Tennessee Vehicle Transfer After Death
Transfer a car title after death in Tennessee by checking how the title was held first. Tennessee has no vehicle transfer-on-death designation. Instead, most heirs use the Affidavit of Inheritance (Form F-1310501) at the County Clerk’s office, a surviving joint owner retitles with a death certificate, and larger estates transfer through probate letters.
- Transfer fee
- Verify the current Tennessee title transfer fee with the county clerk
- Title fee
- Verify with the county clerk
- Registration
- Varies by vehicle type and county
- Small estate limit
- $50,000 (Tenn. Code Ann. 30-4-102), filed at the county clerk
How Was the Vehicle Titled?
The transfer process depends on ownership type. Pick your situation below.
Surviving Spouse or Joint OwnerProbate may not be needed
The vehicle was titled to joint owners and one owner died; the surviving co-owner holds the vehicle
When a Tennessee vehicle is titled to joint owners and one owner dies, the surviving owner holds the vehicle. The survivor applies for a new title showing sole ownership at the County Clerk’s office, presenting the death certificate and the existing title. The clerk issues a new title in the survivor’s name alone under Tennessee’s certificate of title law (Tenn. Code Ann. 55-3-101 et seq.). No attorney is required.
- Original vehicle title
- Certified death certificate of the deceased owner
- Title Only Application (Form F-1310101) or standard title application
- Proof of identification
- Title fee
Affidavit of Inheritance (Form F-1310501)Probate may not be needed
Heirs are entitled to the vehicle and want to retitle it without opening full probate for the vehicle
Tennessee lets heirs transfer a deceased owner’s vehicle with the Affidavit of Inheritance (Form F-1310501), an official Tennessee Department of Revenue form. The heirs complete and notarize the form and present it with a certified death certificate and the existing title at the County Clerk’s office. The clerk transfers the title to the heirs without requiring letters testamentary or letters of administration, and no court proceeding is needed for the vehicle itself. This is the practical path for most heirs transferring a vehicle in Tennessee.
- Affidavit of Inheritance (Form F-1310501), completed and notarized
- Original vehicle title (or duplicate title if the original is lost)
- Certified death certificate
- Proof of identification of the heir(s)
Small Estate Probate Act (Under $50,000)Probate likely needed
The total value of the probate property is $50,000 or less and the family wants court authority over all personal property, not just the vehicle
Tennessee’s Small Estate Probate Act (Tenn. Code Ann. 30-4-101 through 30-4-111) provides an expedited court process when the decedent’s probate property totals $50,000 or less (Tenn. Code Ann. 30-4-102(9), as amended by Acts 2023, ch. 297). File a petition in the probate court of the county where the decedent resided (the Chancery Court Clerk and Master in most counties). The court issues limited letters of administration of a small estate or limited letters testamentary, and the administrator presents them with the death certificate and title at the County Clerk’s office to transfer the vehicle. The act covers personal property only, including vehicles; it cannot transfer real estate. An attorney is recommended and is required for court filings.
- Petition filed in the probate court of the county where the decedent resided
- Limited letters of administration of a small estate or limited letters testamentary issued by the court
- Original vehicle title (or duplicate if lost)
- Certified death certificate
- Title application and title fee at the County Clerk’s office
Full Probate (Letters Testamentary or Administration)Probate likely needed
The estate exceeds $50,000 or formal probate is required, and a court-appointed personal representative transfers the vehicle
When the estate does not qualify for the Small Estate Probate Act or formal probate is otherwise required, the court-appointed personal representative transfers the vehicle. Open probate in the Chancery Court (Clerk and Master) of the county where the decedent resided, or in the Probate Court in counties that have one, such as Shelby and Davidson. Once appointed, the personal representative presents letters testamentary or letters of administration, the certified death certificate, and the title at the County Clerk’s office (Tenn. Code Ann. 30-1-101 et seq.; 55-3-101 et seq.). An attorney is recommended and is required for formal probate proceedings.
- Original vehicle title (or duplicate title if the original is lost)
- Certified death certificate
- Letters testamentary or letters of administration issued by the Tennessee probate court
- Title Only Application (Form F-1310101) or standard title application
- Title fee
See the full step-by-step processThe forms, the order to do them, and what to bring
Read the Tennessee title before anyone signs
Confirm whether the title is sole or joint and whether a lien is listed. A deceased owner cannot sign, so you need the correct authority path first. Tennessee titles cannot name a transfer-on-death beneficiary, so do not look for one on the title.
Match your situation to a transfer path
A surviving joint owner retitles with the existing title and a death certificate. Heirs use the Affidavit of Inheritance (Form F-1310501) without a court filing. An estate with probate property of $50,000 or less can use the Small Estate Probate Act court process for limited letters. Otherwise the personal representative transfers the title through full probate.
Gather the death certificate and the right form
Every path needs a certified death certificate. Add a notarized Form F-1310501 for the affidavit path, the Title Only Application (Form F-1310101) if you need a title without registration, or letters testamentary or letters of administration for the probate paths. If you cannot appear in person, Form F-1311401 (Power of Attorney for Vehicle Transactions) lets someone act for you.
File at the County Clerk’s office
Tennessee processes all vehicle titles at the County Clerk’s office in each of its 95 counties, not at a state DMV counter. Bring the title, certified death certificate, your form, and ID. The state title fee is $11.00 under Tenn. Code Ann. 55-6-101, and county clerks may add county fees, so confirm the total with your county clerk.
Keep insurance and registration current
Tennessee has no statutory deadline to transfer a deceased owner’s title, but keep the vehicle insured and the registration current until ownership transfers. If the original title is lost, apply for a duplicate at the County Clerk’s office (Form F-1315201, $14 fee) before attempting the transfer.
Good to knowShort notes that save a second trip to the title office
- Tennessee titles have no transfer-on-death option. Tennessee does not offer a transfer-on-death beneficiary designation on vehicle titles, so an owner cannot pre-name who receives the car. After a death, the Affidavit of Inheritance (Form F-1310501) is the closest thing to a shortcut: it moves the title to the heirs at the County Clerk’s office without a court proceeding for the vehicle.
- The affidavit and the Small Estate Act are two different shortcuts. The Affidavit of Inheritance (F-1310501) transfers only the vehicle and needs no court filing. The Small Estate Probate Act (Tenn. Code Ann. 30-4-101 through 30-4-111) is a court petition that produces limited letters covering all of the decedent’s personal property under $50,000, but it cannot reach real estate. For a vehicle-only transfer, the affidavit is generally the more practical route.
- Get a duplicate title first if the original is missing. If the original certificate of title is lost or destroyed, apply for a duplicate at the County Clerk’s office using the Multi-purpose, Noting of Lien and Duplicate Title Application (Form F-1315201) with a $14 fee before attempting the transfer. If any liens remain on the vehicle, the duplicate title request must come from the lienholder, and the duplicate is sent to the first lienholder on record.
- The probate court depends on your county. Most Tennessee counties handle probate through the Chancery Court and its Clerk and Master, while some counties, such as Shelby and Davidson, have a dedicated Probate Court. File in the county where the decedent resided. There is no single statewide probate court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer a car title without probate in Tennessee?
What documents do I usually need to transfer a vehicle after death in Tennessee?
What if there is a loan on the vehicle?
Do I need to keep the car insured during the transfer?
What if several heirs inherit the car together?
What if the car is titled in another state, not Tennessee?
Not Sure Whether Probate Is Required?
Use the Tennessee probate assessment before you submit DMV paperwork if the vehicle was solely owned or the estate looks close to a small-estate threshold.
Still weighing whether to keep or sell the car? Read what to do with the car when someone dies for the keep-or-sell decision, or see how to sell the car if you cannot find the title in Tennessee.
Official Tennessee Sources
Information current as of July 8, 2026
Settled Estate is not a law firm, and this content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Probate laws and procedures in Tennessee can change. Consult with a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation. Full disclaimer.
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