New Tennessee license transfer rules to take effect in January

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Starting next year, new or returning Tennessee residents from nine different states must present a new document from their former state when applying for a Tennessee driver license.

According to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, the move is necessary due to several states not participating in the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators' State-to-State (S2S) Verification Service. The service allows participating states to electronic access the complete driver history record of anyone applying for a driver license.

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But nine different states do not participate in the program: California, Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Nevada, Oklahoma, Vermont and West Virginia.

Individuals from those states will instead need to provide a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) from their former state in order to apply for a Tennessee license starting Jan. 10, 2025.

Through the S2S system, states can share real-time information about individual drivers, including convictions and license withdrawals. By providing a driver's complete history, states can reduce the risk of fraud and improve safety by keeping dangerous drivers off the roads, the department announced. Additionally, S2S enhances accuracy and reduces the processing time for obtaining a new credential in Tennessee.

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After the implementation date, individuals from the nine non-participating states must obtain an MVR from their former state before applying for a Tennessee license or ID. The MVR must have been issued within 30 days before its presentation at a Driver Services Center.

The MVR is required alongside other necessary documents to apply for a Tennessee credential, the department said.

Those documents include your current license; proof of citizenship/lawful permanent residency or proof of temporary legal presence; two proof of residency documents, such as a current utility bill and a W-2 tax form from the last 12 months; and proof of your full Social Security number, such as your Social Security card, a payroll check stub, or a Form 1099 from the last 12 months.