Tennessee Licensing Requirements

Buying for personal use in Tennessee? Without business licenses, you will need a Broker's help to bid on clean and salvage titled vehicles in Tennessee. You can purchase boats, jet skis and snowmobiles on your own without assistance, however. If you're buying in another state, view the State Licensing Overview or search our No License Required inventory.

In Tennessee, dealers and dismantlers will need to provide Copart an operational license and a sales tax license for the same physical address, as well as sales tax exemption forms. The Tennessee Department of Revenue issues the Certificate of Registration Sales & Use and the Blanket Certificate of Resale.

Operational licenses include dealer, dismantler and business licenses, all of which should be acquired from the Tennessee Motor Vehicle Commission. You can also get your business licenses from your local city or county office.

These links provide the forms and information you need to get started with licensing:

• TN Dealer Licensing Information
• TN Motor Vehicle Commission
• TN Department of Revenue

Additionally, please complete the following forms and submit them to our Licensing Department via our License Uploader. These documents will be processed within one to two business days of receipt. Click here to watch a tutorial video on how to use the License Uploader.

• Multi-state tax form
• Affidavit for Purchase
• Tennessee Sales or Use Tax Blanket Certificate of Resale

General businesses, exporters and private individuals buying in Tennessee will need to go through a Broker for all clean titled and salvage items. Boats, jet skis and snowmobiles may be purchased directly without the assistance of a Broker.

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