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Driver’s license and state ID in Tennessee

Change detected, under review. An official source this page relies on changed recently. Part of this page may be out of date until we review it.

  • Page changed: Tenn. Code Ann. § 1-3-105(c) (2026-10-12) · #235
  • Page changed: Voter Photo ID (2026-10-05) · #179
  • Page changed: Driver License Fees (2026-10-05) · #178
  • Page changed: Tenn. Code Ann. § 1-3-105(c) (2026-09-28) · #40
Update your name
YesAfter your legal name change
Gender markerThe sex or gender field (M, F, or X) printed on an ID document or stored in an agency's record.
NoCannot be changed right now

You cannot change the sex on a Tennessee driver's license or ID. Since a 2023 law defined "sex" in state law as sex at birth, the Department of Safety no longer accepts doctor's letters, court orders, or other states' documents for this. You can still change your name on the card in person with a certified court order, for $8 to $12.

Main cost
$8, can be waived
Apply
In person

Draft from official sources, September 24, 2026. Not yet checked by a person. How we verify

On this page
  1. How it works
  2. Steps
  3. Costs and fee waivers
  4. Requirements
  5. After you finish
  6. Tips
  7. Laws and other guides
  8. Sources

How it works

Before July 2023, Tennessee changed the sex on a license or ID if you brought a physician's statement or a court order. On July 1, 2023, Public Chapter 486 took effect. It defines "sex" throughout the Tennessee Code as "a person's immutable biological sex as determined by anatomy and genetics existing at the time of birth," and says evidence of sex includes an ID that matches the original birth certificate (Tenn. Code Ann. § 1-3-105(c)). The federal appeals court for Tennessee noted in 2024 that, as a result, "Tennessee ended its practice of allowing transgender individuals to update their driver's licenses and voter identification cards."

What this means today:

  • No new sex-marker changes, with any document.
  • Moving to Tennessee: expect the Department to issue your card with the sex on your birth certificate or other primary identity document, even if your out-of-state license shows something else.
  • Cards changed before July 2023: we could not confirm whether the Department reverts them at renewal. Keep your current card and a copy of any past approval; if an examiner changes your marker, contact ACLU of Tennessee or Lambda Legal.
  • Name changes still work (see below). Tennessee cards show only M or F; there is no X.

Steps

  1. Update Social Security first[5]

    The Department of Safety advises updating your name with Social Security before visiting a Driver Services Center, because it checks your record against SSA.

  2. Bring your current card and a certified court order[5]

    Bring your current license or ID and the court decree with the judge's original signature or the court's official seal. A photocopy of a court document with a copied seal or signature is refused; a copy with an original signature or seal affixed is accepted. Marriage and divorce name changes use a certified marriage certificate or divorce decree instead. Documents may be verified with the issuing court, which can delay your card.

  3. Visit a Driver Services Center[5][6][7]

    Name changes must be done in person. Make an appointment online to shorten the wait. You pay the duplicate fee ($8 for your first duplicate, $12 after that) and get a new photo. County clerk partner offices add a $4 fee.

    Cost
    $8 first duplicate license or ID (name change); $12 second or later duplicate

Costs and fee waivers

Can’t afford it? You may not have to pay.[8]

There is no fee waiver for a name change on a license. A registered voter who has no government-issued photo ID can get a free photo ID for voting at most Driver Services Centers, by signing an affidavit and showing proof of citizenship and two proofs of Tennessee residency.

WhatCostNotes
First duplicate license or ID (name change)[7][6]$8$6 duplicate fee plus $2 application fee. County clerk partners add $4.
Second or later duplicate[7][6]$12Commercial licenses cost $12 for the first duplicate and $16 after that. If your card expires within 12 months you may renew instead ($28 for an 8-year Class D license, $12 for an 8-year ID for adults).

More detail

RequirementsWhere you live, timeline
Where you live
You must hold or be applying for a Tennessee driver's license or ID.[5][1][2][3][4][9]
Other
Name changes must be done in person at a Driver Services Center with an original or certified document. The sex field is not changed for gender identity.
How long it takes

One in-person visit. The Department's pages do not say how long the new card takes; document verification with the court can add time.

After you finishYour Tennessee license will show your new name but the sex assigned at birth.

Your Tennessee license will show your new name but the sex assigned at birth. A US passport currently cannot show a changed sex marker either, as of September 2026. There is no Tennessee option for an ID that matches your gender. The license remains valid for voting, REAL ID, and air travel.

Tips2 tips from people who have done this
  • You can change your name without changing anything else. Bring the certified order and your current card.
  • If an examiner mistreats you, you can file a complaint with the Department of Safety and contact ACLU of Tennessee.
Laws and other guides2 laws, 2 other guides

Laws and rules

Other trusted guides

Sources

9 sources. Numbers in the text, like [1], point here.Show all
  1. Tenn. Code Ann. § 1-3-105(c), definition of "sex"FindLaw (Tennessee Code), Law. accessed
    “'sex' means a person's immutable biological sex as determined by anatomy and genetics existing at the time of birth and evidence of a person's biological sex.”
  2. SB 1440 / HB 239 (2023), Public Chapter 486Tennessee General Assembly, Law. accessed
    “"evidence of a person's biological sex" includes, but is not limited to, a government-issued identification document that accurately reflects a person's sex listed on the person's original birth certificate.”
  3. Gore v. Lee, No. 23-5669 (6th Cir. July 12, 2024)US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, Court. accessed
    “As a result of this statute, Tennessee ended its practice of allowing transgender individuals to update their driver's licenses and voter identification cards to reflect their gender identity.”
  4. SB 936 / HB 1271 (2026), Public Chapter 938Tennessee General Assembly, Law. accessed
  5. Name Change (Driver Services)Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Official page. accessed
    “A copy of a court document with a copied seal or signature is not acceptable. A copy of a court document with an original signature or seal that is affixed to copy is acceptable.”
  6. Replacing a Lost LicenseTennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Official page. accessed
    “First Regular License Duplicate: $8. Subsequent Regular License Duplicates: $12”
  7. Driver License FeesTennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Official page. accessed
    “County Clerk Partners will charge an additional $4.00 administrative fee to cover operational costs for services they offer.”
  8. Voter Photo IDTennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Official page. accessed
    “If you are a registered voter and do not have a government-issued photo ID, the Department of Safety and Homeland Security will provide you with a photo ID at no charge.”
  9. Tennessee equality profileMovement Advancement Project, Organization. accessed