Tennessee used car & BHPH dealer playbook.
Everything you need to get licensed and stay compliant in Tennessee, organized in the order you will do it: Motor vehicle dealer license, BHPH rate and GPS/repossession rules, and post-sale title and tax deadlines.
How to start a used car dealership in Tennessee
Start a used car dealership in Tennessee: the $600 TMVC license, $50,000 bond, zoning letter, 15-car lot, 7% sales tax and 60-day tags, in 10 steps.
Start with the Tennessee roadmap →Dealer license & local city approvals
Who needs a license, city zoning, surety bond, pre-licensing course, and state application.
How many cars can you sell in Tennessee without a dealer license?
Tennessee lets an individual sell up to 5 used vehicles titled in their name in 12 months; a household counts as one. Penalties: $100 to $5,000 per act.
How to get a Tennessee dealer license, step by step
How to get a Tennessee dealer license: the $600 fee, $50,000 bond, $300,000 garage insurance, 288 sq ft office, 15-car lot and CORE filing, step by step.
In-house financing (BHPH) & compliance
State finance licensing, rate caps, documentary fees, disclosures, and renewals.
After the sale, taxes, records & inspections
Plates and tags at sale, title transfer deadlines, tax filings, deal jackets, and agency audits.
Run your Tennessee dealership in LeftLane
Keep deals, finance accounts, payments, and text reminders in one place. Book a demo or start a free trial.