How to Replace a Lost Tennessee Driver’s License

To replace your lost Tennessee driver’s license, all you need to do is apply for a duplicate license online or in person and pay an $8 to $16 fee.
Written by Samuel Todd
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To replace your lost Tennessee driver’s license, all you need to do is apply for a duplicate license online or in person and pay an $8 to $16 fee.
  • You can replace your lost driver’s license online or in person at a driver service center in
    Tennessee
  • If you’re out of state, you can apply for a replacement license online or by mail. 
  • No matter how you apply, you’ll get your new ID in the mail in about three weeks.

Tennessee driver’s license replacement online

Go to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security's
online services menu
, then follow the steps to get a duplicate driver’s license. Be ready to provide all the required documents:
  • Personal information (like your Social Security number and ID number)
  • Proof of ID
    (for example, a valid U.S. passport, military ID, or birth certificate)
  • Any
    documentation of changes
    in your license (such as for name changes)
If you have a commercial driver’s license that needs replacing, you’ll additionally need to provide:
  • Your DOT medical card 
  • Two forms of proof of residency in Tennessee
Here’s the fee structure for a duplicate license in the state of Tennessee:
  • First duplicate: $8
  • Subsequent duplicates: $12
  • First Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) duplicate: $12
  • Subsequent CDL duplicates: $16
Once you’ve applied for the duplicate and paid, you should receive your replacement license in the mail within 20 days.
Note: If you’re hoping to upgrade your license to a REAL ID, you’ll need to take care of the replacement in person.

How to replace your Tennessee driver’s license in person

If you’d rather meet with someone face-to-face and you’re not too far from a
Tennessee driver service center
, you can make a quick trip to apply for a replacement license.
As with the online process, you’ll need
proof of identification
, personal information (like your SSN), and potentially proof of address. Once you’ve got all these documents, you’re good to go! Just pay the $8 to $16 replacement fee and you’ll get your new license in the mail within three weeks.
Keep in mind: If your license expiration date is within six months, you will need to renew your license instead of getting a duplicate. You can renew it through the
online services menu
. If your license expiration date is within 12 months, renewal instead of replacement is optional.
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What if you lose your Tennessee license out of state?

If you lose your license while you’re in a different state, don’t sweat it. You can get a replacement online or by mail, and the process is pretty much the same.
Of course, you’ll need to enter your current out-of-state address when asked where to send your duplicate. If you’re a military member, call (615) 253-5221 for help with your replacement.
And that’s it! Though it might take a bit longer to receive your license when you’re applying from out of state, you should be back on the road before you know it.
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