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Johnson City, Tennessee Car Bill of Sale

Use this bill of sale when selling a car in Johnson City, Tennessee. It documents the transfer and helps you complete DMV title paperwork.

Johnson City, TennesseeCarPopulation rank #513

What to include

  • Buyer and seller names and addresses
  • Car VIN and vehicle details
  • Sale price and date
  • Signatures from both parties

Next step

Create a compliant bill of sale and download the signed PDF immediately.

Local Requirements — Johnson City County

DMV / Title Office

County Clerk – Johnson City

Address

Visit https://www.tn.gov/safety/driver-services for the nearest Johnson City, TN office

Phone

See state DMV website for local office phone numbers

Office Hours

Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:30 PM

Transfer Fees & Taxes

Title Transfer Fee

$11.00

Sales Tax Rate

8.50%

Base Registration Fee

$14.50

Tennessee state rate 7% + estimated local taxes (verify with your county)

Notarization: NOT REQUIRED

Tennessee does not require notarization for private vehicle bills of sale. Buyer and seller signatures on the completed title assignment are sufficient.

Johnson City Transfer Checklist

  • Complete a title transfer at your local Tennessee title office within the required timeframe
  • Sales tax applies to private party vehicle purchases
  • Both buyer and seller should retain a signed copy of the bill of sale
  • Bring a valid government-issued photo ID and proof of insurance

County Information — Johnson City County

County Clerk / Recorder

Johnson City County Clerk

Phone

See county website for contact information

Car market data and safety information

The most common car makes in private-party sales are Toyota, Honda, Ford, Chevrolet, Nissan. Average private-party car prices range from $5,000–$25,000. The average NCAP safety rating for recent car models is 4.2 out of 5 stars. Cars average 3.1 NHTSA recalls per model across categories including Airbags (Takata), Power Train, Fuel System.

Safety checkpoints for buying a used car

Before completing a car bill of sale in Tennessee, verify these safety items:

  • Verify airbag recall status (Takata recall affected 67M+ vehicles)
  • Check tire age — tires over 6 years old degrade regardless of tread depth
  • Confirm brake pad thickness and rotor condition
  • Test all seatbelts for proper retraction and latching

Car insurance and depreciation in Tennessee

Liability insurance required in 49 states (New Hampshire is the exception). Average annual premium: $1,600–$2,200. Cars lose approximately 20% of value in the first year and 60% over five years. Japanese brands retain value best. Peak season for private car sales is spring (march–may) when tax refunds boost demand, with an average of 21 days on market.

Car registration and titling

Cars are classified as "Passenger vehicle" for registration purposes. Standard passenger cars weigh 2,500–4,500 lbs; no special weight-class registration required. Federal odometer disclosure is required for cars under 20 years old.

Car sales in Johnson City, Tennessee

Johnson City residents completing a car bill of sale should be aware of local requirements in addition to Tennessee state rules. The state sales tax rate is 7%, 7% state plus local taxes (total up to 9.75%). The most popular car makes in Tennessee include Toyota, Honda, Ford.

Tennessee bill of sale statistics

BillOfSaleNow has generated 1,712 bill of sale documents for Tennessee transactions, with 46 generated this month alone. The most popular vehicle type is car.

Why Documentation Helps Protect Asking Price

45% faster sale

Vehicles whose listings include a history report spend ~45% less time on site before selling, and report-viewers are 5x more likely to become a lead.

Source: Experian / AutoCheck

$4,000 avg loss

NHTSA estimates 450,000+ vehicles per year are sold with rolled-back odometers — the average victim loses about $4,000 in downstream repair costs.

Source: NHTSA

17.5M private sales/yr

About 17.5 million private-party vehicle transactions happen in the U.S. each year — roughly 47% of the used market.

Source: Cox Automotive 2024

1 in 3 buyers

Roughly 1 in 3 used-car buyers say they suspect private sellers are hiding mechanical problems — documentation closes that trust gap.

Source: JW Surety Bonds (n=3,000)

Frequently asked questions

What county is Johnson City in, and which office handles title transfers?

Johnson City is in Johnson City County. Title transfers are handled by the County Clerk – Johnson City at Visit https://www.tn.gov/safety/driver-services for the nearest Johnson City, TN office. Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:30 PM. Phone: See state DMV website for local office phone numbers.

What is the sales tax rate on a car sale in Johnson City?

The combined rate is 8.50%. Tennessee state rate 7% + estimated local taxes (verify with your county).

Is notarization required for a car bill of sale in Johnson City?

No. Tennessee does not require notarization for private vehicle bills of sale. Buyer and seller signatures on the completed title assignment are sufficient.

What fees should I expect when transferring a car title in Johnson City?

Title transfer fee: $11.00. Base registration fee: $14.50. Sales tax at 8.50% is collected at the time of title transfer.