To transfer the title into your name, you take the bill of sale, the current title signed by the seller, and a title transfer form to your county clerk's office. The clerk processes the transfer and issues a new title in your name.

Can I sell a car without a bill of sale in Tennessee?

Technically yes — Tennessee does not require a bill of sale to transfer a title. However, selling without one is risky for both you and the buyer. Without a bill of sale, there is no written proof of who owned the car, who bought it, or when the sale happened. If a dispute arises later, you have no documentation to back up your claim.

What if I lost the bill of sale after I bought the car?

If you have the title in your name, you do not need the bill of sale anymore — the title is your proof of ownership. If you still need a copy of the bill of sale for some reason, contact the seller and ask them to provide their copy. If neither of you has it, you can ask the county clerk whether they have a record of the transfer, though they may not keep copies of bills of sale.