Tennessee residents can now get their REAL ID on the weekend. Here's what to know before the deadline
With the REAL ID deadline fast approaching, multiple driver services centers across Tennessee are providing more opportunities for Tennesseans to get theirs.
This weekend, select centers will begin offering Saturday appointments for current Tennessee credential holders, announced the Department of Safety and Homeland Security on Thursday.
To participate in the new expanded Saturday appointments, applicants must possess a valid Tennessee driver's license or identification card, said a news release. REAL ID applicants without a current Tennessee credential will be served during regular Monday to Friday hours.
Saturday hours are available by appointment only. Here is what to know about REAL ID and how to make an appointment.
REAL ID is a form of identification that complies with federal security standards and is accepted for official purposes such as boarding domestic flights and accessing specific federal facilities.
Beginning May 7, 2025, everyone must have a REAL ID or another approved Federally-issued ID, such as a passport, to enter certain federal buildings, military bases and nuclear power plants or board commercial flights within the United States.
According to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Tennesseans are not required to obtain a REAL ID and the identification is not necessary to drive, vote, purchase alcohol or cigarettes, access hospitals, visit the post office, access federal courts or apply for or receive federal benefits such as social security or veterans' benefits.
REAL ID applicants must provide proof of U.S. citizenship or legal presence, proof of a Social Security number and two proofs of Tennessee residency.
If there has been a name change, applicants must bring certified legal documents supporting the name change(s) which could include marriage licenses or divorce decrees. All documents must be original or certified copies; photocopies are not accepted.
People can schedule an appointment online, with Saturday slots available starting March 22 and continuing until the May 7 implementation date.
Here are the centers offering Saturday appointments:
West Tennessee
Bartlett Express Services Center – 6340 Summer Ave.
Jackson Driver Services Center – 100 Benchmark Circle
Memphis/East Shelby Drive Driver Services and Reinstatement Center – 3200 East Shelby Drive
Oakland Driver Services and Reinstatement Center – 160 Beau Tisdale Drive
Savannah Driver Services Center - 1016 Pickwick St. (beginning March 29)
Middle Tennessee
Clarksville Driver Services Center - 220 West Dunbar Cave Road
Columbia Driver Services Center - 1701 Hampshire Pike
Cookeville Driver Services Center - 4600 South Jefferson Ave.
Nashville/Hickory Hollow Driver Services and Reinstatement Center – 5216 Hickory Hollow Pkwy.
East Tennessee:
Chattanooga/Bonny Oaks Driver Services and Reinstatement Center – 6502 Bonny Oaks Drive
Johnson City Driver Services Center – 4717 Lake Park Drive
Knoxville/Strawberry Plains Driver Services Center – 7320 Region Lane
Morristown County Driver Services Center - 1551 East Morris Boulevard, Suite 2
Oak Ridge Driver Services Center - 475 Oak Ridge Turnpike
Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @_leyvadiana
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: REAL ID appointments in Tennessee: Saturdays now included
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