Renew your driver's license in Tennessee
In Tennessee a license or ID card for age 21 and older is valid for eight years; you can renew online at e-Services unless a new photo is due in person, and commercial and temporary licenses must be renewed in person.
- Online or in person
- Yes, unless a new photo is due · Every other renewalA new photo is required in person every other renewal cycle, which may make you ineligible for online renewal. Renew online at e-Services. A new photo is required in person every other renewal cycle. If you renew online, the credential is issued using your existing photo.
- Cost
- Class D, 8 years: $26.00 license cost, $2.00 application feeFee table, quoted as listed: Class D-Operator, 8 years, license cost $26.00, application fee $2.00 (page total column: $28.00). ID Only (18 and over), 8 years: license cost $10.00, application fee $2.00. County Clerk Partners charge an additional $4.00 administrative fee. The fee table is by license class; it does not list a separate renewal fee.
Your plan
Gather your documents
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Watch for your renewal notice
The department sends a courtesy renewal notice approximately 8-10 weeks before your credential expires; it outlines your renewal options and instructions.
Pick the one that fits you:
Option 1: Renew online at e-Services
If a new photo is not due, you can renew online; your updated credential will be issued using your existing photo.
Option 2: Renew at a Driver Services Center
Bring your current credential to any Driver Services Center. When renewing, you may also choose to upgrade to a REAL ID.
Optional: set up an appointment
The department offers an appointment option to save time.
Common reasons people get turned away
- Once your license expires, you are no longer legally allowed to operate a vehicle or motorcycle and may face the same penalties as someone who has never been licensed.
- A new photo is required in person every other renewal cycle, which may make you ineligible for online renewal.
- A driver permit must not have been expired greater than one year to be renewed.
Offices that renew driver's licenses
You can renew by bringing your current credential to any Driver Services Center; express services centers also process license duplicates and renewals; online renewal is at e-Services. The Driver Services locations page says self-service kiosks offer driver license renewal, and county clerks and other partners renew non-commercial licenses only; the fee page mentions County Clerk Partners charging an additional $4.00 administrative fee. Agency source.
186 offices where you can renew your licenseSee them on a map, search by county or show the ones open nowLargest cities with them: Nashville (8) · Memphis (9) · Knoxville (9) · Chattanooga (5) · Clarksville (2) · Murfreesboro (4) · Athens (3) · Blountville (3)
Read more
Sources · checked November 9, 2026
- Driver Services Locations (Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security)
- Renewing Your License or Identification (Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security)
- Driver License Fees (Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security)
- Express centers reopen (TN Safety, 2020)
We wrote this plan ourselves from the official pages above on the date shown. Agencies change rules without notice: the official page always wins. DMV Decoded is independent and not a government agency; we don't book appointments or take payments.