How pickup works in Tennessee
Pickups in Tennessee are coordinated from our headquarters in Dawsonville, Georgia and arranged with towing partners across the region. Towing is free for accepted vehicles. We do not have an office, staff, or a drop-off lot in Tennessee, and we will not pretend to. Cities closer to North Georgia are usually simpler to schedule; farther cities can take a little longer, and we give you a real date when the tow is booked.
Tennessee title basics
Titles go through the county clerk. Tennessee's Department of Revenue says a new owner titles a vehicle at the county clerk with a valid certificate of title and, when applicable, an odometer disclosure statement (TN Revenue: titling a vehicle). As the donor, you sign the title over; we handle the rest.
Plates follow the owner. Tennessee says license plates follow the owner, not the vehicle, and can be moved to another vehicle at the county clerk (TN Revenue: surrendering a plate). If you are not moving it, the state's Vehicle License Plates Cancellation form even has a checkbox for "Vehicle was donated to charity with license plate attached" (TN plate cancellation form). Better still, remove the plate before pickup.
Lost title. A duplicate is requested through the county clerk with the state's Application for Noting of Lien, Duplicate Title, or Multipurpose Use (TN form RV-F1315201).
Mileage. The federal odometer rule applies in every state: in 2026, model-year 2011 and newer vehicles need a mileage disclosure when they change hands; 2010-and-older models are exempt (49 CFR 580.17).
Near the Georgia line
Hamilton County, home of Chattanooga, borders four Georgia counties (Whitfield, Catoosa, Walker, and Dade), and Polk County, Tennessee borders Fannin County, Georgia (U.S. Census county adjacency file). If your vehicle is titled in Georgia, see our Northwest Georgia page or Blue Ridge page. This page also covers Cleveland, Tennessee; for Cleveland, Georgia, see our White County page.
Questions we hear from Tennessee donors
Do Tennessee plates stay with the car?
No. Tennessee plates follow the owner. Move the plate to another vehicle at the county clerk or cancel it; the state cancellation form has a checkbox for vehicles donated to charity.
Where are Tennessee titles handled?
At the county clerk, under the Tennessee Department of Revenue. As the donor you sign the title over, and we handle the transfer paperwork.
I lost my Tennessee title. What do I need?
A duplicate title through the county clerk, using the state Application for Noting of Lien, Duplicate Title, or Multipurpose Use. Get it before the donation.
Do you pick up in Chattanooga and Knoxville?
Yes. We review requests across Tennessee. Pickup is coordinated from Dawsonville, Georgia, arranged with towing partners, and free for accepted vehicles.
Distances and drive times are approximate route estimates from Dawsonville, not pickup windows. Title rules summarized here are general information from the official sources linked on this page, not legal or tax advice; your instructions are confirmed for your specific vehicle. Content reviewed 2026-10-02.
Cars Helping Kids is not affiliated with Cars Helping Kids, Inc. of Denver, Colorado.