Changes Coming In 2025 For TN Driver’s License

As 2025 approaches, there is a change coming regarding driver’s licenses for those moving into the state of Tennessee. Most states, 41 of them including Tennessee, are part of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators State-to-State (S2S) Verification Service. S2S gives participating states electronic access to the driving record of anyone applying for a license.  With S2S, states can share real-time information on individual drivers, including convictions and license withdrawals. Tennessee’s Department of Safety and Homeland Security says that sharing a driver’s complete history reduces the possibility of fraud and improves safety by keeping dangerous drivers off the road. 

Beginning on Jan. 10, new or returning Tennessee residents who currently hold a driver license from the nine states who do not participate in S2S must present a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) from their former state when applying for a Tennessee driver’s license. Those nine states are California, Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Nevada, Oklahoma, Vermont, or West Virginia. The MVR must have been issued within the past 30 days of when it is presented at a Driver Services Center in Tennessee. The MVR is needed in addition to the other required documents to apply for a Tennessee license. For more information, go to tn.gov/safety and click on driver’s services.