Skip to content
Saleslip
Ready-to-sign pack

Tennessee Trailer Bill of Sale

Tennessee does not require a bill of sale, but the Tennessee Department of Revenue recommends one. Fill in the form below and download a free, one-page Tennessee trailer bill of sale PDF that includes everything the Tennessee Department of Revenue looks for. Nothing you type leaves your browser.

Tennessee
Trailer Bill of Sale

Seller

Buyer

Trailer details

Price and terms

How to sell a trailer in Tennessee

A trailer bill of sale names the trailer by year, make, type and VIN, and records the price and date. Utility and cargo trailers are often homemade or came with no title, so the bill of sale is frequently the only paper trail the DMV will see.

Seller steps

  1. Confirm you hold clear title. If a lender is on the title, get the lien release before you list it.
  2. Agree on the price and fill in the Tennessee trailer bill of sale above with the buyer. Record the VIN.
  3. Both parties sign and each keeps a copy. Tennessee does not require a notary.
  4. Sign the title over to the buyer exactly as your name appears on it, and complete the odometer section on the title if the trailer has one.
  5. File a notice of sale or release of liability with the Tennessee Department of Revenue if Tennessee offers one, remove your plates if the state keeps plates with the seller, and cancel the insurance once the buyer has driven away.

Buyer steps

  1. Bring the signed bill of sale, the signed title and your ID to the Tennessee Department of Revenue.
  2. Expect to pay sales or use tax on the price shown on the bill of sale, plus title and registration fees.
  3. Register within Tennessee's deadline, commonly 10 to 30 days from the sale date, to avoid late penalties.

Before you sign

  • The VIN plate is usually on the tongue or the front frame rail.
  • Homemade trailers need a state-assigned VIN before registration; the bill of sale still helps prove ownership of the materials.
  • List the GVWR; it decides whether the trailer needs a title in many states.
  • Mention included equipment: ramps, spare tire, tie-downs.

Why a bill of sale matters for a trailer

  • Many trailers under a certain weight are not titled, so the bill of sale is the ownership record.
  • Needed to register the trailer and get a plate.
  • Shows the price for sales tax.
  • Protects the seller once the trailer leaves the driveway.

Selling a trailer? The $19 sell-your-vehicle kit adds a signed release of liability and a Tennessee checklist to the pack, so the handoff is finished the day you sign.

Tennessee at a glance

Bill of sale
Not required, strongly recommended
Notary
Notarization optional
Official state form
None published; any signed bill of sale is accepted
Where the buyer registers
Tennessee Department of Revenue (www.tn.gov/revenue/title-and-registration.html)
License plates
Stay with seller

Tennessee county clerks title a used vehicle on the assigned title and odometer statement; a notarized bill of sale is required only when the seller has no title and the buyer applies for certification of ownership. Gifts and low-price sales use the Affidavit of Non-Dealer Transfers. Plates stay with the seller.

Checked October 2026 against the state's own guidance. Rules change; confirm before you file.

Other Tennessee forms

Trailer Bill of Sale in other states

All states →

Tennessee trailer bill of sale questions

Is a bill of sale required to sell a trailer in Tennessee?+

Tennessee does not require a bill of sale, but the Tennessee Department of Revenue recommends one. Tennessee county clerks title a used vehicle on the assigned title and odometer statement; a notarized bill of sale is required only when the seller has no title and the buyer applies for certification of ownership. Gifts and low-price sales use the Affidavit of Non-Dealer Transfers. Plates stay with the seller. Tennessee has no mandatory form, so any complete, signed bill of sale like the one generated here is accepted.

Does a Tennessee trailer bill of sale need to be notarized?+

Tennessee does not require notarization. Two signatures are enough. If you want extra certainty, the ready-to-sign pack includes a notary acknowledgment page you can use anyway.

Where does the buyer take the bill of sale in Tennessee?+

To the Tennessee Department of Revenue (Vehicle Services) or the county office that handles vehicle registration, together with the signed title, proof of insurance where required, and payment for tax and fees.

Does a trailer need a title?+

It depends on the state and the trailer weight. Lighter trailers often need only registration. Either way the DMV will accept a signed bill of sale as proof of purchase.

What if the trailer has no VIN?+

Describe it carefully (make, size, axles, color) and the state will assign a VIN during inspection. The bill of sale should still be signed by both parties.