Required Documents to Apply for a CDL

  1. Valid DOT Medical Certification Card
    • NOTE: Government employees must have a current, valid D.O.T. medical certification card if submitting an application for a CDL with a HazMat (H), Passenger (P) or School Bus (S) endorsement
  2. Proof of Social Security Number
  3. Tennessee Driver License or ID, or a valid Driver License or CDL from another state
  4. Two (2) Proofs of Tennessee Residence  
  5. Proof of U.S. Citizenship or Lawful Permanent Resident Status

NOTE: All documents are subject to further verification with the issuing agency or source. Documents subject to verification may delay the issuance of your license.

NOTE: All items must be original documents. No photocopies will be accepted.

NOTE: All documents are required to be current, issued within the past four (4) months. Internal Revenue Service documents must be from the current tax year.

 

Proof of U.S. Citizenship

  • Valid, unexpired U.S. Passport.
  • Certified birth certificate filed with a State Office of Vital Statistics or equivalent agency in the individual's State of birth, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
  • Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) issued by the U.S. Department of State. (DS-1350 or FS-545)
  • Certificate of Naturalization issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). (N550, N570 or N578)
  • Certificate of Citizenship issued by DHS. (N560 or N561)

 

Proof of Lawful Permanent Residency

  • Valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card, issued by USCIS or INS.

 

Proof of Tennessee Residency

  • Current utility bill including landline telephone, electric, water, gas, cable, etc. Wireless/cell phone bills will not be accepted.
  • Current vehicle registration (personal vehicle not company vehicle) dated within the last 12 months.
  • Unexpired Tennessee vehicle title showing residential address. A title and vehicle registration cannot be used as both proofs.
  • Mortgage Contract or Receipt including the Deed of Sale for property.
  • Rental leases that contain wet (ink) or electronic signatures may be accepted as one (1) proof of residency only if accompanied by a signed letter from the landlord dated within the last 30 days.

Note: A second acceptable proof of residency from the approved document list is still required.

Landlord Letter Requirements

• Must confirm that the lease is current, valid, and in effect

• Must NOT be handwritten

• Be one of the following:

• Printed on the landlord’s official letterhead, or 

• Include a notarized landlord signature if letterhead is not provided (Notarization is not required if letterhead is present)

Lease Requirements

To be considered valid, the lease must include ALL of the following:

• Tenant’s (customer’s) name

• Rental address

• Lease terms (such as rent amount)

• Effective lease dates

• Signatures of both the tenant (customer) and the landlord

  • Voter registration card – NOT the application for voter registration.
  • Military LES papers listing Tennessee as home of record.
  • Current filed tax return - not tax return booklet.


The following documents will NOT be approved:

  1. Bank statements
  2. Cell phone bills
  3. Credit card statements
  4. Utility connection or deposit receipt
  5. Employer letters
  6. Extended stay hotel receipts
  7. Magazine subscriptions or junk mail
  8. Personal or business postmarked mail
  9. Prescription bottles
  10. USCIS identity documents (i.e. I-551, I-766, Visas, etc.)
  11. Hunting, fishing or boating licenses
  12. Letters from a public or private school or educational institution

 

Proof of Relationship

Residency may also be established through proof of relationship to a spouse, parent/child, sibling, or grandparent.

  • The spouse, parent/child, sibling, or grandparent of the CDL applicant needing to use a relative's address and domicile documents MUST hold a valid Tennessee Driver License or ID Only License.
  • The CDL applicant will be required to present two (2) documents with a Tennessee residential address in the name of the immediate relative. This relative must be present at the time of application. This is required for out-of-state transfers and Regular Driver License upgrades.
  • CDL applicants using items in the name of one of these immediate relatives as proof of domicile must also provide proof of the relationship such as:
    • Spouse - marriage certificate
    • Parent/Child - Birth Certificate
    • Sibling - both the applicant AND the sibling’s birth certificates to verify they share at least one common parent.
    • Grandparent - applicant's birth certificate AND birth certificate of the applicant's parent. This is necessary to show that the grandparent is the mother/father of the applicant’s parent.