Driving Tests

What to Bring for a Tennessee Permit or License: Documents and School

informational·how to guide·Published June 13, 2026

What documents do I bring for a Tennessee permit or driver license?

Bring original documents or certified copies: one proof of U.S. citizenship or legal presence, one proof of your Social Security number, and two proofs of Tennessee residency from different sources, each issued in the last four months. If you are under 18, a parent or legal guardian must come to sign the minor/teenage affidavit, and you must show proof of school attendance. Photocopies are not accepted.

Where this document list comes from

The list comes from the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS), Driver Services Division: its Class D page for first-time drivers, its minor/teenage affidavit and school attendance page and its REAL ID page. The TDOSHS teen license, proof of citizenship and proof of residency pages, the Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual and the Tennessee General Assembly page for Public Chapter 1 (2025) give the other details. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (tn.gov/safety) before you drive.

Documents to bring to a Tennessee Driver Services Center

Documents to bring to a Tennessee Driver Services Center
What you bring	How many	Examples
Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal presence	1	U.S. birth certificate, valid U.S. passport or Certificate of Naturalization; non-citizens see below
Proof of Social Security number	1	Social Security card, W-2, 1099 or payroll check stub (for a non-REAL ID license, you may say the number instead)
Proof of Tennessee residency	2, from different sources	Current utility bill or bank statement, lease with a landlord letter, a parent's or spouse's Tennessee license, vehicle registration or title (one only)
Under 18: parent or legal guardian	1 adult present	Signs the minor/teenage affidavit and financial responsibility form
Under 18: proof of school attendance	1	Certificate of Compulsory School Attendance, or your diploma or GED if you graduated

Originals, certified copies and online pre-approval

Bring the original documents or certified copies to the Driver Services Center, even if your documents were pre-approved online. Photocopies are not accepted. You can apply online and have your documents pre-approved. This can take up to five business days, so start well before your visit.

Proof of U.S. citizenship: accepted documents

An official birth certificate issued by a U.S. state, jurisdiction or territory.
A valid, unexpired U.S. passport.
A Certificate of Naturalization (N550, N570 or N578).
Puerto Rican birth certificates issued before July 1, 2010 are not accepted as proof of citizenship.

If you are not a U.S. citizen

Bring proof of legal presence instead, for example a valid foreign passport with a valid visa and I-94 attached. The passport must have an English translation. F-1, F-2, M-1 and M-2 holders also bring a valid SEVIS I-20, and J-1 and J-2 holders a valid DS-2019. Public Chapter 1 (2025), a Tennessee law, requires TDOSHS to give lawful permanent residents a temporary driver license instead of a standard license. A lawful permanent resident who renews or reinstates on or after January 1, 2026 must show proof of U.S. citizenship to keep the license. Our guide to license rules for non-U.S. citizens has the details.

Proof of Social Security number: REAL ID or not

The rule depends on the card you want. For a non-REAL ID license (no star), you may say your Social Security number out loud, and TDOSHS checks it with the Social Security Administration. For a REAL ID license (with a star), bring a document that shows your full number: a Social Security card, W-2, 1099 or payroll check stub.

Two proofs of Tennessee residency: the rules

Each document must show your name and the home address on your application, or the name of your spouse, parent or legal guardian plus proof of the relationship, such as a birth or marriage certificate.
A document with your name but no home address is not accepted.
The two documents may not come from the same source.
All documents must be current, issued within the past four months.
A current bank statement counts. Checks and checkbook information do not.
A lease counts as one proof only with a signed letter from the landlord dated within the last 30 days. You still need a second proof from another source.
An unexpired Tennessee driver license or ID issued to a parent, legal guardian or spouse counts.
An unexpired Tennessee vehicle registration or title counts. You may use one of them, not both.

What a teen under 18 adds

A teen brings the same three document groups as an adult, plus two items. First, a parent or legal guardian must be present to sign the minor/teenage affidavit and the financial responsibility form (insurance card). The adult signs it at a Driver Services Center in front of a driver license examiner. If the adult cannot come, a notary public must notarize the signature. If the adult's last name is different from yours, the adult must bring documents that prove the relationship. Second, you must prove that you are enrolled in school or that you graduated.

Which school proof does a Tennessee teen bring?

You attend a Tennessee school

Ask your school to complete the Certificate of Compulsory School Attendance (Form SF1010). The form is valid for only 30 days, so ask close to your visit.

You came from a school in another state

Bring a letter from that school that confirms your attendance. The principal or guidance counselor must sign and date it no more than 30 days before your Tennessee application.

You are home-schooled

The Driver Manual lists two papers: a letter from the local director of schools that confirms the district received your annual notice of intent to home school, and a Verification of Home School Enrollment form (SF-1193) that your parent or guardian signs.

You already graduated

Bring your high school diploma or GED certificate instead of an attendance form.

You want to use a grade card or transcript

Do not. Grade cards and school transcripts are not accepted as proof of school attendance.

Do I need a REAL ID in Tennessee?

No. TDOSHS says a REAL ID is optional, and Tennessee documents meet the REAL ID requirements. Since May 7, 2025, an adult needs a REAL ID or a passport to board a domestic commercial flight or to enter some federal buildings, military bases and nuclear power plants. A REAL ID card has a black circle with a star in the right corner. A card without REAL ID says "NOT FOR REAL ID ACT PURPOSES" on the front.

At the same visit: vision screening and knowledge test

During the visit, you also pass a vision screening and the knowledge test. Teens aged 15 to 17 can take the knowledge test online first; if you passed it online, you do not take it again at the center. Our guide to the Tennessee learner permit covers the permit rules. Practice first on the free Tennessee Class D practice test. Our practice tests are free and in English only. They are practice questions, not the questions on the real test.

Key Takeaways

Bring original documents or certified copies. Photocopies are not accepted, even after online pre-approval.
Bring three groups: one proof of citizenship or legal presence, one proof of Social Security number and two proofs of Tennessee residency from different sources, issued in the last four months.
Under 18, a parent or legal guardian signs the minor/teenage affidavit, and you bring proof of school attendance or your diploma or GED.
REAL ID is optional in Tennessee. For the star, bring a document that shows your full Social Security number.
Next step: practice on the free Tennessee Class D practice test before your knowledge test.

Tennessee license documents: common questions

Can I use a utility bill as proof of Tennessee residency?

Yes. A current landline telephone, electric, water, gas or cable bill counts as one proof if it shows your name and home address and was issued in the last four months. Two bills from the same utility company, such as a water bill and a gas bill, count as one source, so your second proof must come from a different source.

My name changed since my birth certificate. What do I bring?

Bring every legal name change document that links your current name to the name on your proof of citizenship or legal presence. Accepted documents are a marriage certificate, a divorce decree and a court order. If you married, divorced and married again, bring the birth, first marriage, divorce and second marriage certificates.

My bills are in my parent's name. Can I still use them as proof of residency?

Yes. A residency document can show the name of your spouse, parent or legal guardian instead of your name, with the home address on your application. You must then also bring proof of the relationship, such as a birth or marriage certificate. Each document must be issued within the past four months.

Can I apply for a REAL ID online?

No. Federal law requires you to apply for a REAL ID in person. If you already have a Tennessee license or ID, go to a Driver Services Center or a participating county clerk. If you do not have one, go to a full-service Driver Services Center, and bring a document that shows your full Social Security number.

What happens to my license if I drop out of school?

When a student 15 or older withdraws, the school must tell TDOSHS, and this can suspend the student's driving privileges. After a first dropout, you can get the privilege back when you return to school. After a second or later withdrawal, all driving privileges stay suspended until you turn 18.