Selling a personalised plate in Tennessee
In Tennessee a personalised plate can pass to an unrelated buyer by name. The holder signs a paper naming the person receiving the combination, and the state issues it to that person. What that paper is, what it costs and how it can fail are set out below, with the source.
What the transfer involves
Workable — Tennessee has no dedicated form
There is no purpose-built transfer form. The seller signs the state’s blank General Affidavit naming you, has it notarised, and a county clerk processes it as an ordinary registration.
Before you pay, know this
- Practice varies across 95 counties and a clerk may be unfamiliar with it. Call your county clerk before you agree anything.
- Only personalised and personalised-specialty plates qualify — ordinary and generic specialty plates do not.
- If the registration lapsed more than 365 days ago the state may already have released the combination.
- You are buying the right to the letters, not the metal. Do not accept a physical plate posted to you.
- You pay full plate fees and must be registering a Tennessee vehicle.
We recommend using an escrow service
Money and paperwork move between you and the other party, in whichever order you agree. An independent escrow service holds the funds until the transfer is actually done. TagsTrader never holds your money and is not part of the payment — arranging escrow is up to the two of you, and it is the single best protection either side has.
This is a description, not advice. We are a match-maker: we introduce a buyer and a seller who would otherwise never find each other. The transfer itself is between you, the other party and your state authority. We are not a party to your sale, we hold no funds, we cannot make your state approve anything, and we do not guarantee any outcome. Rules and fees change without notice to us. Confirm the current process with your own state authority — and, where money or tax is involved, with your own adviser — before you pay anyone anything. Our basis: TN DOR County Clerk Guide, "Relinquish of Rights"; form RV-F1311001
What TagsTrader does and does not do
We are a match-maker: we introduce a buyer and a seller who would otherwise never find each other. Listing a plate is free. A buyer pays a fee to open contact with the seller, and nothing else.
We are not a party to your sale, we hold no funds, we cannot make your state approve anything, and we do not guarantee any outcome. The transfer itself is between you, the other party and your state authority. This page is a description, not advice: we publish no forms, templates or tax guidance.