In case you ever need to get a Tennessee driver's license...

We are officially Tennessee drivers now! (except we drive MUCH better than most people here!---they run red lights like crazy!)

Anyways, here are some tips in case you ever move here and need to get a license and register your car (or get your tags as they say)...luckily I did my research ahead of time...

To obtain a license:
First you need to have a valid license from some state and take that with you. You also might as well take any other legal document with your name on it as well, because I'm sure they'll need it. You also need 2 pieces with your new address and since nothing like a utility bill has arrived yet, you can use personal mail for one. For the second piece...just head on over to the courthouse and register to vote. You get your card the same day, and they'll accept that at the Department of Safety (that's what it is called here). Don't worry, a valid driver's license is all you need to register---and it doesn't have to be a TN one!

So now head on over to the Driver's Testing Center/Dept. of Safety. You're here with your current valid driver's license, social security card, birth certificate, voter registration, and piece of personal mail addressed with your new address. Now take a number, fill out an application, and wait for them to call your number. It's all electronically done over the loud speaker, so you feel like you're at an airport waiting for the lady's pleasant voice to tell you what gate you're supposed to depart from. "Now serving B236 at Window #1" They renew licenses here every 5 years...so when you turn 25, 30, 35, etc....I only got a license for 4 years, somehow Justin got one for 7...I haven't quite figured this out yet, but either way, you pay for how many years you have your license. At this point, you should have a valid TN license.

To get your tags:
NOW you want to renew your plates. They don't do that at the Department of Safety. Instead, you have to head back to the courthouse to get your tags. BUT FIRST...depending on which county you live (and we live in one of these counties) you need an emissions test on your vehicle. So now you need to find TDOT Vehicle Inspection Location. Once found, you need to go with $10 (and they only accept cash and won't take any bills larger than $20), your current registration, turn off your air conditioning/heating, cell phone, GPS, car radio, put out your cigarette and wait in line...we waited for a half hour. Justin thought the whole thing didn't make sense...that they check to make sure you aren't letting off too much car emission, yet you keep your car running while you wait for at least a half hour in line...doesn't seem quite right. Just don't plan on being in a hurry when you go. The test takes 5-10 minutes, they tell you that you passed, give you a sheet of paper that says you passed and now its back to the courthouse to get your new tags.

Back at the courthouse, go in with your current registration, emissions test result and if you are still paying a car loan, go in with that info as well (the loan info is what I didn't have). Get your new tags and hopefully you'll be set to go. I'm going to try again tomorrow to accomplish getting a new license plate.

You might as well take a vacation day from work to accomplish all of this.

Now you're set...you're already to become a Tennessee driver!