If you bought a vehicle in Tennessee from an out-of-state car dealer or private seller, you need to apply for a certificate of title and registration through your local DMV—and possibly pay extra taxes.

Apply for a certificate of title and registration with the local county clerk.
You may have to pay the difference in sales tax, depending on your location.
Remember to register promptly to avoid fines from the DMV.
Make sure you have the appropriate
Tennessee car insurance
coverage before you drive off the lot.

How to buy a car out of state as a Tennessee resident

You live in Tennessee and you’ve bought a car in another state from a private party or a dealer. Now, you have a limited time to apply for a Tennessee title and registration through the county clerk before your out-of-state temporary tag expires.

Prepare your documentation: Here are some documents and information you may need for a Tennessee title application and registration:

Proof of identification and

Tennessee residency

Proof of insurance

Driver’s license

Vehicle identification number (VIN)

Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin

New vehicle invoice (for new cars)

Completed bill of sale, signed by all parties, as proof of purchase price

Copy of current registration if you plan on transferring your license plate

Original out-of-state title

Payment for applicable county title fee and title transfer fee

If you're submitting an application for a used vehicle, you’ll also need a valid certificate of title and the odometer reading (aka

odometer disclosure statement

) for vehicles manufactured in 2011 and later.

Be aware that

Tennessee sales tax

and single article tax will be due and collected by the local county clerk when you title and register your vehicle if the sales tax rate is lower in the state where you purchased the vehicle—or if the dealership did not collect Tennessee taxes at the time of the purchase.

Visit a county clerk: Once you have your documents, bring them to a local

county clerk's office

Once all your documents are submitted and taxes are paid, you’ll be issued a Tennessee title and registration!

How to buy a car in Tennessee if you live out of state

As an out-of-state resident, the process of

buying a car in Tennessee

is straightforward. But there may be additional steps, depending on where you will ultimately be registering the vehicle.

Here’s what you need:

When buying the car, get the bill of sale: Get a valid bill of sale for the vehicle purchase (some states require a notarized bill of sale).

Temporary registration: You may receive temporary tags to allow you to legally drive the car to its final destination.

Go to your local DMV: Once you arrive home, bring the bill of sale, photo ID, proof of insurance and residency, odometer disclosure, and any other state-required documents for registration to your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Apply for local tags: Complete your vehicle registration in your state of residency.

You may need to pay state sales tax or the difference between Tennessee sales tax and where you register the car.

What if I don’t have a physical title?

You must have the original out-of-state vehicle title before you can

. If you don’t have it, you (or the previous owner) can request a duplicate title from the DMV in the state where you bought the car.

MORE:

Title transfer in Tennessee

Tips for buying a vehicle out of state

Purchasing a vehicle out-of-state is a clever way to get a car that isn’t available near you—or to take advantage of a lower listing price. But the process can be a hassle!

Use these tips for a smart and efficient car purchase out-of-state:

Always get the vehicle history report: If you’re buying a used car from a private owner, this step is especially important.

CARFAX

will provide you with a vehicle history report that informs you of regular maintenance and or alert you of any accidents or issues.

Schedule your vehicle inspection at home: Your car will need to pass a vehicle inspection to meet requirements in the state where you live, drive, and register the vehicle.

Check to see if you need an emissions test: While Tennessee no longer requires emissions testing for vehicle titling or registration, most states do! Brush up on your local state DEQ requirements.

Get to know your home state’s vehicle sales tax laws: When you purchase a vehicle out of state, you pay for sales tax in the state you plan to register it in, not the state you bought it.

Find a car insurance company before you drive off the lot: You’ll need to carry coverage that meets

Tennessee's minimum car insurance requirements

before your road trip back home.

Make auto loan refinancing easy with PriceProtect™

Check my rates!

4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars

4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers

Reduce your monthly car payments in minutes?

Find out if Jerry can reduce your payments by an average of $150/month

Check your rate!