Motor Vehicle Division

A major job of the Shelby County Clerk's Office is the Motor Vehicle Division. Hopefully you will find the answer to many of your questions here.

Many different possibilities can arise when titling and registering a vehicle in the State of Tennessee. We provide a trained staff to assist you so that your visit to the Clerk's Office will be as pleasant as possible. Please check with us by phone to insure that you have all the documents needed to complete your transaction.

Obtaining a Title for your vehicle Title Department Privately Owned Vehicles Personalized Plates Antique License Plates  Camping Trailers Motorcycles Motorized Bicycle Utility Trailers Boats Commercial Vehicles Vehicle Inspections

For information about mailing your renewals, please phone (901)545-4241. For information on what papers are needed, or to check prices, please phone (901)545-4244. The main office for the Shelby County Clerk  is located down town at 150 Washington Ave. Our office hours are 8:00 a.m. until 4:15 p.m.

Finding Forms
The forms referenced on this page and many other vehicle related  forms can be found on the State of Tennessee's web site at 
                http://www.tennessee.gov/revenue/forms/titlereg.htm

Obtaining A Title for Your Vehicle
Tennessee State Law requires that any vehicle operated on the roads of Tennessee be properly titled, registered, and that appropriate sales tax be paid on the transfer of any vehicle, whether purchased from an individual or a dealership.  If an owner cannot process their motor vehicle transaction themself, they may designate someone else to process the title and/or registration for them.  The designated party must be provided with Power of Attorney in order to complete this transaction for the owner.  To view and print a Power of Attorney For Vehicle Transactions form, click here.

Sales Taxes will be calculated as follows:

If a vehicle is purchased in another state, the owner must pay the difference in the tax rate and the current rate in the State of Tennessee plus the local tax.    If the vehicle was received as a gift, an Affidavit of Non-Dealer Transfers of Motor Vehicles and Boats (Gift Affidavit) completed by both the giver and the receiver is needed.  In the case of gifts, no sales tax will be due.  To view and print the Gift Affidavit click here: 

The correct papers needed to title a
vehicle in the State of Tennessee are:

1. Manufacturer Certificate of Origin or a signed title
2. Odometer Statement
3. Bill of Sale - Notarized - (auto dealers only)
4. Lien Holder Information ( if applicable)
5. Two forms of identification if you live in the County.
6. Proof of Passed Motor Vehicle Inspection, if vehicle is within the Memphis City Limits.
   

Title Department
The Shelby County Clerk's Office began issuing titles on most vehicles in July of 1993. Replacement titles and recording of liens are also processed in the Title Department. This has considerably reduced the time to receive a title on a vehicle.

Titles are usually printed and mailed to the new owner or lienholder within two (2) weeks of the application date. Replacement titles and noting of liens can be processed while the customer waits in most instances.

The fee to replace a title or note a lien is $13.00. To view and print an application for replacement title, click here.  Instructions for completion of this application are included with the form.

For more information, please call the Shelby County Clerk's Office at (901) 545-4244.

Privately Owned Vehicles
The current prices to title and register a privately owned vehicle with a regular license plate in the various cities in Shelby County and in the un-incorporated areas of the County are listed below.

To title a car in Tennessee that has presently been titled and registered in another state, the title must be surrendered, or if the vehicle has a lien, the foreign registration must be surrendered and the complete name and address of the lien holder must be provided.

Personalized Plates  
A personalized license plate may be ordered for a cost of $35.00 or one of the "special" plates may be personalized for a cost of $70.00 by filling out an Application for Tennessee Personalized License Plate and forwarding the application along with the fee to the Vehicle Services Section, Taxpayer and Vehicle Services Division, 44 Vantage Way, Suite 160, Nashville, TN 37243-8050.  To view and print an application, click here.

Antique License Plates 
Antique license plates may be purchased for vehicles that are 25 years of age or older.  Please read the Antique Motor Vehicle Law that is attached to the Certification for Antique Registration to make sure that antique plates are right for your vehicle. To view and print a registration form, click here.

Camping Trailers
All camping trailers, regardless of dimensions, must be titled and registered except those that collapse or fold down.

Motorcycles
State Definition: Every motor vehicle having a saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, but excluding a tractor.

Motorized Bicycle
A vehicle with two or three wheels, an automatic transmission and a motor with a cylinder capacity not exceeding fifty (50) cubic centimeters and is capable of propelling the vehicle at a maximum design speed of no more than thirty (30) miles per hour on level ground. Any person desiring to title and register a motorized bicycle or motorcycle, may do so following the normal procedures that apply to any other motor vehicle.

Utility Trailers
The State of Tennessee does not require individuals to title and license utility trailers for private use, as long as you are pulling the trailer behind a Tennessee licensed vehicle. Some states do require a proper registration. Therefore, it is advisable to title and license if you plan to "pull through" other states.

Boats
All boats should be registered in the State of Tennessee. A bill of sale is required when transferring ownership and a registration card is required when transferring from another state. The Clerk's Office will certify and validate the registration card for a fee of $5.00. This will allow you to use the boat until you receive your numbers from Nashville.  Sales tax must be paid at the time of registration.  Sales tax is based on the purchase price of the boat.  You then mail your registration to Nashville to apply for your numbers. 

NOTE:  When transferring into TN from another state, sales tax may be due on the fair market value of the boat at the time it enters TN.

Commercial Vehicles
Due to the complexity of commercial vehicle laws, we suggest that you give our office a call and one of our clerks can advise you of the proper registration for the type of business use of the vehicle.

Vehicle Inspections
All vehicles registered within the Memphis city limits must pass inspection prior to registration. New vehicles are exempt the first time they are titled and registered. For Information concerning the City of Memphis Inspection you may call (901)528-2904.