Visiting Our Dealership
Where is Friendship Ford of Bristol located?
We are at 3192 West State Street, Bristol, TN 37620 — right on West State Street on the Tennessee side of Bristol, easily accessible from I‑81 and the surrounding Tri-Cities and Southwest Virginia regions.
Because Bristol is a twin city split by the state line, we regularly help buyers from both Tennessee and Virginia navigate state-specific tax and titling requirements. Whether you are looking for a rugged Built Ford Tough truck like the F-150 or Super Duty, an adventure-ready Bronco or Explorer, or an all-electric Mustang Mach-E or F-150 Lightning, our team is here to help.
What are your sales, service and parts hours?
Our current hours are:
- Sales: Monday–Friday 8:30 am–8:00 pm; Saturday 8:30 am–7:00 pm; Sunday closed
- Service: Monday–Friday 7:30 am–5:30 pm; Saturday 8:00 am–3:00 pm; Sunday closed
- Parts: Monday–Friday 7:30 am–5:30 pm; Saturday 8:00 am–3:00 pm; Sunday closed
Holiday hours vary. If you are driving more than half an hour to see us, call ahead — especially on a Saturday afternoon.
Do I need an appointment to test drive a vehicle?
No — walk-ins are welcome any time we are open. But booking ahead is genuinely better, and not for our convenience: it lets us confirm the exact vehicle is still on the lot and not out on another demo, pull it up front, charge or fuel it, and have the window sticker and any incentive details ready when you arrive.
That matters most on specialty vehicles we stock in limited quantities — high-trim Super Dutys, Bronco Raptors, or specific electric models. Call us or use the contact form and tell us the stock number or VIN.
Shopping & Buying
What Ford models do you sell?
We are a factory-authorized Ford dealer and can order or locate anything in the current U.S. lineup:
- Trucks: Maverick, Ranger, F-150, F-150 Lightning, and Super Duty F-250/F-350
- SUVs & Crossovers: Bronco Sport, Bronco, Escape, Edge, Explorer, and Expedition
- Performance & Electric: Mustang, Mustang Mach-E, and Transit commercial vans
We also maintain a diverse inventory of pre-owned vehicles and Ford Blue Advantage Certified Pre-Owned models.
Can I start or complete the purchase online?
Yes. You can value your trade, get payment estimates, apply for financing and reserve a specific vehicle from our website before you ever come in. Most customers use the online steps to get the numbers settled and then spend 30–45 minutes here signing and taking delivery.
We cannot legally hand you keys without wet signatures on the title paperwork, and for an out-of-state buyer there is an affidavit that has to be signed in person — so the last step happens at the store. Everything before it can happen from your kitchen table.
Pricing, Fees & Tennessee Taxes
How much is sales tax on a vehicle in Tennessee?
Less than most people expect, because Tennessee does not apply the full 9.25% combined rate to a car. Vehicle tax is calculated in three separate layers:
- 7% state sales tax on the entire taxable price (Tenn. Code Ann. § 67-6-202)
- 2.75% state single article tax on only the slice of the price between $1,600.01 and $3,200 — a hard maximum of $44
- Local option tax on only the first $1,600 of the price. In Sullivan County that works out to roughly $36, and it can never exceed $44 anywhere in Tennessee
So on a $45,000 taxable price: $3,150 state + $44 single article + about $36 local = about $3,230. That is an effective rate near 7.18%, not 9.25%. A shopper who budgets 9.25% on that truck overestimates their tax by roughly $900.
Does Tennessee cap the dealer documentation fee?
No. Tennessee law does not set a maximum documentation fee, which is why doc fees vary widely from store to store across the state. Third-party surveys of Tennessee out-the-door quotes generally put the market in the $600–$700 range; ask any dealer for their exact number before you negotiate, and ask us for ours.
What Tennessee does regulate is disclosure. Under the Tennessee Motor Vehicle Commission advertising rule, a dealer must disclose the doc fee amount and expressly state that it is excluded from the advertised price. Note also that the doc fee is itself taxable in Tennessee as part of the total sales price.
Can you give me an out-the-door price?
Yes, in writing, before you commit to anything. A Tennessee out-the-door number is made up of:
- The negotiated vehicle price, including destination and any dealer-installed accessories
- Documentation fee (taxable)
- Tennessee sales tax (7% base + single article cap + local option cap)
- Title and county clerk fees (roughly $14 combined in Tennessee)
- Registration and plate — about $29/year for a standard Sullivan County passenger plate
- A $5 state tire environmental fee on a four-wheel vehicle
- Any optional products you choose — service contract, GAP, prepaid maintenance — all of which are declinable
EV and hybrid buyers should budget for Tennessee's annual registration surcharge at renewal ($200/year for all-electric vehicles through December 31, 2026, rising to $274 on January 1, 2027; $100/year for hybrids/plug-in hybrids), paid when renewing tags rather than at delivery.
Does Tennessee require an emissions test or safety inspection?
No, and Sullivan County never did. Tennessee’s vehicle emissions testing program ended statewide on January 14, 2022, and Tennessee has no periodic state safety inspection for private passenger vehicles.
This is a real difference from Virginia, which requires an annual safety inspection on every registered vehicle. If you live across the line in Bristol VA or Washington County and register there, plan on that annual inspection.
