NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Starting next year, new or returning Tennessee residents from nine different states must present a new document from their former state when applying for a Tennessee driver license.
According to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, the move is necessary due to several states not participating in the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators’ State-to-State (S2S) Verification Service. The service allows participating states to electronic access the complete driver history record of anyone applying for a driver license.
Tennessee unveils brand new license design
But nine different states do not participate in the program: California, Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Nevada, Oklahoma, Vermont and West Virginia.
Individuals from those states will instead need to provide a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) from their former state in order to apply for a Tennessee license starting Jan. 10, 2025.
Through the S2S system, states can share real-time information about individual drivers, including convictions and license withdrawals. By providing a driver’s complete history, states can reduce the risk of fraud and improve safety by keeping dangerous drivers off the roads, the department announced. Additionally, S2S enhances accuracy and reduces the processing time for obtaining a new credential in Tennessee.