Tennessee title guide
Selling a junk car without a title in Tennessee
The short answer
In Tennessee, you'll usually need the title to sell or scrap a car. If it's lost, apply for a duplicate from the Tennessee Department of Revenue (county clerk) before you book a pickup.
First published November 4, 2026. Rules checked against official Tennessee sources on and reviewed by Paola Reniery, Operations Manager (see the sources).
What does Tennessee ask of sellers?
In Tennessee, a replacement title costs $14 plus any county fee. Each card links to the official page it came from.
- Replacing a lost title
- Application for Noting of Lien, Duplicate Title, or Multipurpose Use. Fee: $14 plus any county fee.
- Official source
- After the sale
- You can cancel your plate with the Vehicle License Plates Cancellation form (VS-09162021), which lists a sold vehicle as a reason. There's no separate notice of sale.
- Official source
- License plates
- Plates follow the owner, not the vehicle, so the seller keeps them and can transfer them to another vehicle for $1.
- Official source
What do you do if you have the title?
Sign and print your name where the seller signs, fill in the odometer reading if there's a space for it, and leave the buyer section blank. If your title has a notary section, the signatures have to be notarized. If it doesn't, you sign in front of the driver at pickup. Don't sign the title until the driver is there and you've agreed the price.
What if the title is lost or damaged?
Tennessee replacement titles come from the Tennessee Department of Revenue (county clerk), using the Application for Noting of Lien, Duplicate Title, or Multipurpose Use, for a fee of $14 plus any county fee. You'll need the VIN, which is on the dashboard by the windshield, on the driver's door jamb and on your registration. If you're in a hurry, tell our buyer partner when it contacts you: it can buy some cars without a title, so ask whether that works for your car in Tennessee.
For the full walkthrough, including the states that exempt older cars and what to avoid, read how to sell a junk car without a title.
What if there's a loan, or the owner has died?
If a lender is still listed on the title, you'll need its lien release, or the loan gets paid off as part of the sale. If the owner has died, only someone with legal authority, usually the executor, can sell the car, and the Tennessee Department of Revenue (county clerk) can tell you which estate papers Tennessee accepts.
What do you do after the sale?
- You can cancel your plate with the Vehicle License Plates Cancellation form (VS-09162021), which lists a sold vehicle as a reason. There's no separate notice of sale.
- Plates: Plates follow the owner, not the vehicle, so the seller keeps them and can transfer them to another vehicle for $1.
- Keep a photo of the signed title, and cancel the insurance once the car has been picked up.
Title rules change, so confirm them with the Tennessee Department of Revenue (county clerk) before you sell; this page is general information, not legal advice.
Can you junk a car without a title in Tennessee?
Usually not. In Tennessee you'll normally need the title or a duplicate from the Tennessee Department of Revenue (county clerk). Our buyer partner can buy some cars without a title, so ask whether that works for yours in Tennessee when you get your offer.
How do I get a duplicate title in Tennessee?
Apply to the Tennessee Department of Revenue (county clerk) with Application for Noting of Lien, Duplicate Title, or Multipurpose Use, and have a photo ID and the VIN ready. The fee is $14 plus any county fee, according to the agency.
Can I sell a car in Tennessee with just a bill of sale?
A bill of sale on its own usually isn't proof of ownership for a titled vehicle. It's a useful record of the sale, but buyers will normally want the title or a duplicate.