How much does a clear title cost in Tennessee?

$14 for a duplicate title, plus any county clerk fees. Confirm the current fee with the Tennessee title agency before you apply.

Tennessee lien release

Paid off your car in Tennessee? How the lien comes off the title

Under Tennessee law a lienor whose lien has been discharged must report the discharge to the Department of Revenue within 72 hours by registered mail, return receipt requested. To get a title in your name, you apply for a duplicate title through your county clerk with proof that all liens have been discharged. If any lien remains on record, only the lienholder can request a duplicate, and it is sent to the first lienholder.

See the Tennessee steps Lender out of business?

Checked against official Tennessee sourcesLast reviewed Sep 28, 2026. Every fact below links to its source at the end of the page.

After the last payment

What happens to the title in Tennessee

Electronic lien status not verified

Your steps

Getting a clear Tennessee title

Fee: $14 for a duplicate title, plus any county clerk fees.

Ask your lender for proof the lien is discharged (a signed lien release) and for the title if it holds it.
Complete the Multi-purpose, Noting of Lien, and Duplicate Title Application (Form 1315201).
Take or mail it to your county clerk with proof that all liens have been discharged, the $14 fee, and any county fees.
If you apply in person, bring photo identification; a representative also needs a power of attorney (Form 1311401).

If the lender is slow

How long the lender has

Tennessee gives the lienholder 3 days after payoff.

A lienor whose lien is discharged must report the discharge to the Department of Revenue within 72 hours by registered mail, return receipt demanded, and failure is a Class C misdemeanor. Source: Tenn. Code 55-3-127(c).

Lender gone or unreachable

If the lienholder is out of business

Compare other states' procedures

We could not verify an official Tennessee procedure for a lender that no longer exists. Ask the Tennessee title agency before paying for a bonded title or court order.

Optional paid help

Get the Tennessee lien release finished

Your loan is paid off but the title, the release, or the Tennessee record still isn't right. We check the path and do the paperwork with you.

We find the release path for your state and lender from official sources.
We prepare the lien release or clear-title request, and any state form, for you to sign and send.
We track the lender and the state until the record shows the lien released.

One-time $89 for a paid-off loan whose title still shows the lien. We show the work, terms, exclusions, and delivery date before payment.

Every guide and official link on this site stays free.

By lender

What your lender says about payoff

Each page covers what the lender publishes about releasing the lien, timing, and contacts.

Official sources

The Tennessee rules behind this page

Recheck the agency page before you apply. Statute copies from third-party sites are labelled.

Tennessee title after payoff questions

How long does a lender have to release a lien in Tennessee?: A lienor whose lien is discharged must report the discharge to the Department of Revenue within 72 hours by registered mail, return receipt demanded, and failure is a Class C misdemeanor. Source: Tenn. Code 55-3-127(c).
Will Tennessee mail me the title after I pay off the loan?: Under Tennessee law a lienor whose lien has been discharged must report the discharge to the Department of Revenue within 72 hours by registered mail, return receipt requested. To get a title in your name, you apply for a duplicate title through your county clerk with proof that all liens have been discharged. If any lien remains on record, only the lienholder can request a duplicate, and it is sent to the first lienholder.
What if my lender went out of business?: We could not verify an official Tennessee procedure for a lender that no longer exists. Ask the Tennessee title agency before paying for a bonded title or court order.
How much does a clear title cost in Tennessee?: $14 for a duplicate title, plus any county clerk fees. Confirm the current fee with the Tennessee title agency before you apply.