Free tool · Directory
UCC lien search in Tennessee
Central filing office
Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business Services
Opens tncab.tnsos.gov in a new tab
- Online access
- Anyone can search debtor names online at no cost, with no account.
- Fees
- UCC-11 information request $15 (search report only), $15 plus $1 per page with copies; UCC-1, UCC-3 and UCC-5 filings $15 each (additional fees may apply)
- Certified search
- Submit a UCC-11 Information Request (online through the TNCaB portal, which requires an account, or by mail with TN Form UCC11): $15 for the search report only, $15 plus $1 per page with copies
- Last verified
What to know in Tennessee
- The TNCaB "UCC Database Search (Unofficial)" is free with no login; the state warns results may not match an official search under UCC Rules Chapter 1360-8-5.
- Search by individual surname, organization name (starts with or exact match), or UCC document or tracking number; results show lapse dates and are capped at the top 1,500 matches.
- All UCC-11 search results and copies are certified; there is no separate certified-copy option.
- TNCaB requires you to create an account and sign in to view or file documents.
Sources
- 01Tennessee Secretary of State, TNCaB UCC debtor search (opens in a new tab)
- 02Tennessee Secretary of State, business forms and fees (opens in a new tab) · Lists UCC-11 Information Request at $15 (additional fees may apply)
- 03Tennessee Secretary of State, TN Form UCC11 instructions (opens in a new tab) · Form dated 07/13; search report $15, with copies $15 plus $1 per page
About this tool
Is Tennessee the right filing office to search?
Search Tennessee when the carrier is located there for UCC purposes, which is not always where its trucks run. An LLC or corporation organized in Tennessee is located in Tennessee (UCC §9-307), wherever it dispatches from. A sole proprietor is located at their principal residence, so an owner-operator who lives in Tennessee is searched here.
If the carrier was organized somewhere else but operates in Tennessee, search its formation state first, then Tennessee as well. A filing in the wrong state may not perfect anything, but it still shows that another funder believes it has a claim.
How to search UCC filings in Tennessee, step by step
- 1
Confirm the exact legal name
Copy the carrier's name from its formation record, entity suffix and punctuation included. A financing statement against a registered organization has to use the name on its public organic record (UCC §9-503).
- 2
Run the Tennessee debtor search
Open the Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business Services search and search the exact name. Its online debtor search is free and needs no account.
- 3
Repeat with the variations
Search the DBA, former names, the owner's individual name for a sole proprietor, and the name with and without "LLC" or "Inc.". Each filing office applies its own search logic (UCC §9-506), so one search is rarely enough.
- 4
Open every hit's full history
Read the UCC-1 collateral description, then every UCC-3 filed against the same initial file number: amendments, assignments, continuations and terminations.
- 5
Record what you found
Save the results with the search date and time in the carrier's file. When you need an official record, order the certified search described above.
What to look for in the results
- Blanket liens: collateral described as "all assets" or "all personal property" reaches accounts, so it covers the invoices you plan to buy.
- Accounts and receivables: a description naming "accounts" or "receivables" usually means another factor or an asset-based lender.
- Lapse dates: a UCC-1 is effective for five years after filing unless a continuation is filed in the six months before it lapses (UCC §9-515).
- Assignments and terminations: an assignment changes who you ask for a release, and a filed termination ends the financing statement's effectiveness (UCC §9-513).
If you find a lien
Contact the secured party on a number you find yourself, and ask for a letter of release covering the accounts or a UCC-3 termination before you fund. The free NOA and release letter generator drafts the letter. If the prior factor has already notified the carrier's brokers, read two NOAs, one carrier.
For the full process, see UCC lien searches before you fund a carrier and the UCC-1 glossary entry.
Frequently asked questions
How do I search UCC filings in Tennessee?
In Tennessee, UCC records are kept by the Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business Services. Its online debtor search is free and needs no account. Use the official search, enter the carrier's exact legal name, then repeat with its DBA and name variations.
How much does a UCC search cost in Tennessee?
UCC-11 information request $15 (search report only), $15 plus $1 per page with copies; UCC-1, UCC-3 and UCC-5 filings $15 each (additional fees may apply) These figures come from the official sources listed on this page as of October 19, 2026; confirm them on the filing office's site before you order.
How do I get a certified UCC search in Tennessee?
Submit a UCC-11 Information Request (online through the TNCaB portal, which requires an account, or by mail with TN Form UCC11): $15 for the search report only, $15 plus $1 per page with copies.
How long does a UCC-1 filed in Tennessee stay effective?
Generally five years from the filing date under UCC §9-515, unless the secured party files a continuation in the six months before it lapses. Each continuation adds another five years, so check the lapse date and look for continuations on every hit.
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