Tennessee Overview
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) oversees boat registration, but most transactions happen at county clerk offices. Tennessee is notably boat-owner-friendly for older vessels — bill-of-sale-only registration is accepted for pre-1973 boats without established title history.
Tennessee Registration Fees (Annual)
| Vessel Length | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| Under 16 feet | $11 |
| 16 ft – under 26 ft | $16 |
| 26 ft and over | $22 |
| Personal Watercraft | $16 |
Sales tax: 7% (4.75% state + 2.25% typical local). Collected at county clerk at registration.
Tennessee Title Transfer
- Seller signs the back of the Tennessee Certificate of Title. No notarization required.
- Buyer completes TWRA application — available at any county clerk or twra.tn.gov.
- Submit to county clerk: signed title, application, bill of sale, photo ID, payment ($11 title + 7% sales tax + registration).
- Processing: 3–5 weeks for new title. Registration issued same-day.
Tennessee No-Title Boats (Pre-1973)
Tennessee accepts a notarized bill of sale for pre-1973 vessels — no bonded title needed. Use Form TWRA-0173, available at any TWRA regional office or twra.tn.gov. For newer boats without titles: standard bonded title process at 1.5× appraised value, 3-year bond. TWRA: (615) 781-6500 | twra.tn.gov
Free Checklist: Tennessee Boat Registration
Everything you need — documents, fees, and form numbers for your specific situation.