How to get a driver's license in Tennessee

How it works

• Who does what

  In Tennessee, the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services, issues driver licenses, permits and identification licenses. You visit a Driver Services Center to take the tests and to get your license or permit. Driver license tests are given at all Driver Services Centers except the express service centers.

  Source: [1] [17] [18]

• Who needs a license

  Anyone who lives in Tennessee and wants to drive a motor vehicle must have a valid Tennessee driver license or Temporary Driver License. You must have it with you while you drive and show it to any law enforcement officer who asks. Non-residents who have with them a valid driver license from their home state or country, equivalent to the Tennessee class or type, are not required to have a Tennessee license.

  Source: [1] [7]

• Which license this guide covers

  This guide covers the regular driver license (Class D), which you need to drive regular passenger vehicles, pick-up trucks or vans. The manual also describes motorcycle (Class M) and commercial (CDL) licenses. This guide does not cover them; the Types of Issued Licenses page in the links below explains them.

  Source: [1] [9]

• Which path is yours

  If you are under 18 and apply for a Regular (Class D) license for the first time, you apply for a Teen/Graduated Driver License. If you are 18 or older and apply for the first time, you follow the Adult First-Time Drivers steps. If you have moved to Tennessee and hold a current driver license, you follow the New Residents steps. The Under 18, Age 18 and older and Moving to Tennessee sections explain each path.

  Source: [2]

• Who can apply

  To qualify for a Class D license, the manual says you must be at least 16 and pass a vision screening, a knowledge test and a driving test. If you are under 18, you must also meet the special qualifications for the Intermediate Class D license (the Graduated Driver License program). The graduated licensing law does not apply to anyone 18 or older, or to anyone under 18 who has graduated high school or received a GED. A 16-year-old who is emancipated by active duty military service, marriage or court order may also obtain a regular Class D license. A person whose license is suspended or revoked in Tennessee or any other state is not eligible. A person under 18 who has dropped out of school before graduating, or who does not make satisfactory progress in school, is not eligible.

  Source: [1] [2]

• Fees

  A fee applies. It depends on the class of license, and the amounts can change, so the Driver License Fees page in the links below lists them.

  Source: [19]

Under 18: the steps to a license

1. Step 1: get a Learner Permit

   You must be at least 15 and pass the knowledge test and a vision screening. You can complete the application and have your documents pre-approved online in e-Services; allow up to five business days. Tennesseans aged 15 to 17 can take the knowledge test online or at a Driver Services Center. At the visit, a parent or legal guardian must be present to sign the Minor/Teenage Affidavit and the financial responsibility form, and you show proof of school attendance. The Rules for young drivers section explains both. Even if your documents were pre-approved online, bring the original documents or certified copies; photocopies are not accepted.

   Source: [1] [3] [5]

2. Step 2: practice with a licensed adult

   With a Learner Permit you may drive a car only when you are accompanied by a licensed driver who is 21 or older and riding in the front seat. You may not drive between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. You need 50 hours of behind-the-wheel driving experience, including 10 hours at night. A parent, guardian or driving instructor signs the 50-Hour Certification form (SF-1256) to confirm that you completed this experience.

   Source: [3] [21]

3. Step 3: hold the permit

   You must hold your Learner Permit for 180 days before you can move to the Intermediate Restricted License step. If you are 15 and moved to Tennessee with a valid permit from another state, the time you held that permit may be included in the 180 days if you provide a certified driving record from your previous state. The record must be issued within the 30 days before the date of your Tennessee application and must show no violations or accidents. A permit normally expires one year from the date it is issued. You can renew it online or in person if it has not been expired for more than one year.

   Source: [1] [3] [13]

4. Step 4: get the Intermediate Restricted License

   You must be at least 16 and have held your Learner Permit for the full holding period. You need the 50-Hour Certification form (SF-1256) that shows 50 hours of driving experience, including 10 hours at night. Your driving record must stay within the point limits the Department sets. You pass a Road Skills Test at a Driver Services Center. Schedule your road test appointment in advance (see The tests section). If you hold a Learner Permit and go to a Driver Services Center for a road test, you must be accompanied by a licensed driver who is 21 or older, or you cannot take the test. The manual says that if you held a Class PD permit, you do not need to repeat the knowledge test unless the permit expired more than 12 months before your driving skills test.

   Source: [1] [3] [6] [9] [21]

5. Step 5: drive on the Intermediate Restricted License

   You must hold the Intermediate Restricted License for at least one year. The Rules for young drivers section lists the passenger and night-time limits that apply while you hold it.

   Source: [1] [3]

6. Step 6: get the Intermediate Unrestricted License

   To apply for the Intermediate Unrestricted License, you must be 17 and have held the Intermediate Restricted License for 1 year. Your record of points and safety belt violations must stay within the limits the Department sets. No additional tests are required. If you get a second moving violation while you hold the Intermediate Restricted License, you must complete an approved Driver Education class before you receive the Unrestricted License.

   Source: [1] [3] [9]

7. Step 7: get the Regular Class D license

   You may obtain a Class D regular driver license when you are 18, or when you graduate from high school or receive a GED, whichever is sooner.

   Source: [3]

Rules for young drivers

• Learner Permit

  You may drive only with a licensed driver who is 21 or older in the front seat. You may not drive between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. A driver with a Learner Permit is given a Restriction Card to carry with the permit. It explains the restrictions and the requirements for moving up to the next step.

  Source: [1] [3]

• Intermediate Restricted License: passengers

  You can have only one passenger in the car with you. The limit does not apply in these cases:

  • one or more of the passengers is 21 or older and has a valid, unrestricted license; or
  • the passengers are brothers and sisters, step-brothers or step-sisters, or adopted or fostered children living in the same house as you, and you have a letter from your parent that allows the passengers for the sole purpose of going to and from school.

  Source: [1] [9]

• Intermediate Restricted License: night driving

  You may not drive between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. unless one of these applies:

  • you are accompanied by a parent or guardian;
  • you are accompanied by a licensed driver who is 21 or older and whom your parent or guardian designated in writing, and you have that written designation with you;
  • you are driving to or from a specifically identified school-sponsored activity or event, and you have written permission from a parent or guardian;
  • you are driving to or from work, and you have written permission from a parent or guardian that names your place of employment; or
  • you are driving to or from hunting or fishing between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m., and you have a valid hunting or fishing license with you.

  Source: [1] [9]

• Phones

  Tennessee law prohibits any driver with a Learner Permit or an intermediate license from using a cell phone while driving on any Tennessee roadway. A conviction for teen cell phone use delays your eligibility for the Intermediate Restricted License by 90 days.

  Source: [1]

• Forged letters

  If you hold an Intermediate Restricted License and are convicted of having a forged or fraudulent letter or statement, your license is revoked. You are then reissued only a Learner Permit until you reach 18.

  Source: [1]

• The Minor/Teenage Affidavit

  If you are under 18, a parent or legal guardian must be present to sign the Minor/Teenage Affidavit and the financial responsibility form. The parent, stepparent living at the same address, or legal guardian who signs assumes financial responsibility for the minor driver. The affidavit says that damages caused by the minor while driving are the signer’s joint responsibility. The adult signs at a Driver Services Center in front of an examiner. If the adult cannot come with you, the signature must be notarized by a notary public. A grandparent who assumes financial responsibility must bring a notarized statement that authorizes this, signed by the parent, stepparent, custodian or legal guardian. Acceptable proof of guardianship is a certified birth certificate for the minor that lists the parents, a certified court order that grants temporary or permanent custody to the adult, or a certified final adoption decree.

  Source: [3] [5] [22]

• Proof of school attendance

  If you are under 18, you must prove that you are enrolled in school. If you have already graduated, bring your high school diploma or GED certificate. The school completes a Certificate of Compulsory School Attendance form (SF-1010), which is valid for 30 days during the school year; the manual explains how a form signed at the end of the school year is accepted over the summer. The Minor/Teenage Affidavit & Proof of School Attendance page in the links below lists the other proof the Department accepts. The manual says grade cards and school transcripts are not acceptable, and that home-schooled applicants have their own documentation requirements. A student who withdraws from school a second time or more has all driving privileges suspended until the student reaches 18.

  Source: [1] [5] [23]

• Hardship License (Class H)

  A Hardship License is a special license for a minor from age 14, issued only in cases of family hardship. It lets the minor drive a Class D passenger vehicle, a Class M motorcycle, or both. Proof of hardship is mailed with the application to the Driver Services Administrative Office for evaluation. If it is approved, you receive a letter that authorizes you to apply. To drive a passenger vehicle, you must pass a vision screening, a knowledge test and a road test; to drive a motorcycle you also take the Class M knowledge and driving tests. If you are 14, or have not held a Learner Permit for at least 3 months, you must show proof that you completed a state-approved driver education course. The license is valid only for daylight hours: no driving earlier than 5 a.m. or later than 7 p.m. It expires on your 16th birthday.

  Source: [1] [8]

Age 18 and older

• The steps for a first license

  If you are 18 or older and apply for a Regular Driver License for the first time, there are three steps:

  • complete the application online in e-Services and have your documents pre-approved (allow up to five business days);
  • present your documents at a Driver Services Center; bring the original documents or certified copies, even if they were pre-approved; and
  • pass a standard vision screening and the Regular (Class D) knowledge test. Online practice tests are available in e-Services.

  Source: [6]

• The road test

  The manual (Table 4.1) says an original Class D license needs the full tests: knowledge, road skills and vision screening. If you hold a learner permit and go to a Driver Services Center for a road test, you must be accompanied by a person who is 21 or older and has a valid driver license. To exchange a Class PD license for a Class D license, the manual says you are required to take a road skills driving test.

  Source: [1] [6]

Moving to Tennessee

New Resident Guide →

• The 30-day deadline

  New or returning residents who hold a driver license from another state must get a Tennessee driver license no later than 30 days after establishing residency. The manual says a person with a license from another state or country must apply for a Tennessee license if they live in Tennessee longer than 30 days, work in Tennessee, or would otherwise qualify as a registered Tennessee voter.

  Source: [1] [7]

• The steps

  New residents go to a full-service Driver Services Center. The steps are: complete the application and upload documents, present the required documents, surrender your out-of-state license, and complete the testing requirements. You can complete the Regular Driver License application and have your documents pre-approved online; allow up to five business days.

  Source: [7]

• Surrender your out-of-state license

  All new or returning residents must surrender their out-of-state license at the time of application, or present a driver record (Motor Vehicle Report) for any Tennessee license. If you are transferring a license from California, Connecticut, Illinois, Nevada or West Virginia, you must get a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) from your former state. Tennessee law does not allow a resident to hold more than one valid license or ID. Only foreign-country licenses and IDs may be retained.

  Source: [7]

• The tests for new residents

  All new or returning residents must take a vision screening at a full-service Driver Services Center. If your out-of-state license is valid and not expired, the manual (Table 4.1) lists the vision screening as the only test. New residents from other countries must take the vision screening, the Tennessee knowledge test and the road skills test, and may keep the license issued by their country.

  Source: [1] [7]

• New residents under 18

  If you are under 18 and hold a valid learner permit from another state, you must meet separate requirements to get a Tennessee Teen/Graduated Driver License. If you are 15 and have a valid permit from another state, you qualify only for a Tennessee Learner Permit. The Learner Permit must be held for 180 days in total (see Step 3 in the Under 18 section). If you are 16 and have held a valid license from a previous state that was issued at least 90 days before you apply, your application is for an Intermediate Restricted License. If you held the out-of-state license for less than 90 days, you can get an Intermediate Restricted License only if you provide a clear driving record from the previous state that shows a valid learner permit and/or license class held for a combined period of at least 180 days. However long you held the previous license, a Tennessee Intermediate Restricted License must be held for one year before you qualify for the Intermediate Unrestricted License.

  Source: [1] [3] [7]

• Military personnel

  If you hold a valid Tennessee license and serve in the U.S. Armed Forces, the license stays valid regardless of the expiration date shown, as long as you remain on active duty, are based outside Tennessee, and the license is not surrendered, canceled or suspended. After discharge, separation or reassignment to Tennessee, you must renew it within 60 days. Active-duty military personnel may have a "Code 30" placed on their license, which indicates that the license does not expire; members of the National Guard and family members of military personnel are not eligible.

  Source: [7] [13]

Documents to bring

• Originals only, and pre-approval

  Bring the original documents or certified copies. Photocopies are not accepted. All documents are subject to verification with the issuing agency or source, which may delay the issuance of your license. You can complete the application and have your documents pre-approved online in e-Services; allow up to five business days. Even if your documents were pre-approved, you still bring the originals or certified copies to the Driver Services Center. The Department page for your type of application lists the documents to bring. The Teen/Graduated Driver License, Adult First-Time Drivers and New Residents pages are in the links below.

  Source: [3] [6] [7]

• Proof of citizenship or legal presence

  You must show proof of U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residency or temporary legal presence. The Department pages list the acceptable documents. All items must be originals; photocopies are not accepted. The manual says an out-of-state driver license cannot be used to prove U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident status. The manual also describes a Temporary Driver License (TDL), which is issued to Tennessee residents who have temporary legal presence status and an authorized stay in the United States.

  Source: [1] [3] [6] [11]

• Social Security number

  Tennessee law requires your Social Security number if the U.S. government has issued you one. It is not printed on your license, and a computer link with the Social Security Administration checks the number. The Department pages tell you which documents to bring. If you have never been issued a Social Security number, you must appear in person and sign a sworn affidavit in front of a driver license examiner or notary; the Sworn No SSN Affidavit is in the links below.

  Source: [1] [6]

• Proof of Tennessee residency

  You provide two proofs of Tennessee residency. The documents must show your name, or the name of your spouse, parent or legal guardian, and the current residential address you used on your application. They may not be from the same source. They must be current: the Department’s page says issued within the past four months, unless its list says otherwise. A document that has your name but not your residential address is not accepted. A post office box alone is not accepted as a residential address. The Proof of Tennessee Residency page in the links below lists the accepted documents, including an affidavit for homeless or shelter residents.

  Source: [1] [6] [12]

• If your name has changed

  Provide all name change documentation that connects to the original name on your proof of identity, citizenship or legal presence. Acceptable legal name change documents are a marriage certificate, a divorce decree or a court order. A marriage certificate must be a certified copy registered after the marriage, not just the license that authorizes it.

  Source: [1] [11]

REAL ID

• What a REAL ID is

  REAL ID is optional. It is not required for general identification purposes such as driving, buying alcohol or tobacco products, applying for federal benefits, voting, or accessing hospitals, post offices and federal courts. Adults must have a REAL ID or passport to enter certain federal buildings, military bases and nuclear power plants, or to board commercial flights within the United States. A REAL ID compliant license or identification license has a black circle with a star in the right corner. A standard card shows the phrase "NOT FOR REAL ID ACT PURPOSES" on the front.

  Source: [10]

• How to get one

  Federal law requires REAL ID applications to be made in person. If you already have a Tennessee license or ID, you can use a Driver Services Center or a participating County Clerk. If you do not, you apply at a full-service Driver Services Center. For a REAL ID you must provide approved documentation that shows your full Social Security number; the REAL ID page in the links below lists the documents. A fee applies: the standard renewal fee if it is time to renew, or a duplicate fee if you are not within your renewal period; see the Driver License Fees page in the links below. Appointments are available and encouraged. When you renew, you may also choose to upgrade to a REAL ID.

  Source: [10] [13]

At the Driver Services Center

• Types of service locations

  Tennessee has these types of service locations:

  • Full-Service Centers offer knowledge, skills and vision testing, graduated license upgrades, driving records and license issuance, replacement and renewal.
  • Express Service Centers offer replacement and renewal, graduated license upgrades and driving records.
  • County clerks and other partners offer replacement and renewal of non-commercial driver licenses only.
  • Self-service kiosks offer license replacement and renewal.

  Source: [18]

• Appointments and walk-ins

  Walk-ins are welcome for all visits. An appointment serves you at a specific day and time. Appointments are not available at all Driver Services Centers, and the type of appointment varies by location. You can make appointments for many transactions, including issuance, renewal and replacement of licenses and permits, REAL ID, and name or address change. To book, you must provide a valid email address and phone number. Arrive 15 minutes before your appointment. If you are late, the appointment may be cancelled and you will be treated as a walk-in customer. To cancel or reschedule, go back into the online ticketing system and click My Appointments.

  Source: [3] [18]

• Closures

  Driver Services Centers are closed on all state holidays.

  Source: [18]

• Voter registration

  When you apply for a driver license or ID, you may also apply to register to vote or update your voter record. The application is forwarded to the local election commission.

  Source: [6]

The tests

• Which tests you take

  The driver license examination consists of a vision screening, a knowledge test and a road test. Which of them you take depends on your situation; see the Under 18, Age 18 and older and Moving to Tennessee sections. Tests are given at all Driver Services Centers except the express service centers.

  Source: [1]

• The knowledge test

  The test consists of multiple choice questions based on Sections B and C of the Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual. It covers traffic signs and signals, safe driving principles, rules of the road, and drugs and alcohol, about 25% each. At the centers, knowledge tests are given on computerized testing machines; in very limited circumstances they are given in written format. If English is not your first language, you may also use a translation dictionary, as long as there are no notes or other handwriting visible in its pages. Oral tests are available by appointment at selected centers for applicants who have a learning disability or cannot read. If you are under 18 and request an oral test, you need a written statement from a physician or educational specialist stating that you have a medical condition or learning disability.

  Source: [1]

• Practice for the knowledge test

  Practice questions are available online. Adults can use the online practice tests in e-Services. Study the Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, which is in the links below.

  Source: [1] [3] [6]

• The online knowledge test (ages 15 to 17 only)

  This applies only to the online knowledge test, which is not the test you take at a Driver Services Center. Tennesseans aged 15 to 17 can take it online under the supervision of a parent or legal guardian, using the Tennessee Proctor ID app. The rules include:

  • you must be at least 15 and no older than 17;
  • the proctor must be your parent or legal guardian, who downloads the Tennessee Proctor ID app on their own device, not on yours;
  • the test has 30 questions, you have 60 minutes, and you need a score of at least 80% to pass;
  • you may take the online test a maximum of two times;
  • you use a computer, laptop or tablet; cell phones are not permitted for testing;
  • you must stay on the test screen at all times; navigating away from it is an automatic failure;
  • at the 30-minute mark, your proctor must complete mid-test authentication by scanning the QR code in the app;
  • notes and written reference material are not allowed;
  • you can take a sample test before you begin; and
  • after you pass, you print your test receipt. The Department may still require you to retake the knowledge test at a Driver Services Center, even if you passed online.

  Source: [4] [24]

• The vision screening

  You need at least 20/40 vision in each eye individually and in both eyes together. This may be with or without your glasses or contact lenses. If you cannot pass the screening, you must have an eye specialist complete an eye statement for the Department. Applicants for Class D, PD or H licenses who have low vision but otherwise qualify to drive may be licensed under the Department’s low vision (bioptic) guidelines; the Senior Drivers page explains them.

  Source: [1] [20]

• Scheduling the road test

  Schedule your road test appointment in advance, at the Driver Services Center of your choice. You can make the appointment up to 45 days before your desired test date. You can schedule a non-commercial road skills test online. The Locations and Appointments page says applicants under 16 or from out of state cannot schedule online; they can submit a help request to schedule a road test instead. You must pass the required knowledge test before your road test appointment; if you arrive without having passed it, your appointment is cancelled. If you do not already have a valid Tennessee learner permit, bring proof of U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residency or temporary legal presence with you to your appointment.

  Source: [1] [3] [18]

• What to bring and when to arrive

  Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before your road test appointment, to allow for paperwork processing and review of your documents. A late arrival can mean that your road test has to be rescheduled. You must provide your own vehicle, with all the operational equipment and safety features, and it must meet all Tennessee registration (valid tags) and safety law requirements. Road tests are not given in extreme weather, and during winter months they are not given in the dark.

  Source: [1]

• The road test

  Before you drive, the examiner asks you to demonstrate that you can use eight items: safety belts, brakes, headlights, tail and brake lights, windshield wipers, defroster and fan, rearview mirrors, and horn. Only you and the examiner (or other authorized personnel) may be in the vehicle, and no animal may be in the vehicle. The examiner observes how you prepare to drive, start, control the vehicle, handle intersections and turns, obey signals and signs, drive in traffic, stop, back up, judge distance, communicate, share the road and adjust speed. Violation of any traffic law, lack of cooperation, any dangerous action, or contributing to an accident causes immediate failure. Road tests average 20 to 25 minutes.

  Source: [1]

• If you fail a test

  Wait at least one day before you take a failed knowledge test again. No test may be repeated on the same day. When you return to retake a test, bring back all of the original documents you were required to provide. Cheating on a required examination means automatic failure, and you may not try the test again for 30 days. After a failed road test, you cannot take it again on the same day. For the original issuance of a Class D license, the manual (Table 4.2) sets waiting periods that grow with the number of errors:

  • 1 to 6 errors: pass, no retest needed;
  • 7 to 9 errors: wait until the next day;
  • 10 to 12 errors: wait seven days;
  • 13 to 15 errors: wait fourteen days; and
  • 16 or more errors, or an automatic failure: wait thirty days.

  Source: [1]

After you pass

• How long your license lasts

  A Tennessee driver license or identification license issued to someone 21 or older is valid for eight years from the date it is issued. For these licenses, the eight years count from the date of issue, not from your birthday.

  Source: [13] [19]

• What to carry

  Keep your license with you whenever you drive, and show it to any law enforcement officer who asks.

  Source: [1]

• Young drivers

  If you are under 18, the Under 18 and Rules for young drivers sections explain each stage: the Learner Permit, the Intermediate Restricted License, the Intermediate Unrestricted License and the Regular Class D license.

  Source: [3]

Keeping your license

• Renewing

  A fee applies; see the Driver License Fees page in the links below. You may be able to renew online in e-Services. A new photo is required in person every other renewal cycle, which may make you ineligible for online renewal. If you renew online, your updated credential is issued with your existing photo. A renewal notice is not required to renew. When you renew, you may also choose to upgrade to a REAL ID.

  Source: [13] [19]

• Temporary Driver Licenses

  If you hold a Temporary Driver License, you must renew it in person at a Driver Services Center, with updated proof of temporary legal presence and two proofs of residency.

  Source: [13]

• If your license expires

  There are no grace periods. Once your license expires, you are no longer legally allowed to drive and may face the same penalties as someone who has never been licensed. The manual says that if you let five years go by without renewing, you must also pass the vision screening, the knowledge test and the skills test again.

  Source: [1] [13]

• Replacing a lost license

  If you still have your DD number (on the front of your license), you can order a replacement online. Without the DD number, you must visit a Driver Services Center to buy a duplicate. The manual says a lost, stolen or destroyed license can be replaced at any driver license service center, or online if you are eligible, but Temporary Driver Licenses cannot be replaced online. If your lost license will expire within the next 12 months, you may renew it instead of getting a duplicate (this does not apply to temporary licenses). If it will expire in less than six months, you must renew. A fee applies.

  Source: [1] [14] [19]

• Changing your address

  You must tell the Department of Safety and Homeland Security about any address change within 10 days. Telling the post office does not notify the Department. The address must be your legal physical residence; a post office box is not accepted. You can change your address online in e-Services, at a self-service kiosk, by mail or at a Driver Services Center. The law does not require the new address to appear on your physical license, only in the Department’s files. After the Department receives your information by mail, your driving record is updated within about 15 business days. If your address change also involves a name change, you update your license at a Driver Services Center.

  Source: [15]

• Changing your name

  You must change your name in person at a Driver Services Center. Bring your current license and a document that shows the reason, for example a marriage certificate, a divorce decree or a court order. Faxes and photocopies are not accepted. A marriage certificate must be a certified copy issued after the marriage was performed and recorded. The Department advises you to update your name with the Social Security office first.

  Source: [16]

Identification license

• Tennessee identification license

  Tennessee calls its ID card an identification license (an ID Only license). It is not valid for driving, and no testing is required. You must meet the same standards for proof of identity, legal presence and residency as for any driver license. If you are under 18, a parent or legal guardian must complete a portion of the Minor/Teen-age Affidavit and Cancellation Form. Tennessee families with children, including infants, may get ID Only licenses for their children.

  Source: [17]

• Expiration

  Expiring identification licenses do not expire for Tennessee residents who are 65 or older.

  Source: [17]

Official links

• Regular Driver License (tn.gov)
• Teen/Graduated Driver License (tn.gov)
• Online Knowledge Test (ages 15 to 17) (tn.gov)
• Minor/Teenage Affidavit & Proof of School Attendance (tn.gov)
• Hardship License (tn.gov)
• Adult First-Time Drivers (tn.gov)
• New Residents (tn.gov)
• Types of Issued Licenses (tn.gov)
• REAL ID (tn.gov)
• Proof of Citizenship/Lawful Permanent Residency (tn.gov)
• Proof of Tennessee Residency (tn.gov)
• Driver License Fees (tn.gov)
• Renewing Your License or Identification (tn.gov)
• Replacing a Lost License (tn.gov)
• Address Change (tn.gov)
• Name Change (tn.gov)
• Identification License (ID Only) (tn.gov)
• Locations and Appointments (tn.gov)
• Forms & Publications (tn.gov)
• Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (PDF) (tn.gov)
• Certification of 50 Hours Behind the Wheel Driving Experience (PDF) (tn.gov)
• Minor/Teenage Affidavit and Cancellation Form (PDF) (tn.gov)
• Certification of Compulsory School Attendance Form (PDF) (tn.gov)
• Sworn No SSN Affidavit (PDF) (tn.gov)
• Affidavit of Tennessee Residency for Homeless or Shelter Residents (PDF) (tn.gov)
• Apply for a license, permit or ID in e-Services (dl.safety.tn.gov)
• Schedule a non-commercial road skills test (e-Services) (dl.safety.tn.gov)
• Renew online in e-Services (dl.safety.tn.gov)
• Senior Drivers (low vision guidelines) (tn.gov)

Sources

1. Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (printed March 2025) (tn.gov) — Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division
2. Regular Driver License (tn.gov) — Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division
3. Teen/Graduated Driver License (tn.gov) — Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division
4. Driver License Knowledge Permit Test Online (tn.gov) — Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division
5. Minor/Teenage Affidavit & Proof of School Attendance (tn.gov) — Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division
6. Adult First-Time Drivers (tn.gov) — Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division
7. New Residents (tn.gov) — Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division
8. Hardship License (Class H or XH) (tn.gov) — Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division
9. Types of Issued Licenses (tn.gov) — Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division
10. REAL ID (tn.gov) — Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division
11. Proof of Citizenship/Lawful Permanent Residency (tn.gov) — Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division
12. Proof of Tennessee Residency (tn.gov) — Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division
13. Renewing Your License or Identification (tn.gov) — Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division
14. Replacing a Lost License (tn.gov) — Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division
15. Address Change (tn.gov) — Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division
16. Name Change (tn.gov) — Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division
17. Identification License (tn.gov) — Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division
18. Locations and Appointments (tn.gov) — Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division
19. Driver License Fees (tn.gov) — Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division
20. Senior Drivers (low-vision guidelines) (tn.gov) — Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division
21. Certification of 50 Hours Behind the Wheel Driving Experience (form SF-1256, with GDL at-a-glance chart) (tn.gov) — Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division
22. Minor/Teenage Affidavit and Cancellation (SF-0259) (tn.gov) — Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division
23. Certification of Compulsory School Attendance (SF-1010) (tn.gov) — Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division
24. Online Knowledge Test Instructions for Proctor (Parent/Legal Guardian) (tn.gov) — Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division