To replace a lost Tennessee driver’s license, order a duplicate through the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS) for $8. You can do it online, at a self-service kiosk, or in person at a Driver Services Center. Which route works for you depends mostly on whether you still know your DD number, the nine-digit code that was printed on the front of your card.1Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Replacing a Lost License
Pick the Fastest Channel You Qualify For
Online is the quickest. If you saved a photo of your license, wrote the DD number down, or can find it on old paperwork, you can order a duplicate from home through the TDOSHS website. Without that number, the state has no way to verify you remotely and the online option is closed to you.1Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Replacing a Lost License
Self-service kiosks are the next fastest. Tennessee has installed them in libraries, county clerk offices, city halls, and other public buildings. The machine takes your photo, prints a new card on the spot, and accepts credit or debit cards.2Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Driver Service Locations and Appointments
A Driver Services Center is the fallback when the other two won’t work, and it’s required if any information on your license has changed, such as your name or address. Booking an appointment on the TDOSHS website cuts down the wait. Your card is mailed to you, typically arriving 10 to 20 days after it prints.3Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. I Did Not Receive My License or ID in the Mail What Should I Do
One thing to check before you pay: a duplicate carries the same expiration date as the original. If yours is close to expiring anyway, renewing instead of replacing keeps you from paying twice. Tennessee licenses for adults over 21 run eight years from the date of issuance.4Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Renewing Your License
What to Bring if You Go In Person
You’ll need a primary identity document and two proofs of Tennessee residency.
For identity, most people bring a U.S. passport or a certified birth certificate. The state also accepts a certificate of naturalization, a certificate of citizenship, or a U.S. Certificate of Birth Abroad. Originals or certified copies only. Photocopies are not accepted.5Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Identification License
For residency, bring two documents from different sources dated within the last four months. Utility bills, bank statements, mortgage documents, and vehicle registrations all count. A water bill and a gas bill from the same utility company count as one source, not two. A rental lease is accepted only with a signed letter from the landlord dated within the last 30 days.6Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Proof of Tennessee Residency
If your name has changed since your last license was issued, bring every document that links your old name to your current one: marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order. If there have been multiple changes, bring the full chain.7Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. REAL ID
Should You Upgrade to REAL ID While You’re at It
Since REAL ID enforcement began in May 2025, boarding a domestic flight or entering certain federal buildings requires a REAL ID-compliant license or another accepted form of identification such as a passport.8Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID You can tell whether your old card was compliant by whether it had a gold star in the upper right corner.
Upgrading has to happen in person. Federal law does not allow it online or at a kiosk. Bring one proof of U.S. citizenship or legal presence (a passport or certified birth certificate), one proof of your Social Security number (the card itself, a W-2, or a pay stub), and two proofs of Tennessee residency.7Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. REAL ID If your lost license was already REAL ID-compliant, your duplicate keeps that status without any extra step.
What It Costs
- First duplicate of a regular license: $8
- Second or later duplicate of a regular license: $12
- First duplicate of a commercial driver’s license (CDL): $12
- Second or later CDL duplicate: $16
- Duplicate of a Temporary Driver License (non-citizens): $28, first or subsequent
Fees are due when you apply, whatever method you use.1Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Replacing a Lost License Online and kiosk transactions take credit or debit cards only. Driver Services Centers also accept cash, checks, and money orders.9Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Driver License Fees
If You Think It Was Stolen
Filing a report isn’t required to get a replacement, but it’s worth doing if theft is a real possibility. Your license carries your full name, date of birth, address, and photo, which is enough for someone to start committing identity fraud in your name.
File a police report so there’s an official record tied to a specific date. That record protects you if someone opens accounts using your license or gets stopped by police carrying it. You can also notify the TDOSHS so the old license number is flagged in their database.
Consider placing a fraud alert with the three major credit bureaus, and report the theft at IdentityTheft.gov or by calling 1-877-438-4338.10USAGov. Identity Theft Tennessee generally will not issue a new license number for a simple lost card. If you can document actual identity compromise, you may be able to request a new number, but expect to show evidence of the fraud.
Driving While You Wait
Tennessee law requires every licensed driver to have their license in immediate possession while operating a vehicle and to show it on demand to any law enforcement officer. Failing to do so is a Class C misdemeanor, with a maximum fine of $50 and up to 30 days in jail.11Justia. Tennessee Code 55-50-351 – License to Be Carried and Exhibited on Demand – Arrest and Penalty for Violations12Justia. Tennessee Code 40-35-111 – Authorized Terms of Imprisonment and Fines for Misdemeanors In practice, if you have a valid license and simply don’t have the card on you, presenting proof of your valid license in court usually resolves the charge.
One boundary to note: the duplicate process is only for drivers whose license is otherwise in good standing. If your license is suspended, revoked, or cancelled, you can’t get a duplicate. You’ll need to complete the reinstatement steps with the TDOSHS first.