Long-distance moving in Tennessee
Tennessee stretches from the Mississippi River bluffs at Memphis through Nashville's rapidly growing middle to the Smoky Mountain foothills around Knoxville.
Chattanooga to Atlanta
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That geography means moves here range from flat delta streets to switchback hillside driveways. The state's licensing rules have one distinctive twist: if your license comes from one of five named states, the Department of Safety wants a driving record from it, and in every case a Tennessee license is due within thirty days.
Tennessee by the numbers
- Residents
- 7.3 million
- Moved in from another state in the past year
- 195,0002.7% of residents
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 68%
- Homes that are detached houses
- 68%
- Typical year homes were built
- 1989Median year built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 American Community Survey 1-year estimates (opens in a new tab). Figures are survey estimates, rounded.
Largest metros
Nashville
Rapid growth means many new subdivisions and high-rise condos downtown, where elevator reservations and loading restrictions matter, plus older hillside streets in East Nashville.
Memphis
A river city on the Mississippi with midtown bungalows, suburban Germantown and Collierville, and downtown lofts with limited loading access.
Knoxville
A hilly Tennessee Valley city with older neighborhoods on ridges and steep driveways, and easy access to I-40 and I-75 for long hauls.
Chattanooga
A riverside city ringed by ridges, where Lookout Mountain and Signal Mountain roads are steep and winding, and truck access may need a shuttle.
Common moves from Tennessee
Chattanooga to Atlanta
Straight south on I-75 through Ringgold and Dalton to Atlanta; a short run that jams badly near the northern Atlanta suburbs.
Nashville to Miami
I-24 southeast to Chattanooga, then I-75 south through Georgia and the full length of Florida; a long, two-day drive with heavy holiday traffic.
Memphis to Dallas
West over the Mississippi on I-40 to Little Rock, then I-30 southwest to Dallas; flat delta driving followed by the rolling pine country of southwest Arkansas and East Texas.
Nashville to Birmingham
South on I-65 past Athens and Decatur, west of Huntsville, to Birmingham, a one-day route that is mostly steady highway with pockets of construction.
When to move
- Best months
- April through early June, and late September through October.
- Months to avoid
- Late July through August, plus January and February in the mountains.
- Why
- Summer heat and humidity are heavy across the state and can slow crews working outdoors. Winter ice storms occasionally close roads in the east, particularly in mountain and ridge areas, while spring storms can bring severe thunderstorms to the western and middle parts of the state.
Practical notes for new residents and movers
Thirty days for a Tennessee license
The Department of Safety says new residents who hold a driver license from another state must obtain a Tennessee driver license no later than thirty (30) days after establishing residency, at a full-service Driver Services Center. Source
Surrender the old license
All new or returning residents must surrender their out-of-state license at the time of application, or present a driver record (Motor Vehicle Report); Tennessee law does not allow a resident to hold more than one valid license. Source
Five states require a driving record
Residents transferring a license from California, Connecticut, Illinois, Nevada or West Virginia must obtain a Motor Vehicle Record from their former state. Source
Vision screening and testing
All new or returning residents take a vision screening; if the out-of-state license has been expired for more than six months, the Tennessee knowledge test and road skills test are also required. Source
Title through the county clerk
The Department of Revenue says new residents get a Tennessee title from their local county clerk's office, bringing proof of identification and residency, the most current out-of-state registration, and either the lienholder's name and address or, with no lien, the out-of-state title. Source
FAQ
Moving to or from Tennessee
Do I apply for the license online?
Partly. You can complete the application and have documents pre-approved online, but the Department of Safety still requires you to visit a full-service Driver Services Center with originals.
What if I am coming from California or Illinois?
Request a Motor Vehicle Record from your former state before you move. Tennessee lists California, Connecticut, Illinois, Nevada and West Virginia as requiring one.
Will I have to take driving tests?
A vision screening is required. The knowledge and road tests apply when your old license has been expired more than six months, or if you are coming from another country.
Can I keep my previous state's license?
No. Tennessee law allows only one valid license, so you give up the old one at application unless it was issued by a foreign country.
How do hills affect a move in Knoxville or Chattanooga?
Steep driveways may need a smaller truck. Describe access in your inventory so our written estimate reflects it; coverage is included and optional moving insurance can be added.
Sources
- Tennessee Department of Safety: new residents (license) (opens in a new tab)
- Tennessee Department of Revenue: titling a vehicle (new residents) (opens in a new tab)
- U.S. Census Bureau: state-to-state migration flows (opens in a new tab)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 American Community Survey 1-year estimates (opens in a new tab)
Last updated November 1, 2026
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