County Clerk Services

Sponsored By The County Mayor

1. Previous owner’s title properly assigned on reverse side including odometer information. You must include hand printed names and signatures of both the buyer and seller.

2. Vehicles bought from a dealer must be properly assigned using the title extension form if back of title is full.

3. Security agreement or other proper lien instrument if lien is to be recorded

4. Copy of LES and stationing orders

5. Mailing address

6. Daytime telephone number

7. Notarized Power of Attorney appointing W.F. Knowles, County Clerk (Power of Attorney downloadable form)

1. Sales Tax
   a) State Sales Tax is 7% of purchase price less total value of trade in. For purchases in excess of $1,600, an additional State Tax of 2.75% is added up to a maximum of $44.
   b) Local Sales Tax is 2.25% of the first $1,600.  This amount is never to exceed $36.00.
   (You may qualify for a sales tax exemption if the following three situations are satisfied:  1) You are moving to Tennessee from another state, 2) You are stationed at Millington, TN,  Ft. Campbell KY or an Air Force Base engineering development center located entirely in Tennessee, and you purchased the vehicle in Tennessee.  To verify if you qualify call (423) 209-6525.)
   c.) Local collection fee is $1

2. Title Fee $11.00

3. License Plate Fee $24 for standard issue vehicle

4. Title & Transfer of Existing plate $14.50

5. Mail fee is $2

6. Make check payable to W. F. Knowles, County Clerk

7. Mail to: PO Box 24868, Chattanooga, TN 37422-4868

Call (423) 209-6525 with further questions

Vehicles that are purchased overseas by our military personnel will often only receive a registration for purpose of operating the vehicle overseas.  This registration should be properly assigned to the person filing application for title and registration.  If the registration indicates a lien, the Title and Registration Division will send a letter to the lienholder asking for the outstanding title.

If the vehicle was originally registered in the US while on active duty prior to overseas transfer, the transaction will be tax exempt when re-registering the vehicle in the US.

Active military can purchase a vehicle in the foreign country without paying sales tax in that country.  Sales tax will be paid when the vehicle is reregistered in the US.  At that time the bill of sale is required as proof of the sales price.

Proof of U.S Customs Clearance.

Call (423) 209-6525 with further questions.

Transferring an Existing Tennessee Registration to a Newly Purchased Vehicle.
(You may transfer a valid Tennessee Registration assigned to another vehicle to a newly purchased vehicle.)

1. Copy of your current valid Tennessee registration.

2. Previous owner’s title properly assigned on reverse side including odometer information. 

3. Vehicles bought from a dealer must be properly assigned using the title extension form if back of title is full.

4. Security agreement or other proper lien instrument if lien is to be recorded

5. Copy of LES and stationing orders

6. Mailing address

7. Daytime telephone number

8. Notarized Power of Attorney appointing W.F. Knowles, County Clerk (Power of Attorney downloadable form)

1. Sales Tax
   a) State Sales Tax is 7% of purchase price less total value of trade in. For purchases in excess of $1,600, an additional State Tax of 2.75% is added up to a maximum of $44.
   b) Local Sales Tax is 2.25% of the first $1,600.  This amount is never to exceed $36.00.
   (You may qualify for a sales tax exemption if the following situations are satisfied:  1) You are moving to Tennessee from another state, 2) You are stationed at Millington, TN or Ft. Campbell KY, or an Air Force Base engineering development center located entirely in Tennessee, and you purchased the vehicle in Tennessee.  To verify if you qualify call (423) 209-6525.)
   c.) Local collection fee is $1

2. Title Fee $11.00

3. Transfer Fee $3.50

4. Mail fee is $2.00

5. Make check payable to W. F. Knowles, County Clerk

6. Mail to: PO Box 24868, Chattanooga, TN 37422-4868

Call (423) 209-6525 with further questions.

Transferring a Valid Title and Registration from Another State
With a valid title and registration from another state, the following is required:

1. Either out of state title if there is no lien or an original or certified copy of the current registration receipt if a lien exists

2. Name and address of lienholder if lien is present

3. Copy of LES and Stationing Orders.

4. Notarized Power of Attorney appointing W.F. Knowles, County Clerk (Power of Attorney downloadable form)

5. Mailing Address and Daytime Telephone Number

6. Purchase date, color of vehicle, current mileage

1. Sales Tax
   a) No sales tax is due if you provide evidence that sales tax was paid at the time of purchase. Sales tax paid must be equivalent or greater than the State of Tennessee or the difference will be collected.
   b) If you do not provide evidence that sales tax was previously paid you will owe:
       1. State Sales Tax of 7% of total purchase price less total 
       of value of trade in
       2.   Local Sales Tax is 2.25% of the first $1,600.  
       This amount is never to exceed $36.00.
   c.) Local collection fee is $1

2. Title Fee $11.00

3. License Plate Fee $24 for standard issue vehicle

4. Mail fee is $2

5. Make check payable to W. F. Knowles, County Clerk

6. Mail to: PO Box 24868, Chattanooga, TN 37422-4868

Call (423) 209-6525 with further questions.

1. Copy of security agreement

2. Certificate of title

3. Noting of Lien Application

1. Noting of Lien Fee is $10.50

2. Make check payable to W. F. Knowles, County Clerk

3. Mail to: PO Box 24868, Chattanooga, TN 37422-4868

Call (423) 209-6525 with further questions

1. Copy of your LES

2. Copy of your current registration

3. Emission Test Results from Testing Center (If your vehicle is out of the testing area you must complete an Application for Vehicle Exemption and fax completed form to the number in the upper right hand corner of the form.)

1. $24—Standard issue license plate

2. $59—Personalized plate

3. $17—Motorcycles

4. $52—Personalized motorcycles plate

5. Mail fee is $2

6. Make check payable to W. F. Knowles, County Clerk

7. Mail to: PO Box 24868, Chattanooga, TN 37422-4868

Call (423) 209-6525 with further questions.

If you need to change your address at any time, send us a copy of your LES along with new address and a list of all vehicles registered in Tennessee.  Include in list of vehicles your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), year and make or vehicle and the tag number.  Please provide us with a daytime phone number. 

If you are no longer based in Tennessee and your LES does not show Tennessee as your home of record, you must title and register your vehicle in your home of record or your duty station.

All correspondence should be sent to W. F. Knowles, County Clerk, PO Box 24868, Chattanooga, TN 37422-4868.

Call (423) 209-6525 with further questions.