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Renewing Your License

Your Class D license is normally valid for 5 years and expires on your birthdate. Permits normally expire one year from date of issuance. It is very important to renew your license before it expires.If your license has been expired for more than thirty (30) calendar days, you will be paying additional late fees upon renewal of your license.

When your license expires, you are no longer entitled to drive a vehicle or motorcycle and will be subject to the same penalties as someone who has never been licensed.

Tennessee state law requires that anyone issued a Tennessee driver license after January 1, 2001, to provide documentation that you are a United States Citizen or a lawful permanent resident at the time of your first renewal. In these instances, you may not renew by mail or by the internet and you will be required to visit a Driver Service Center to renew your license.

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

Ways to Renew

The department mails every driver a courtesy renewal notice approximately eight to ten weeks before their license expires. READ YOUR RENEWAL NOTICE CAREFULLY. There are basically three ways to renew a driver license, which will be explained on your renewal notice.

  • If you have a current valid photo license, you may renew by mail or online 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 services center 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 non-photo license by mail. You may be eligibile to renew online by visiting our Online Services menu. You will be sent a new non-photo license to replace your old license. (See NOTE 3)

If you did not receive a renewal notice, you may simply take your current license to any driver service center. The renewal notice itself is not necessary for you to be able to renew your license.

NOTE 1: Drivers holding a Class A, B or C Commercial Driver License (CDL) are required to appear in person to renew their CDL license. CDL holders must also provide their current valid DOT medical card at the time of renewal.

NOTE 2: If you currently hold a Temporary Driver License (TDL) or Temporary Identification License (TID) you will be required to appear in person at a driver services center to process your 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.

NOTE 3: If you travel, you may wish to consider obtaining a photo license to assist with the necessary credentialing to board a commercial aircraft, passenger rail service such as Amtrak and cruise ships. This will require you to go to your nearest driver service center to have a new photograph made for your photo license.

Military Personnel

If a person holds a valid Tennessee license and is in the United States Armed Forces, that license shall remain valid regardless of the displayed expiration date as long as:

  1. the person remains on active duty; and
  2. is based outside the State of Tennessee, and
  3. the license is not surrendered, canceled or suspended.

While on active duty the military personnel may have a "Code 30" placed on his or her license (which will indicate the license does not expire). The license with a “Code 30” remains valid unless surrendered, canceled, revoked or suspended.

To add this code, military personnel must provide proper identification and required military documents to the driver service center and pay the appropriate fees or submit by mail. Renewals and duplicates can also be handled through the mail with the proper documents and fees.

Members of the National Guard and family members of military personnel are not eligible for this provision.

Once the person has been 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 or reassignment to Tennessee.

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.

Code 30 Necessary Documentation

  • Notarized Copy of the front and back of applicant’s military identification card.
  • Copy of military orders verifying active duty status and representing being based outside the state of Tennessee.  A letter on military letterhead from the commanding officer or a leave and earnings statement (LES) if it identifies current deployment station may be accepted in lieu of orders.

CODE 30 Mail-In Information

The mailing address to request a “Code 30” on your license is:

TN DEPT OF SAFETY
CASHIER OFFICE
PO BOX 945
NASHVILLE TN 37202

Code 30 by mail requires special handling by the Department of Safety. Items needed to process a Code 30:

  • Notarized Copy of the front and back of applicant’s military identification card.
  • Military Orders representing being based outside the state of Tennessee.
  • Address to mail the approved and processed license with the Code 30
  • Fees based upon the number of duplicates issued to the applicant.
  • Contact Email address in the event additional information is needed.