Buying a New Car in Tennessee

Buying a new car in Tennessee doesn't have to be a hassle, especially if you cover all of your bases with strong research before you make your final decision. Not only should you investigate and drive as many different cars or trucks as you can prior to purchasing, but you should also make sure that you remember to include your state's laws concerning registration and titling when putting together the list of fees and taxes associated with your car's final price. This article helps you understand what it will cost you to park that new vehicle in your driveway in Tennessee, and it also points you in the right direction when it comes to finding cities and towns that boast a large number of new car dealership.

Tennessee is blessed with two major metropolitan areas that concentrate a large number of car dealer lots all in one place. Nashville and its surrounding suburbs are a great place to start car shopping, as the area features easy access to a wide variety of different vehicle brands. Memphis, the capital, isn't too far behind when it comes to new car dealerships. At the state's southern border sits Chattanooga, which comes close to matching Memphis' selection, and Knoxville in the east serves the part of the state farthest from its two largest cities.

Registration of a brand new car in Tennessee is handled by dealership personnel, who will act as an interface between you and the state's Department of Safety. Tennessee's registration costs are not easy to pin down - the state charges a flat fee for registration in the neighborhood of $23.00 on most passenger vehicles, but it allows each individual county to charge a 'wheel tax' or 'privilege tax' on each brand new registration. In some counties, this fee might be fairly nominal - $20.00 - or it might reach as high as $80.00. A complete list of county clerk office locations, along with a listing of each county's tax rate can be found at the following Tennessee state government link: http://www.tennessee.gov/revenue/vehicle/countyclerklocations.htm.

With regards to sales tax, Tennessee charges 7 percent on new car purchases. However, counties have the option of adding between 1 percent and 2.75 percent to this amount, and cities located within a county that does not max out their local tax option can collect the remaining percentage that has been left on the table.