Military Registrations

To register/title a new vehicle, submit the following:

• Manufacturer’s statement of origin properly assigned on reverse side including the odometer
• Itemized Bill of Sale
• Security agreement or other proper lien instrument if lien is to be recorded
• Copy of current Leave and Earnings Statement (LES)
• Copy of current stationing orders indicating you are out of state
• Mailing address
• Daytime telephone number
• Payment of the following fees:

1. Sales Tax - The state sales tax rate is 7% of the purchase price, less the total value of any trade in. Local sales tax rates, which range from 1.50% to 2.75% depending on the locality, are imposed on the first $1,600 of the sale. Extended warranties, repair and maintenance plans are taxed separately. Additionally, a state single article tax of 2.75% must be paid on sale prices above $1,600.01, and up to $3,200. The maximum amount of tax for state single article tax is $44.
2. License Plate Fee - $26.50/regular car plate (specialty or personalized plates extra)
3. Title Fee - $11

To register/title a used vehicle*, submit the following:

• Previous owner's title properly assigned on reverse side including odometer on conforming titles (non-conforming titles require a separate odometer statement)
• Title extension form (if back of title is full and vehicle was bought from a dealer)
• Copy of current LES
• Copy of stationing orders indicating you are out of state
• Mailing address
• Daytime phone number
• Payment of the following fees:

1. Sales Tax - The state sales tax rate is 7% of the purchase price, less the total value of any trade in. Local sales tax rates, which range from 1.50% to 2.75% depending on the locality, are imposed on the first $1,600 of the sale. Extended warranties repair, and maintenance plans are taxed separately. Additionally, a state single article tax of 2.75% must be paid on sale prices above $1,600.01, and up to $3,200. The maximum amount of tax for state single article tax is $44.
2. License Plate Fee - $26.50/regular car plate (specialty or personalized plates extra)
3. Title Fee - $11

*Vehicles purchased overseas often only receive a USAREUR registration to operate the vehicle overseas. This registration should be properly assigned to the person filing the application for title and registration. If the registration indicates a lien, the Vehicle Services Division will send a letter to the lien holder asking for the outstanding title.

To transfer a valid Tennessee registration to a newly purchased vehicle, submit the documents listed above along with:

• copy of your current registration
• $1 transfer fee
• sales tax (see above)
• title fee of $11

To renew your vehicle registration, submit:

• current copy of your LES
• current copy of your stationing orders indicating you are out of state
• copy of your registration
• payment of applicable fee:

1. $26.50/regular car plate
2. $61.50/personalized car plate
3. $19.50/regular motorcycle plate
4. $54.50/personalized motorcycle plate
5. $1 transfer fee

If you have a valid title and registration from another state, the following is required to obtain Tennessee tags:

• out-of-state title
• current registration receipt
• name and address of lienholder
• payment of applicable fee:

1. $26.50/regular car plate
2. $61.50/personalized car plate
3. $19.50/regular motorcycle plate
4. $54.50/personalized motorcycle plate

No sales tax is due if you provide evidence that sales tax was paid at the time of purchase.

Noting of lien on a current Tennessee title requires the following:

• copy of security agreement
• certificate of title
• application and title fee payment of $11*

For subsequent notings of a lien, the following documents are required:

• copy of security agreement
• application and title fee payment of $11*

A letter will be sent to the first lienholder requesting a copy of the title.

*Additional fees may apply

To change your address with the county clerk’s office, submit:

• your new address
• a copy of your current LES showing Tennessee as your home of record
• a list of all vehicles registered in Tennessee

Military personnel exempt from Tennessee sales and use tax on certain motor vehicle purchases include:

• full-time members of the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force or Coast Guard who are stationed in Tennessee or a military reservation located partially within Tennessee,
• members of the Tennessee National Guard or reserve members of a uniformed service of the United States who are participants in the active guard and reserve program and stationed in Tennessee or a military reservation located partially within Tennessee,
• members of the Tennessee National Guard or reserve members of a uniformed service of the United States who have been called into full-time duty in the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force or Coast Guard and stationed in a combat zone. (Exemption applies from the effective date of official military orders assigning the individual to a combat zone, and it expires 90 days after the effective dates of official military orders releasing him/her from the combat zone.).

Military members who do not qualify for the exemption and bring a vehicle into Tennessee from out of state are subject to use tax. He/she will receive credit after proving to the county clerk that sales tax was paid in another state. If the sales tax paid is less than the use tax due, he/she only pays tax on the difference between these figures.

More information on the sales and use tax exemption for motor vehicle purchases is available here.