Overview
Add a $14 title, $26.50 in annual registration, and - the part that actually separates cheap Tennessee counties from expensive ones - a county wheel tax that has nothing to do with the purchase at all. It's a flat annual fee tacked onto registration, and it ranges from $0 in roughly a third of the state's 95 counties to $75 in Shelby County. Enter your numbers below for the real total.
Everything is paid in one visit to your county clerk, not a state DMV - Tennessee doesn't have one for titling. The clerk computes the tax, collects the title and registration fees, and issues your plate the same day in most counties.
01 - Official fees
Tennessee tax, title & license fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| State sales tax | 7% | of the full purchase price, no cap |
| Local option tax | 2.25%–2.75% | of only the first $1,600 - max $36–$44 |
| State single article tax | 2.75% | of the $1,600–$3,200 slice - max $44 |
| Title fee | $14.00 | |
| Lien notation (if financed) | $11.00 | |
| Base registration | $26.50 | $19.50 for motorcycles |
| County wheel tax | $0–$75 | set by each county; roughly a third charge none |
| Clerk's collection fee | $1.00 |
Figures verified June 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with your county clerk (TN Dept. of Revenue) - counties can add small local fees.
02 - Step by step
How to pay TTL at your Tennessee county clerk
- 1
Get the signed title from the seller (or the dealer prepares the paperwork for you).
- 2
Bring the title, a bill of sale showing price, proof of insurance, and photo ID to your county clerk's office.
- 3
The clerk calculates the three-layer sales tax on the price you paid (minus any trade-in at a dealer).
- 4
Pay the tax, the $14 title fee, and the first year's registration - plus your county's wheel tax if it has one - in a single transaction.
- 5
Walk out with your plate in most counties, or wait a few weeks by mail if the office doesn't issue on the spot.
03 - Same state, other costs
More Tennessee vehicle costs
04 - Common questions
Tennessee tax, title & license FAQ
How much is tax, title and license on a $30,000 car in Nashville?
About $2,338: $2,100 in state tax (7%), $44 local tax, $44 single article tax, a $14 title fee, $26.50 registration, and the $55 Davidson County wheel tax. Notice the local and single-article pieces total only $88 no matter how far above $3,200 the price climbs.
Why do people say Tennessee's car tax is 9.75% if it doesn't work that way?
9.75% is the retail sales tax rate for everyday goods in Nashville and Memphis, where the full local rate applies to the full price. Vehicles get a special carve-out: the local (and single-article) portions only ever tax the first $3,200 combined. On a $30,000 car, the effective combined rate is closer to 7.8%, not 9.75%.
Does a trade-in lower my Tennessee sales tax?
Yes. Tennessee taxes the price minus the value of a like-kind trade-in accepted by a dealer, and that lower "taxable price" is what flows through all three tax layers - state, local, and single article. Private-party sales don't get a trade-in credit since there's no dealer taking the old vehicle in.
What is the county wheel tax and do I have to pay it?
It's a flat annual fee your county commission can levy on every registered vehicle, completely separate from sales tax - it funds local roads and schools in many counties. Roughly a third of Tennessee's 95 counties charge none; Shelby County (Memphis) charges $75, Davidson County (Nashville) $55, and Knox County (Knoxville) $36. You pay it every year with registration, not just at purchase.
Is there a family exemption from Tennessee vehicle sales tax?
Yes, and it's a full exemption, not a reduced flat fee: sales between spouses, parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, great-grandparents and great-grandchildren, and siblings owe zero sales tax with a signed Affidavit of Non-Dealer Transfer. You still pay the $14 title fee and registration.
Do I still need an emissions test to register in Tennessee?
No, statewide. Tennessee phased out vehicle emissions testing county by county, and the last holdouts - including Davidson (Nashville) and Shelby (Memphis) counties - dropped the requirement in early 2022. No Tennessee county currently requires an emissions test to title or register a vehicle.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.