Tennessee Vehicle Power of Attorney

Introduction

Key Things to Know

1. 1

   RV-F1311401 is the Tennessee Department of Revenue form titled Power of Attorney for Vehicle Transactions. Its printed purpose is to appoint an individual or entity to manage vehicle transactions on the behalf of another individual, and the authority runs to a single vehicle listed on the form by make, VIN, model, body type and year.

2. 2

   No notary is involved. Section B of RV-F1311401 is headed ACKNOWLEDGMENT, but it contains only the affiant certification statement followed by the affiant's signature and the date. There is no notary signature line, no seal space and no commission expiry printed anywhere on the form.

3. 3

   The owner chooses the authority by checkbox. Seven transaction types are listed: Duplicate Title, Noting of Lien, Vehicle Information Request, Application for Title and Registration, Transfer of Title, Request for Verification of Ownership on Vehicles Found Abandoned, Immobile or Unattended, and Other with a space to specify.

4. 4

   A blank or a correction kills the form. The instruction reads that the document is void if any information has been left blank or if any information entered on it has been erased or altered by any means, so start a fresh page rather than correcting one.

5. 5

   The odometer responsibility stays with the owner. The form has the owner state an understanding that these documents may contain the federally mandated odometer disclosure and that the owner is responsible for the disclosures made in them.

6. 6

   Dealers have a different form. RV-F1311401 says dealers must use a secure power of attorney, RV-F1316901, to transfer ownership when the original certificate of title is not available for the owner to make an odometer disclosure, as required by the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act of 1986 and 49 CFR 580.

7. 7

   The attorney in fact can be a person or a business: the form takes a name of attorney in fact representative plus a business or title service line, and the party granting authority ticks Individual or Business and gives a physical street address, telephone number and email address.

Tennessee Requirements for Vehicle Power of Attorney

• Form RV-F1311401, Power of Attorney for Vehicle Transactions

  Tennessee uses form RV-F1311401, titled Power of Attorney for Vehicle Transactions, published by the Tennessee Department of Revenue. The posted revision is marked Rev. 2-21. The form prints its own authority, Tenn. Code Ann. Sections 34-6-101 and 102, immediately under the purpose line.

• No Notary: an Affiant Certification Instead

  RV-F1311401 prints no notary block. Section B is headed ACKNOWLEDGMENT but holds only the affiant certification statement, that the statements made are true and correct to the best of the affiant's knowledge, information and belief, followed by the affiant signature and date. No notary signature line, seal space or commission expiry appears on the form.

• A Blank or an Alteration Voids the Form

  The instruction on the face of the form directs that it be completed in its entirety, and then states that the document is void if any information has been left blank or if any information entered on it has been erased or altered by any means. Print a fresh copy rather than correcting an entry.

• Seven Transaction Checkboxes Set the Scope

  The owner checks the appropriate box for each transaction type authorized: Duplicate Title, Noting of Lien, Vehicle Information Request, Application for Title and Registration, Transfer of Title, Request for Verification of Ownership on Vehicles Found Abandoned, Immobile or Unattended, and Other with a space to specify.

• One Vehicle Only

  The form states that this authority is limited to the vehicle listed below, and gives a single vehicle block: make, VIN, model, body type and year. Where the attorney in fact must handle work on a second vehicle, a separate RV-F1311401 is completed for it.

• The Owner Keeps the Odometer Disclosure Responsibility

  The appointment language has the owner state an understanding that these documents may contain the federally mandated odometer disclosure and that the owner is responsible for the disclosures made in them. Appointing an attorney in fact to sign does not shift that responsibility to the person signing.

• Dealers Use the Secure Power of Attorney, RV-F1316901

  RV-F1311401 states that dealers must use a secure power of attorney, RV-F1316901, to transfer ownership when the original certificate of title is not available for the owner to make an odometer disclosure as required by the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act of 1986 and 49 CFR 580.

• Filed at the Local County Clerk's Office

  Tennessee title and registration business runs through the county clerk, and Department of Revenue title and registration forms carry the instruction to complete the form, sign it and submit it in person or by mail to your local county clerk's office. The power of attorney travels with the transaction rather than being filed alone.