To get a duplicate title in Memphis, TN, file Form RV-F1315201 with the Shelby County Clerk and pay the $14 state duplicate title fee, plus any additional county charges.1Tennessee Department of Revenue. Duplicate Title Tennessee law requires you to apply for a replacement as soon as your certificate of title is lost, destroyed, or too worn to read.2Justia. Tennessee Code 55-3-115 – Lost or Damaged Certificate of Title – Replacement One situation changes the whole process: if there’s still a loan on the vehicle, the lender has to make the request, not you.
What You Need to File
The form is called “Application for Noting of Lien, Duplicate Title, or Multipurpose Use” (RV-F1315201). You can pick it up at any Shelby County Clerk branch or download it from the Tennessee Department of Revenue website.
Fill in the vehicle identification number, current license plate number, and the reason for the request, such as “lost” or “mutilated.” The registered owner (or an authorized representative) has to sign, and you’re certifying under penalty of perjury that the information is accurate, so check every field before signing.
You’ll also need the vehicle’s current odometer reading unless it qualifies for an exemption. For 2011 model-year vehicles and newer, odometer disclosure is required for 20 years from the model year; 2010 and older vehicles fell under the previous 10-year rule and are generally already exempt.3Tennessee Department of Revenue. VT-4 – Odometer Disclosure and Exemption
If you’re applying in person, bring a valid government-issued photo ID, such as a Tennessee driver’s license.
If Your Vehicle Still Has a Loan
This trips people up. If there’s an active lien on the vehicle, you cannot request the duplicate title yourself. The lienholder has to initiate the request, and the replacement title is mailed directly to the first lienholder on record.1Tennessee Department of Revenue. Duplicate Title Call your lender and ask them to start the process.
If the loan is already paid off but the title still shows a lien, you can apply yourself, but you’ll need a formal lien release on the lender’s letterhead that identifies the specific vehicle and is signed by an authorized representative.1Tennessee Department of Revenue. Duplicate Title The replacement title will then come to the address you list on the application.4Tennessee Department of Revenue. Application for Noting of Lien, Duplicate Title, or Multipurpose Use
Where to Apply in Memphis
The Shelby County Clerk runs several branches that accept duplicate title applications in person:5Shelby County, TN. Shelby County Clerk
- Downtown: 150 Washington Avenue, Memphis, TN 38103
- Mullins Station: 1075 Mullins Station Road, West Wing
- Whitehaven: 4122 Elvis Presley Boulevard
- Riverdale: 3785 Riverdale Road, Memphis, TN 38115
- Raleigh-Frayser: 3616 Austin Peay Highway, Suite 4
- Millington: 4836 Navy Road (limited services)
You can also mail the completed application and supporting documents to the Downtown office at 150 Washington Avenue. Enclose a check or money order for the full fee, made payable to the Shelby County Clerk. Mailed applications add transit time on both ends.
Fees and Payment
The state fee is $14. Additional county clerk fees may apply.1Tennessee Department of Revenue. Duplicate Title Branch offices accept cash, personal check, or credit card. Credit card payments carry a 2.25% surcharge from the third-party processor, which applies to the full transaction total if you’re handling other services at the same time.
By mail, you’ll need a check or money order. Credit cards are not accepted for mailed applications.
How Long It Takes
Replacement titles are typically printed and mailed to the owner or lienholder within about two weeks of the application date.6Shelby County, TN. Title and Registration After the Shelby County Clerk forwards your paperwork to the Tennessee Department of Revenue, most titles are in the mail within 24 to 48 hours of clearing the state system.7Tennessee Department of Revenue. VTR-4 – When Title Can Be Expected in the Mail
In-person filings tend to move faster because staff can flag errors on the spot. If your title hasn’t arrived after a few weeks, call the Shelby County Clerk at (901) 222-3000 to check the status. Once the replacement is issued, the original is void by law, so if the old one surfaces later, you can’t use it.2Justia. Tennessee Code 55-3-115 – Lost or Damaged Certificate of Title – Replacement
Having Someone Else Apply for You
If you can’t file yourself, someone can apply on your behalf using Tennessee’s vehicle power of attorney, Form RV-F1311401. It must be filled in completely; any erasures or alterations void the document.8Tennessee Department of Revenue. Power of Attorney for Vehicle Transactions You’ll list the vehicle’s make, model, year, body type, and VIN, check the “Duplicate Title” box under the transaction type section, and sign in the acknowledgment section.
When the Owner Has Died
If the registered owner has died without a will and no surviving spouse, the heirs file an Affidavit of Inheritance (Form RV-F1310501) with the county clerk. Every heir with a legal claim must either sign in person or attach a separate notarized statement relinquishing their interest.9Tennessee Department of Revenue. Affidavit of Inheritance The affidavit also requires confirmation that no estate administration is pending and that no letters testamentary have been issued.
If there was a will and the estate went through probate, you’ll generally need court documentation instead of the affidavit. The county clerk’s office can confirm which documents apply to your situation.