What you need to do to change your name on your Tennessee driver's license
To change your name on your Tennessee driver's license, you must visit a Driver Services Center in person with proof of your legal name change and your current license. Tennessee does not allow name changes by mail or online. The process takes about 15 minutes at the counter, and you will receive a new license with your updated name either when ready (if you use a digital photo) or by mail within 7 to 10 business days.
The key requirement is having legal proof that your name has changed. This means a court order from a divorce, a marriage certificate, or a court decree — not just a document you've created or a name you've been using. Tennessee will not process the change without one of these documents in hand.
Key Takeaways
- You must visit a Driver Services Center in person with your current license and legal proof of your name change.
- Legal proof means a court order, marriage certificate, or divorce decree — Tennessee will not accept other documents.
- You can get a new photo taken at the center (digital photo, no charge) or keep your current photo on file.
- The new license arrives when ready if you use the digital photo option, or by mail within 7 to 10 business days if you keep your old photo.
- The fee for a name change on your license is the same as a standard renewal: currently $27.50 for an eight-year license.
What documents to bring to the Driver Services Center
Bring your current Tennessee driver's license and the original or certified copy of your legal name change document. If you were married, bring your marriage certificate. If you were divorced, bring the divorce decree showing your new name. If you obtained a name change through the courts, bring the court order. A photocopy is not enough — you must have the original or a certified copy issued by the court or vital records office.
You will also need to bring proof of your Social Security number. This can be your Social Security card, a W-2 form, a 1099 form, or a tax return. If you do not have any of these, you can bring a letter from the Social Security Administration. Bring your current address proof as well — a utility bill, lease, mortgage statement, or bank statement dated within the last 60 days will work.
Finding a Driver Services Center near you
Tennessee operates Driver Services Centers across the state. You can find the one closest to you on the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security website by entering your county or city. Most centers are open Monday through Friday during standard business hours, though some have extended hours on certain days. A few locations also offer Saturday hours.
You do not need an appointment at most centers, but some locations now use an online reservation system to manage wait times. Check the website for your specific location to see whether you can reserve a time slot or whether it is first-come, first-served. Wait times vary by location and time of day, but typically range from 15 minutes to an hour.
Choosing between a digital photo and keeping your current photo
At the Driver Services Center, you can have a new digital photo taken at no extra charge, or you can request to keep the photo from your current license. If you choose the digital photo, your new license will be printed on-site and you will receive it when ready. This is the faster option and is recommended if your current photo is more than a few years old.
If you choose to keep your current photo, the center will mail your new license to the address on file. This takes 7 to 10 business days. You can use your current license as a valid ID during this time. The photo choice does not affect the fee or the name change process itself — it only affects how quickly you receive the new license.
What happens if your name change document is from another state
If you were married, divorced, or had a name change in another state and are now a Tennessee resident, you can still update your Tennessee license. Bring the original or certified copy of your out-of-state marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order. Tennessee will accept these documents as long as they are certified copies from the issuing state's vital records office or court.
If you are not yet a Tennessee resident but need to change your name on a Tennessee license (for example, you were married while living in Tennessee but have since moved), you can still make the change by mail. Contact a Driver Services Center directly to ask about their mail-in process for out-of-state residents, as procedures vary by location.
The fee and how to pay
The fee for a name change on your Tennessee driver's license is $27.50 for an eight-year license. This is the standard renewal fee; there is no additional charge for the name change itself. Tennessee Driver Services Centers accept cash, check, debit card, and credit card. Some locations may have restrictions on which payment methods they accept, so call ahead if you want to confirm.
If you are renewing your license at the same time as changing your name, you pay only one fee. If your license is not yet expired and you are changing only the name, you still pay the full renewal fee — Tennessee does not offer a discounted rate for name-only changes.
What to do if you do not have legal proof of your name change
If you have been using a different name but do not have a court order, marriage certificate, or divorce decree, you will need to obtain one before Tennessee will change your license. If you were married, contact the vital records office in the county or state where you were married to request a certified copy of your marriage certificate. If you were divorced, request a certified copy of your divorce decree from the court that issued it.
If you want to change your name through the courts without a marriage or divorce, you can file a petition for a legal name change in your county's chancery court. This requires filing paperwork, paying a court fee (typically $200 to $300), and sometimes appearing before a judge. Once the court issues the order, you can bring it to a Driver Services Center to update your license. The court process usually takes 4 to 8 weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my name on my license if I'm in the middle of a divorce?
No, not until the divorce is final. You need the signed divorce decree showing your new name. Once the court issues the final decree, you can bring it to a Driver Services Center. Some people wait to change their license until after the divorce is complete to avoid confusion during the process.
What if my marriage certificate or divorce decree is damaged or hard to read?
Request a certified copy from the vital records office that issued it. A certified copy is an official replacement and will be accepted by Tennessee. The office can usually mail it to you within 1 to 2 weeks. Bring the certified copy to the Driver Services Center, not the damaged original.
Do I have to take a new photo, or can I keep my current one?
You can choose. If you take a new digital photo at the center, you get your license when ready. If you keep your current photo, the center mails the new license to you in 7 to 10 business days. Either way, the cost is the same.
What if I moved to Tennessee after my name change and my address is different on my marriage certificate?
That is fine. Bring your marriage certificate or divorce decree (which shows your legal name change) and proof of your current Tennessee address, such as a utility bill or lease. The Driver Services Center will update both your name and address on the new license.
Can someone else go to the Driver Services Center and change my name for me?
No. Tennessee requires you to appear in person with your current license and legal name change document. You cannot authorize someone else to make this change on your behalf.