Title TN, Transportation Code

Sec. 501.0041. RULES; FORMS. (a) The department may adopt rules to administer this chapter. (b) The department shall post forms on the Internet and provide each county assessor-collector with a sufficient supply of any necessary forms on request. Transferred, redesignated and ame…

Sec. 501.005. CONFLICTS WITH BUSINESS & COMMERCE CODE. Chapters 1-9, Business & Commerce Code, control over a conflicting provision of this chapter. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Sec. 501.006. ALIAS TITLE. On receipt of a verified request approved by the executive administrator of a law enforcement agency, the department may issue a title in the form requested by the executive administrator for a vehicle in an alias for the law enforcement agency's use in…

Sec. 501.008. TITLE FOR AUTOCYCLE. (a) In this section, "autocycle" means a motor vehicle, other than a tractor, that is: (1) designed to have when propelled not more than three wheels on the ground; (2) equipped with seat belts and a steering mechanism; (3) equipped with seating…

Sec. 501.009. TITLE FOR MINIATURE VEHICLE. (a) In this section, "miniature vehicle" has the meaning assigned by Section 502.001. (b) For purposes of issuing a title under this chapter, a miniature vehicle is considered to be a motor vehicle. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., C…

Sec. 501.021. TITLE FOR MOTOR VEHICLE. (a) A motor vehicle title issued by the department must include: (1) the legal name and address of each purchaser; (2) the legal name of the seller and the municipality and state in which the seller is located or resides; (3) the year, make,…

Sec. 501.022. MOTOR VEHICLE TITLE REQUIRED. (a) The owner of a motor vehicle registered in this state: (1) except as provided by Section 501.029, shall apply for title to the vehicle; and (2) may not operate or permit the operation of the vehicle on a public highway until the own…

Sec. 501.023. APPLICATION FOR TITLE. (a) The owner of a motor vehicle must present identification and apply for a title as prescribed by the department, unless otherwise exempted by law. To obtain a title, the owner must apply: (1) to the county assessor-collector in the county i…

Sec. 501.0234. DUTY OF VEHICLE DEALER ON SALE OF CERTAIN VEHICLES. (a) A person who sells at the first or a subsequent sale a motor vehicle and who holds a general distinguishing number issued under Chapter 503 of this code or Chapter 2301, Occupations Code, shall: (1) except as …

Sec. 501.0235. PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION FOR OBTAINING TITLE. (a) The department may require an applicant for a title to provide current personal identification as determined by department rule. (b) Any identification number required by the department under this section…

Sec. 501.0236. ISSUANCE OF TITLE AND PERMITS WHEN DEALER GOES OUT OF BUSINESS. (a) This section applies only to a person who is the purchaser of a motor vehicle for which the dealer: (1) is required to apply for a title for the vehicle under Section 501.0234; and (2) does not app…

Sec. 501.024. TITLE RECEIPT. (a) A county assessor-collector who receives an application for a title shall issue a title receipt to the applicant containing the information concerning the motor vehicle required for issuance of a title under Section 501.021 or Subchapter I after: …

Sec. 501.025. MANUFACTURER'S CERTIFICATE REQUIRED ON FIRST SALE. A county assessor-collector may not issue a title receipt on the first sale of a motor vehicle unless the applicant for the title provides the application for a title and a manufacturer's certificate in a manner pre…

Sec. 501.027. ISSUANCE OF TITLE. (a) On the day that a county assessor-collector issues a title receipt, a copy of the title receipt and all evidence of title shall be submitted to the department in the period specified in Section 501.023(b). (b) Not later than the fifth day afte…

Sec. 501.0275. ISSUANCE OF TITLE FOR UNREGISTERED VEHICLE. (a) The department shall issue a title for a motor vehicle that complies with the other requirements under this chapter unless: (1) the vehicle is not registered for a reason other than a reason provided by Section 501.05…

Sec. 501.0276. DENIAL OF TITLE RECEIPT, TITLE, OR RECORD OF TITLE FOR FAILURE TO PROVIDE PROOF OF EMISSIONS TESTING. A county assessor-collector may not issue a title receipt and the department may not issue a certificate of title for a vehicle subject to Section 548.3011 unless …

Sec. 501.028. SIGNATURES. (a) On receipt of a certificate of title, the owner of a motor vehicle shall write the owner's name in ink in the space provided on the certificate. (b) Upon transfer of ownership, the seller shall complete assignment of title by signing and printing the…

Sec. 501.029. ACCEPTABLE PROOF OF OWNERSHIP. The board by rule may provide a list of the documents required for the issuance of a receipt that evidences title to a motor vehicle for registration purposes only. The fee for application for the receipt is the fee applicable to appli…

Sec. 501.030. MOTOR VEHICLES BROUGHT INTO STATE. (a) Before a motor vehicle that was last registered or titled in another state or country may be titled in this state, the county assessor-collector shall verify that the vehicle has passed the inspections required by Chapter 548, …

Sec. 501.0301. CERTAIN OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLES PURCHASED OUTSIDE THIS STATE. (a) In this section: (1) "Off-highway vehicle" means: (A) an all-terrain vehicle or recreational off-highway vehicle, as those terms are defined by Section 551A.001; (B) a motorcycle, as that term is define…

Sec. 501.031. RIGHTS OF SURVIVORSHIP AGREEMENT. (a) The department shall include on each title an optional rights of survivorship agreement that: (1) provides that if the agreement is between two or more eligible persons, the motor vehicle will be owned by the surviving owners wh…

Sec. 501.0315. BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION. (a) The owner of a motor vehicle may designate a sole beneficiary to whom the owner's interest in the vehicle transfers on the owner's death as provided by Chapter 115, Estates Code, by submitting an application for title under Section 501.…

Sec. 501.032. IDENTIFICATION NUMBER INSPECTION REQUIRED. (a) In addition to any requirement established by department rule, a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer must have an identification number inspection under Section 501.0321 if: (1) the department does not have a motor v…

Sec. 501.0321. IDENTIFICATION NUMBER INSPECTION. (a) An inspection required under Section 501.032 must verify, as applicable, the identity of: (1) a motor vehicle; (2) a trailer or semitrailer; (3) a frame, body, or motor of a motor vehicle; or (4) an item of equipment not requir…

Sec. 501.0322. ALTERNATIVE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER INSPECTION. The department by rule may establish a process for verifying the identity of an item listed in Section 501.0321(a) as an alternative to an identification number inspection under Section 501.0321. The rules may include t…

Sec. 501.033. ASSIGNMENT AND REASSIGNMENT OF IDENTIFICATION NUMBER BY DEPARTMENT. (a) If the permanent identification number affixed by the manufacturer has been removed, altered, or obliterated, or a permanent identification number was never assigned, the department shall assign…

Sec. 501.0331. MOTOR NUMBER REQUIRED FOR REGISTRATION. A person may not apply to the county assessor-collector for the registration of a motor vehicle from which the original motor number has been removed, erased, or destroyed until the motor vehicle bears the motor number assign…

Sec. 501.0332. APPLICATION FOR MOTOR NUMBER RECORD. (a) To obtain a motor number assigned by the department, the owner of a motor vehicle that has had the original motor number removed, erased, or destroyed must file a sworn application with the department. (b) The department sha…

Sec. 501.034. ISSUANCE OF TITLE TO GOVERNMENT AGENCY. The department may issue a title to a government agency if a vehicle or part of a vehicle is: (1) forfeited to the government agency; (2) delivered by court order under the Code of Criminal Procedure to a government agency for…

Sec. 501.0341. ISSUANCE OF TITLE TO GOVERNMENT AGENCY FOR TRAVEL TRAILER. (a) The department by rule shall establish a process to automatically issue a title to a government agency for a travel trailer used by the government agency to provide temporary housing in response to a na…

Sec. 501.035. TITLE FOR FORMER MILITARY VEHICLE. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, the department shall issue a title for a former military vehicle if all requirements for issuance of a title are met. (b) In this section, "former military vehicle" has the meaning assigned by Sec…

Sec. 501.036. TITLE FOR FARM TRAILER OR FARM SEMITRAILER. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the department may issue a title for a farm trailer or farm semitrailer with a gross vehicle weight of not more than 34,000 pounds if all requirements for issuance o…

Sec. 501.037. TITLE FOR TRAILERS OR SEMITRAILERS. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the department may issue a title for a trailer or semitrailer that has a gross vehicle weight of 4,000 pounds or less if all other requirements for issuance of a title are m…

Sec. 501.038. CERTIFICATE OF TITLE FOR CUSTOM VEHICLE OR STREET ROD. (a) In this section, "custom vehicle" and "street rod" have the meanings assigned by Section 504.501. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, if the department issues a certificate of title for …

Sec. 501.051. GROUNDS FOR REFUSAL TO ISSUE OR FOR REVOCATION OR SUSPENSION OF TITLE. (a) A title may be refused, canceled, suspended, or revoked by the department if: (1) the application contains a false or fraudulent statement; (2) the applicant failed to furnish required inform…

Sec. 501.052. HEARING ON REFUSAL TO ISSUE OR REVOCATION OR SUSPENSION OF TITLE; APPEAL. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (f), an interested person aggrieved by a refusal, rescission, cancellation, suspension, or revocation under Section 501.051 may apply for a hearing to the …

Sec. 501.0521. COURT ORDERED TITLE CHANGES. (a) A justice of the peace or municipal court judge may not issue an order related to a title except as provided by Chapter 47, Code of Criminal Procedure, or Section 27.031(a)(3), Government Code. (b) A county or district court judge m…

Sec. 501.053. FILING OF BOND AS ALTERNATIVE TO HEARING. (a) As an alternative to the procedure provided by Section 501.052, the person may obtain a title by filing a bond with the department if the vehicle is in the possession of the applicant and: (1) there is no security intere…

Sec. 501.071. SALE OF VEHICLE; TRANSFER OF TITLE. (a) Except as provided by Sections 503.036 and 503.039, a motor vehicle may not be the subject of a subsequent sale unless the owner designated on the title submits a transfer of ownership of the title. (b) The transfer of the tit…

Sec. 501.072. ODOMETER DISCLOSURE STATEMENT. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (c), the transferor of a motor vehicle transferred in this state shall provide to the transferee a disclosure of the vehicle's odometer reading at the time of the transfer in compliance with 49 U.S.…

Sec. 501.0721. DELIVERY OF RECEIPT AND TITLE TO PURCHASER OF USED MOTOR VEHICLE. A person, whether acting for that person or another, who sells, trades, or otherwise transfers a used motor vehicle shall deliver to the purchaser at the time of delivery of the vehicle a properly as…

Sec. 501.073. SALES IN VIOLATION OF CHAPTER. A sale made in violation of this chapter is void and title may not pass until the requirements of this chapter are satisfied. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Sec. 501.074. TRANSFER OF VEHICLE BY OPERATION OF LAW. (a) The department shall issue a new title for a motor vehicle registered in this state for which the ownership is transferred by operation of law or other involuntary divestiture of ownership after receiving: (1) a certified…

Sec. 501.076. LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY. (a) An owner who has a contractual option to transfer ownership of a vehicle in full or partial satisfaction of the balance owed on the vehicle, as provided in Section 348.123(b)(5), Finance Code, may execute a written limited power of att…

Sec. 501.091. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: (1) "Actual cash value" means the market value of a motor vehicle. (2) "Casual sale" means the sale by a salvage vehicle dealer or an insurance company of five or fewer nonrepairable motor vehicles or salvage motor vehicles to the sa…

Sec. 501.09111. RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS OF NONREPAIRABLE VEHICLE TITLE, NONREPAIRABLE RECORD OF TITLE, SALVAGE VEHICLE TITLE, OR SALVAGE RECORD OF TITLE. (a) A person who owns a nonrepairable motor vehicle: (1) is entitled to possess, transport, dismantle, scrap, destroy, record a…