I got my Tennessee driver’s license. It was a long process, but this isn’t really a blog about “how to get a driver’s license in Tennessee.” No, that would be too easy.

Here’s my story:

Tennessee law states that within 30 days of establishing residency, you must get a Tennessee driver’s license. Of course, my new insurance agent didn’t tell me this, only that my new insurance company would drop me like a hot potato without one. I found out about the law through my own research.

How to get a driver’s license in Tennessee

To get a driver’s license in Tennessee, I needed proof of residency (two examples), proof of identity (passport or birth certificate), valid driver’s license from another state and my Social Security card. I’ve got the number, but thanks to my recent life changes, not the card. So, I jumped through hoops to get a new card and crossed my fingers that it would be forwarded to me here.

The card arrived in the mail on Friday, and I planned to go Monday to the Tennessee equivalent of the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles in Wisconsin, but Department of Safety & Homeland Security in Tennessee). However, Monday was the observance of Veterans Day, and state offices were closed.

In the meantime, I stayed in touch with my insurance agent to get an extension on my insurance.

Visit the Tennessee Department of Safety

On Tuesday, I got to the service center at 8:35 a.m. (Doors open at 8:30.) The line already was more than 20 deep. I queued up behind a guy in blue jeans and a ball cap, who was there for a CDL. A woman came down the line to ask everyone what they need to do, and she advised people renewing licenses to use the automated kiosk instead of waiting in line.

Finally, it was my turn. I showed my paperwork and got another form to fill out, an affidavit that I’m actually a resident. I got a color-coded number card and instructions to wait for them to call me.

Fortunately, I don’t mind waiting. I wrote a little and watched people. It’s a great place to try and figure out people’s stories based on what they look like, wear, how they talk, who they’re with, etc.

What happens when it goes wrong

My turn came, and everything was going so well, when the woman behind the counter frowned. Deeply.

“Hey,” she hollered over her shoulder to her co-workers at the other stations around the room, “anybody else got a seven-year license for $24.75?” It’s supposed to be eight years for $28.

No one answered. She leaned into her computer and said to me, “This is weird. They do stuff without telling us.” She clicked some more. Frowned some more. She walked over to a co-worker who shook her head. “I’ll be right back,” she said and headed to the supervisor’s office at the back of the room.

The supervisor was on the phone. She waited. I waited. I could see she was trying to talk to the supervisor. She turned and headed down the hall, mouthing at me, “I’ll be right back.”

When she returned, she had instructions to back out and try it all over again.

She did. Still no go. There was some computer problem – a power outage in a northern county, she said – that impacted the system.

“Can you come back after lunch?” she asked. When I hesitated, she offered the next day instead. “I’m here at 9. Just come right up to me, you don’t have to wait in line.”

A second trip for the driver’s license

I agreed. What else could I do? I told her I’d take a seven-year license, but she didn’t want to get into trouble. I understand that.

It was 20 miles home. I let my insurance agent know.

Wednesday morning arrived, and I walked in the door at two minutes to 9. She looked surprised to see me. I’m pretty sure she forgot all about it. However, she took my information, and 10 minutes later, I exited with a new (paper) Tennessee driver’s license in hand. At last, the wait was over.

And the best part? That license let me apply for and receive (immediately) what I really wanted all along: a library card. Oh, and car insurance.