(a) It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to sell or exchange, offer to sell or exchange, or to give away any certificate of title or manufacturer‘s identification number plates, serial plates or motor vehicle license plates of any motor vehicle that has been sold as junk or salvage or as a total loss. Every officer, agent or employee of any person, firm or corporation, and every person who authorizes, directs, aids in or consents to the sale or exchange, or offers to sell, exchange or give away the certificate of title or manufacturer’s identification number plate, serial plates or motor vehicle license plates, commits a Class E felony.

Attorney's Note

Under the Tennessee Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
class E felony1 to 6 yearsup to $3,000
For details, see Tenn. Code § 40-35-111

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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 55-5-127

  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Manufacturer: means every person engaged in the business of constructing or assembling vehicles of a type required to be registered at an established place of business in this state. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
  • Person: means a natural person, firm, copartnership, association, corporation, or an engaged ADS. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
  • Vehicle: means every device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, excepting devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
(b) It is lawful to sell, exchange or give away any motor vehicle license plate that is no longer legally effective and is not used or usable for an illegal purpose.