Acceptable Documentation for Initial Vehicle Registrations

Effective January 1, 2027, Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-4-144 requires applicants seeking initial registrations for certain motor vehicles to provide documentation that the applicant is a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident of the United States, or a person whose presence in the United States has been authorized by the federal government for a specific purpose and for a specified period of authorized stay.

Documentation in either paper or electronic format is acceptable. Acceptable electronic formats include electronic images displayed on a cell phone or any other type of portable electronic device.

Acceptable License Types

The following license types are deemed satisfactory proof for purposes of initial registration:

  • REAL ID-compliant license
  • Tennessee driver license
  • Tennessee temporary driver license
  • Tennessee photo identification license 
  • Tennessee temporary photo identification license

Acceptable Documentation of U.S. Citizenship

  • Official birth certificate issued by a U.S. state, jurisdiction or territory (Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Swain's Island, Guam) 
    • Puerto Rican birth certificates issued before July 1, 2010, will NOT be recognized as proof of lawful U.S. citizenship
  • U.S. Certificate of Birth Abroad (DS-1350 or FS-545)
  • Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the U.S. (FS-240)
  • Valid, unexpired U.S. Passport
  • Certificate of Citizenship (N560 or N561)
  • Certificate of Naturalization (N550, N570 or N578)
  • U.S. Citizen Identification Card (I-197, I-179)

Acceptable Documentation of Lawful Permanent Resident Status 

  • Permanent Resident Alien Card (I-551)
  • Foreign passport stamped by the U.S. Government indicating that the holder has been "Processed for I-551"
  • Permanent Resident Re-entry Permit (I-327)
  • Arrival Departure Form I-94 with “Temporary I-551” stamp and holder’s photograph affixed
  • Travel Document issued to Refugees (I-571)
  • Form I-94 stamped with one of the following statuses: Asylee, Parolee or Parole, Refugee, Asylum, HP-humanitarian parolee or PIP-public interest parolee

Acceptable Documentation of Temporary Legal Presence

  • Conditional Resident Alien Card (I-551)
  • Valid Foreign Passport with Valid Visa and I-94 attached
    • Note: The passport must have an English translation
  • Valid Foreign Passport with I-94W attached
    • Holders of F1, F2, M1, or M2 status should also present a valid SEVIS I-20
    • Holders of J1 or J2 status should also present a valid DS-2019