2016 Tennessee Code
Title 55 - Motor and Other Vehicles
Chapter 5 - Anti-Theft Provisions
Part 1 - Violations of Title and Registration Law
§ 55-5-106. Required identification numbers.

(a) New Motor Vehicles, Freight Vehicles and Livestock Trailers and Components Manufactured Within This State. All new motor vehicles, new motor vehicle engines and transmissions, new freight vehicles, and new livestock trailers, as specified herein, and manufactured in this state and intended for sale to the general public within this state, shall be required to have placed upon them a vehicle identification number. The required vehicle identification number shall not be the same as the vehicle identification number of any other motor vehicle, freight vehicle or livestock trailer manufactured by the same manufacturer. The vehicle component identification number shall not be the same number as the component identification number for any other like component manufactured by the same manufacturer, but may be the same as the vehicle identification number if the components are installed as original equipment.

(b) New Motor Vehicles, Freight Vehicles and Livestock Trailers Sold Within This State. No new motor vehicle, new freight vehicle or new livestock trailer shall be sold to the general public in this state unless the motor vehicle, freight vehicle or livestock trailer bears a vehicle identification number which shall not be the same as the vehicle identification number of any other motor vehicle, freight vehicle or livestock trailer made by the same manufacturer.

(c) New Components Sold Within the State. No new motor vehicle component shall be sold to the general public in this state unless the same shall bear an identification number, which shall not be the same as the identification number of any other like vehicle component made by the same manufacturer, except that the number may be the same number as the vehicle identification number, if the particular component has been installed as original equipment in the motor vehicle prior to its sale to the general public.

(d) Accessibility of Identification Number. The vehicle identification number required in subsections (a) and (b) shall be easily accessible for inspection.

(e) Definitions. As used in §§ 55-5-106 -- 55-5-109:

(1) "Component." Each of the following passenger car components shall be considered a part for the purpose of requiring a component identification number: engines and transmissions;

(2) "Freight vehicle" means any vehicle designed to be used on public highways for the purpose of transporting property;

(3) "Livestock trailer" means any vehicle, with or without motor power, designed for carrying livestock, including, but not limited to, horses, and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that any part of its weight rests upon the towing vehicle and so constructed that some part of its weight and that of its load rests upon or is carried by another vehicle;

(4) "Motor vehicle" means any vehicle that is self-propelled and designed to be used on public highways;

(5) "New passenger cars" means any passenger car that has never been the subject of a sale at retail to the general public;

(6) "Passenger car" means every self-propelled motor vehicle designed for carrying ten (10) passengers or fewer except trackless trolleys, devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon streetcar rails or tracks or overhead trolley wires;

(7) "Person" means any natural or artificial person, firm, corporation, partnership or other association or business relations; and

(8) "Used passenger car" means any passenger car that has been the subject of a sale at retail to the general public.

(f) (1) Any new trailer manufactured in this state and intended for sale to the general public within the state shall be required to have stamped upon the vehicle's metal tongue or metal frame a vehicle identification number. The required vehicle identification number shall not be the same as the vehicle identification number of any other trailer manufactured by the same manufacturer.

(2) No new trailer shall be sold to the general public in this state unless the trailer shall bear a vehicle identification number stamped upon the vehicle's metal tongue or metal frame, which shall not be the same as the vehicle identification number of any other trailer made by the same manufacturer.

(3) As used in this subsection (f), "trailer" means every vehicle with or without motive power, designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that no part of its weight rests upon the towing vehicle.