Motor Vehicle
The Knox County Clerk’s Office now accepts Visa and MasterCard Credit & Debit card
payments for most services.*Convenience fees do apply. See Clerk for details.
All Knox County Clerk’s Office locations offer Motor Vehicle Title and Registration Services.
Email: motor.vehicle@knoxcounty.org
Click on links below for more information.
How to Title and Register a Vehicle in Tennessee
- Who Must Title
- New or Relocating to Knox County
- Sale of Vehicle
- Purchase of a New Vehicle from a Licensed Motor Vehicle Dealer
- Purchasing from an Individual
- Transactions Involving Multiple Owners
- Replacement Titles
- Disabled Driver Plates & Placards
- Wheel Tax Exemption Information
- Boat Registration Information
WHO MUST TITLE
Each owner of a vehicle, except a registered dealer, must obtain a title in his or her name. The owner of a vehicle must apply for Certificate of Title and Registration at the Knox County Clerk's Office. The County Clerk will collect the proper fees and issue the registration at that time. Please allow 10-15 business days for title processing.
NEW OR RETURNING KNOX COUNTY RESIDENTS
Please bring your out-of-state title and the odometer reading at time of purchase. If there is a lien, bring a copy of the title or an original or certified copy of the current vehicle registration along with the name, address and zip code of the lien holder. Some States allow the owner to hold the title instead of the lien holder, so in this case the title is required.
If the title was issued in more than one name, both owners must appear unless the word "or" connects the names. If the word "and" connects the owners' name and only one person is able to visit the motor vehicle office, a Power of Attorney (Form 1) must be executed designating the other owner to sign both names.
- Lessor’s Tennessee sales tax leasing number
- Out of State registration in lessor’s name and
- If vehicle is leased to more than one person, both parties will need to visit the motor vehicle office.
Knox County does not require emissions inspections for passenger vehicles.
In most cases, the cost for titling and registering your vehicle in Knox County is $71.50*.
*This is for a standard passenger plate only. Specialty and Commercial Tags are more expensive.
You will need Photo Driver License or other acceptable form of ID.
SALE OF VEHICLE BY REGISTERED OWNER
The registered owner assigns the Certificate of Title to the new owner on the reverse side of the certificate, indicating the name and full address of the new owner and lien holder (if any), the date of transfer and the purchase price.
If the vehicle is less than ten years old, there must be an odometer disclosure statement.
NEVER ASSIGN A CERTIFICATE OF TITLE LEAVING THE PURCHASER’S NAME BLANK (OPEN TITLE) BECAUSE IT SUBJECTS YOU AND THE PERSON IN POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE TO PAYMENT OF SALES TAX AND STRINGENT PENALTIES.
PURCHASE OF VEHICLE FROM MOTOR VEHICLE DEALERSHIP
If you've just bought a vehicle, please bring a valid Driver License or other when titling a vehicle, applying for a license plate or transferring a plate from one vehicle to another. State law requires the applicant or owner to visit the County Clerk's office. If you can't personally transact this business, a representative may be designated by notarized. The Power of Attorney form must identify the vehicle by make, model and identification number.
If your vehicle is new bring all documentation connected with the purchase. This includes manufacturer’s statement of origin, or MSO, new car invoice from dealer, odometer statement, and a security agreement if financed.
If you have purchased a vehicle from out of state, you must pay any sales taxes due at the time you make application for Tennessee Title and Registration.
PURCHASE OF VEHICLE FROM REGISTERED OWNER
If the vehicle was purchased from an individual, please present a properly signed certificate of title and, if the vehicle isn't over ten years old, the odometer statement must be completed on the title where specified. If the vehicle is financed bring the completed security agreement.
Any applicable sales taxes are due upon application for Tennessee Title & Registration at a rate of 7% state sales tax and 2.25% local tax (the local portion of the sales tax cannot exceed $88.00) on the sales price.
If you bought the vehicle for considerably less than the retail market value, the seller must sign an If unable to locate the seller, a notarized appraisal from a licensed dealer is acceptable otherwise tax will be based on the NADA book value.
If you wish to transfer your present tag please bring your current tag receipt or tag number.
Transfers from immediate family members may be eligible for tax exemption. Gifts from non-family members in some cases may also be tax exempt. However, the State does require a sworn Affidavit of Non-Dealer Transfer of Vehicles and Boats on exempt transactions.
The State does not permit a corporate transfer without collection of sales tax, even among family members.
DO NOT PURCHASE A MOTOR VEHICLE UNLESS THE OWNERS NAME APPEARS ON THE FACE OF THE ORIGINAL TITLE.
*Alterations, erasures or white out voids Tennessee Certificates of Title.
MULTIPLE OWNERS
Only one (1) party's signature is required if the vehicle is titled to two or more owners and their names are joined by the conjunction "or". When the conjunction "and" is used, all parties must sign.
REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATE OF TITLE
You may apply for a replacement Certificate of Tennessee Title (Application for Duplicate Title) at any of the Knox County Clerk’s Office locations, provided that the following conditions exist:
- The vehicle record is in the Title and Registration Database and eligible for replacement.
- The vehicle record is free of liens and/or stolen or administrative stop codes.
- If a lien is recorded against the vehicle, a Discharge of Lien Form must accompany the application.
- Registered owners, when applying, must present proof of ownership and Photo ID.
The cost to replace a lost or stolen Certificate of Title is $10.50.
DISABLED DRIVER LICENSE PLATES AND PLACARDS
Knox County resident drivers confined to a wheelchair, able to walk only with difficulty or uncertainty or with vision of not more than 20/200 with corrective lenses may apply for Disabled Driver license plates or placards. (Application for Disabled Driver Plate and/or Placard) The cost for Disabled Driver Plates is the same as the cost of a standard passenger license plate, unless the medical condition exempts the owner from the Knox County Wheel Tax.
Disabled passengers may apply for placards only. For a passenger with a permanent medical disability, the fee for a two (2) year placard is $21.50 for the first year and $3.00 for each renewal every two (2) years thereafter. For passengers with a disability that is of a temporary nature due to a surgery or fracture, the cost for a six-month placard is $10.00. Temporary Placards may be renewed one (1) time for a $10 fee.
KNOX COUNTY WHEEL TAX:
There is a $36.00 wheel tax in Knox County for all motorized vehicles and cycles. The tax does not apply to trailers. There are exemptions from the Wheel Tax under certain conditions. Please review the Affidavit for Wheel Tax Exemption to see if you qualify. Owners meeting the exemption criteria as set forth in the Knox County Wheel Tax Ordinance (O-04-5-101(a)) are relieved of $30 of the cost of registrations.
REGISTERING BOATS OR PERSONAL WATERCRAFT:
TWRA Boat Registration Information
