Department of Safety Internet - Renewing Your License

Tennessee's state law requires that anyone issued a Tennessee driver's license since January 1, 2001, as well as first-time applicants, be required to provide documentation they are either a U.S. Citizen or a lawful permanent resident at the time of their first renewal. In these instances, you may not renew by mail or by the internet; you will be required to visit a Driver License Station.

If you are eligible and would like to renew your license through the Internet, visit our Online Services menu.

Driver licenses issued since January, 1993 are set to expire on your next birthday evenly divisible by 5 (e.g., 25, 30, 35 . . . 55, 60, 65, 70 etc.) This makes it easier to remember when you are due to renew your license, as well as giving you longer between renewals than the previous four-year term. The department mails every driver a courtesy renewal notice from four to six weeks before their licenses expire. READ YOUR RENEWAL NOTICE CAREFULLY. There are basically three ways to renew a driver license, which will be explained on your notice.

If you have a current valid photo license, you may renew by mail and receive an updated license re-using your current photo.
If you have certain types of licenses, your renewal notice will direct you to go to your nearest driver license station to have a new photograph made. (See Notes below)
If you are 60 years old or older and choose to have a non-photo license, you may obtain this by mail. You will be sent a new non-photo license to replace your old license.

NOTE 1: Commercial drivers holding a Class A, B or C license would be one group required to appear in person for renewals. CDL holders must also provide their current valid DOT medical card at the time of renewal.

NOTE 2: If you currently hold an expiring Certificate For Driving (CFD) or one of the new Temporary Driver Licenses (TDL) or Temporary Identification Licenses (TID) you will be required to appear in person at a driver license center to process this type of renewal. You must provide updated documentation proving your current legal presence and length of authorized stay in the USA at the time of your renewal. Two documents proving your current Tennessee residence address will also be required at renewal. The CFD will NOT be renewed or reissued, but you may obtain the new TDL or TID document with proper qualifying documentation.

MILITARY PERSONNEL

If a person holds a valid Tennessee license and is in or enters into the United States armed forces, that license shall remain valid as long as:

the person remains on active duty;
and is based outside this state.

While on active duty the military person may have a "Code 30" placed on his or her license (which will indicate the license does not expire). To add this code, he or she must bring proper identification to the driver license station and pay the appropriate fees. Members of the National Guard and family members of military personnel are not eligible for this provision.

Once the person has been honorably discharged or separated from such services or has been reassigned to a duty station within the state, he or she must renew his/her license within sixty (60) days following the date of separation on the DD214 form.

NOTE: Assignment to Fort Campbell Army Base is considered reassignment back to Tennessee. Fort Campbell Army Base is located in both the states of Tennessee and Kentucky.