Driver's License Services
First time applicants for a Tennessee State Drivers’ Licenses must obtain their licenses from the Testing Sites of the Tennessee Department of Safety (click here for a list of Tennessee State Department of Safety Testing Facilities). The Knox County Clerk's Office participates in the Clerk's Partnership Program with the Tennessee Department of Safety, and offers only Drivers’ License Renewals and Replacements at four of our offices:
- Old Knox County Courthouse
- Duplicates and Renewals Only
- Five Points Village
- Duplicates and Renewals Only
- County Clerk/Knox Center Mall
- Duplicates and Renewals Only
- County Clerk/Halls Office
- Duplicates and Renewals Only
Replacement Driver License or Photo Identification Card
You may replace your Class 'D' Driver License or Photo ID Card at any of the four Knox County Clerk's Offices listed above. You will need to bring two (2) acceptable forms of ID.The fee for the first duplicate/replacement is $12.00. The fee is $16.00 for a duplicate license if you have received a duplicate/replacement Driver License or Photo ID Card since your last renewal.
Driver License or Photo Identification Card Renewal
Tennessee State Law requires that all persons issued a Tennessee driver's license since January 1, 2001, as well as first-time applicants, be required to document they are either a U.S. Citizen or a lawful permanent resident at the time of their first renewal. If you have not renewed your license since 2001, you may not renew by mail or online. You will be required to visit a State Drivers’ Testing Station in person and provide proof of lawful U.S. residency.
Driver licenses issued since January, 1993 are set to expire on your next birthday evenly divisible by 5 (e.g., 25, 30, 35 . . . 55, 60, 65, 70 etc.) This makes it easier to remember when you are due to renew your license, as well as giving you longer between renewals than the previous four-year term.
The Department of Safety mails every driver a courtesy renewal notice four to six weeks before their license expire date. If you have a change of address and fail to notify the Tennessee Department of Safety, your Driver License Renewal Notice will not be forwarded. You can go to any of the four Knox County Clerk's Office locations listed above, complete the Standard Driver License Application
and have your renewal processed at the service counter.
First Time Applicants and New or Returning Tennessee Residents
First time Drivers’ License applicants must apply and test at a Tennessee State Facility. New or returning residents holding a valid out-of-state driver license must obtain a Tennessee driver license from a Tennessee State Facility no later than thirty (30) days after establishing residency. All out-of-state driver licenses must be surrendered. Tennessee law does not allow a resident of this state to hold more than one valid driver license.
New residents must provide two (2) proofs of their current valid Tennessee residence address as well as proof of citizenship or legal presence and Social Security Number. If a new resident brings a valid, out-of-state driver license (or a certified driving record from that state showing the license has not expired), only the vision test is required. However, if the license has expired over six months, all tests are required.
Testing, Permits, Commercial Driver License, Graduated Driver Licenses and Handgun Carry Permits
These services are only available at the Tennessee Department of Safety facilities below:
- Straw Plains Driver Testing Station - Full Service
- West 40 Driver Testing Station - Full Service
