Tennessee mobile home — quick answer
Tennessee lets a permanently affixed home be de-titled, and the affidavit that does it is recorded with the county register of deeds rather than kept by the state. Getting the title back afterwards is the hard part: the state wants an abstract of the land and a release from every lienholder named on it.
How mobile home sales actually work in Tennessee
- Agency
- Tennessee Department of Revenue, Vehicle Services Division
- De-titling
- Submit a certified copy of the affidavit of affixation to Vehicle Services
- Where the affidavit lives
- Recorded at the county register of deeds where the home is located
- How you know a home is affixed
- There is an affidavit of affixation on file in the county register of deeds office
- Guidance
- VTR-63, How to De-title a Mobile Home
- Re-titling a de-titled home
- Multi-purpose application, an abstract of the land showing ownership of both home and real property with any recorded mortgages, and a lien release for every lienholder on that abstract
- Final step after approval
- Complete the multi-purpose application at the local county clerk, apply for title and pay the fees
Transferring a mobile home in Tennessee, step by step
- Search the county register of deeds before agreeing anything. An affidavit of affixation on file means the home has been de-titled and is part of the land.
- If the home is still titled, the sale is an ordinary title assignment through the county clerk.
- To de-title, submit a certified copy of the affidavit of affixation to the Vehicle Services Division.
- To reverse it, expect a much heavier packet: the land abstract, every recorded mortgage, and a release from each lienholder named on it.
What private buyers get wrong here
- De-titling is far easier than undoing it. A buyer who needs the home as personal property should establish its status before paying, not after.
- Every lienholder on the land abstract has to release, and on a property with a mortgage that means involving the lender.
- The affidavit sits with the county register of deeds, so a state title search alone will not tell you whether a home has been affixed.
Verified 2026-09-25 against Tennessee DOR — Mobile Homes: Reissuing a Canceled Title and De-Titling and Tennessee DOR — VTR-63, How to De-title a Mobile Home and Tennessee DOR — Affidavit of Affixation for Manufactured or Mobile Home . Rules change — confirm before you sign.
Is a mobile home bill of sale required in Tennessee?
Tennessee lets a permanently affixed home be de-titled, and the affidavit that does it is recorded with the county register of deeds rather than kept by the state. Getting the title back afterwards is the hard part: the state wants an abstract of the land and a release from every lienholder named on it.
Does a Tennessee mobile home bill of sale need to be notarized?
Check the instructions for the specific title and bill-of-sale form. A requirement to notarize a title assignment does not automatically mean the separate bill of sale needs notarization. If notarization is required, wait to sign until the notary instructs you.
What to include on a Tennessee mobile home bill of sale
- Buyer and seller full legal names and addresses
- Year, make, model, and type (single/double-wide)
- Serial number / VIN and HUD label number
- Size (width × length) and current location
- Price, date, and signatures of both parties
Official sources
- Tennessee DOR — Mobile Homes: Reissuing a Canceled Title and De-Titling
- Tennessee DOR — VTR-63, How to De-title a Mobile Home
- Tennessee DOR — Affidavit of Affixation for Manufactured or Mobile Home
Requirements change and can vary by county. Confirm with the Tennessee DOR before you sign. Not legal advice.
Tennessee Mobile Home Bill of Sale — FAQ
Is a mobile home bill of sale required in Tennessee?
Tennessee lets a permanently affixed home be de-titled, and the affidavit that does it is recorded with the county register of deeds rather than kept by the state. Getting the title back afterwards is the hard part: the state wants an abstract of the land and a release from every lienholder named on it.
Does a Tennessee mobile home bill of sale need to be notarized?
Check the signing requirements for the specific title and bill-of-sale form. Notarization of a title assignment and notarization of a bill of sale are separate questions; a car rule does not establish the rule for this item.
Do I need a bill of sale to sell a mobile home?
In most cases, yes. A mobile home bill of sale documents the price and terms and supports the title transfer. If the home is titled as personal property you will also sign over the title; if it has been converted to real property, the sale is handled more like real estate.
Is a mobile home titled like a car?
Often, yes — when classified as personal property, a manufactured home is titled through the state motor-vehicle agency, similar to a vehicle. Once permanently affixed to land you own, it may be converted to real property and recorded with the county instead.
Is a bill of sale proof of ownership?
Generally no. For titled property like a car or boat, the title is what proves ownership. A bill of sale proves that a sale happened and records the price, date, and terms — it supports the title transfer but does not replace it. For untitled property (furniture, equipment, electronics), the signed bill of sale is usually the main proof of ownership.