MY GOAL: To obtain a REAL ID and renew my license that had expired in the last two weeks. TIME SPENT: Under 2 hours total --- 30min to upload documents one business day prior, 45min waiting for the office to open, 15min waiting in line during office hours, and ~10minutes to get thru check-in, document review, and re-activating my license with a future REAL-ID. EVENTS: I completed my real ID verification document uploads the proceeding Friday. I belatedly discovered my license had expired, but also that I needed a real ID to comply for the spring 2025 mandate. Late Friday afternoon, I uploaded .pdfs of a W-2 form (SS verifying document), bank statement (redacted and only cover page with address), and credit card statement (redacted and only cover page with address), with accompanying active passport (photo page only). This was deemed sufficient and surprisingly approved Friday late afternoon (in hours!) by email with a confirmation code and 30d expiration. After I printed my documents at home in black/white (both redacted and full versions, the latter was an unnecessary back-up), I arrived at 7:45 AM the following Monday without an appointment. I was number 12 in line. For context number one arrived at 7 AM at this Franklin location. Some of us early birds brought lawn chairs. And behind me, there were over 30 individuals by the time the office opened at 8:30 AM. 15 minutes prior to the office opening, two helpful employees (one elderly woman named Crooks) went down the line and asked each individual about the reasons for their presence there today, as well as to reviewed the appropriate documents. I had pre-printed my redacted abbreviated uploaded documents, which were deemed usable. I had the upload confirmation code, as additional proof. At 830, the office opened, and by 8:45 AM I had reached the front of the line. Of note, I tried obtaining an e-ticket, but it repeatedly failed at the final step 4, with a VDI error. The "check in desk agent", with Parkinsonian hand tremor, reviewed the documents and required the assistance of another, apparently more experienced, but also elderly individual, to navigate screens on the computer to appropriately check my printed documents that I provided. These were deemed accurate (despite me offering the confirmation code of my previously uploaded documents - no idea if they were cross-checking). I was then asked to scan a QR code, which checked me in, and texted me some simple questions (btw I did this during the computer check-in shenanigans). Next I was directed a kiosk, which they called an 'iPad', of which there were three, and digitally confirmed some simple demographic-type questions, took a digital photo, and received a paper receipt of a active drivers license with the printed official copy to arrive in the mail in the subsequent 20 days. No fees for my expired license! I Concluded my kiosk time at 8:54. As I departed, I was overhead called to one of the ~7 cubicles on the left side of the office space, but then, I was shooed away, as my experience was deemed complete at the kiosk. Maybe the cubicle land was for those who had an appointment, an e-ticket, an initial license, or more complex need - I have no idea. In Short, despite some of the daunting reviews and the uncertainty on the DMV website itself, lack of ability to ask any questions at all beforehand, and a limit to readings on Reddit, Quora, and Google, I found this experience to be better than my expectations were set at, and I was quite pleased. Hopefully your journey will be as smooth as mine, even with an expired license in the state of TN. read more

Gentlemen at the information desk very helpful and told me to stand by the bookcase. After standing waiting for one of 6 people to help for twenty minutes. Went back to the gentleman and he came up and asked Karen Burns to help me. Well, Karen talked about the Titans and Walmart then told her friend " I will be right back to help the guy with a MVR" She came back after ten minutes and went to her desk. Then off to talk to her supervisor for a couple of minutes. God bless Karen Burns's little heart. read more

A 5 hour wait to do an out of state driver license transfer. Insane. Tennessee needs to privatize this system like other states have.

I went today (3/21/25) and I got there a little over an hour before open, maybe 7:20am. Bring a blanket or chair to sit on & a water! There was already a small line, but by 8:30 once they opened the doors it only took me ten minutes to renew my license. The staff were entirely kind, helpful, and efficient. Get there early, double check online to bring all the documents you need and it should be a breeze. read more

I went there yesterday to get my driver records. The gentleman at the desk told me to go to counter number two counter number two ladies name is Anna Sanchez. She is very rude. Has no idea what the hell she's doing. She seems like she has something stuck up her ass, I can't believe they let people with that kinda attitude work there, management needs to do a better job on the employees you are being paid to service people, just because I don't speak Spanish she treated as differently, I well be going back and I well record next time and if that happens again I well file a discrimination law suit. read more

Don't listen to the website on wait times--they're not accurate. I was there for almost 6 hours (arrived at 10:00am, was done at 4:00pm). There was an African American lady that checked me in and was super rude. After talking to a few other people while we were waiting (complaining about the long wait to each other), they told me they experienced the same thing. They only have about 5 desks open at a time that's actively processing requests, so it was extremely slow. I was also told that between 11:00am and 2:00pm, they take turns taking their lunch shift and so it slows down drastically then, so I don't recommend coming around that time. I went to this office because I thought that going inland from the city would be easier on the wait times--I was so wrong. Anyway, prepare to be there for at least 4 hours if you are doing a walk-in. read more

We just had what was without a doubt the worst experience I've ever had at a DMV in Tennessee EVER! And I've lived here most of my life. I made an appointment for my 91 year old Mother to get her REALID at the Franklin, TN DMV on 4/21/2025. We had all of the paperwork together and drove over there and got there at 1 pm. Oh my gosh! The line of people out the door. Less parking for customers there than there was for the employees. I literally witnessed a person having their car towed my a neighboring business because they had parked there and probably had no idea they'd be there so long. I ended up dropping my Mother off to get in line and had to drive to the far corner of the next block over. OK, I can live with that, price of living in this area these days. We had a 1:30 pm appointment, and by the time I got back to her in line she was still outside the door and we had 10 more minutes. I asked people in line and they seemed to have no idea what they were waiting on. I asked if they had an appointment and they said no. So I went inside to try and find someone to ask. NO INFORMATION DESK!!! That is nuts. Other DMVs do have one. I tried to politely ask the lady at the first desk and RUDE does not begin to describe her. She said she was with someone, and I said can you just tell me who I can ask about an appointment for READID. She huffed and said go to the Front Desk. Ok, let me just tell you there is no Front Desk. I walked over to one older gentleman sitting at what looked like a card table and he wouldn't give me his attention. No signs, no help desk. I dreaded to do so, but went back by the first desk and said pointing is that the Front Desk over there. Boy she got mad and was ruder than the first time. Warning, don't ever speak to that lady at the first desk! I went back over and a young gentleman in line, very nice and polite, told me that this was the line and if you had an appointment you didn't need a ticket. I went and got my Mother out of line and took her back there. Now 1:30 pm exactly and the older gentleman gave us some attention. Tried giving him the paperwork and he mumbled that we were missing one document. Darn! I tried asking him a question and even he ignored us. Just wrote on a piece of paper and handed it to me and looked to the next person. Boy these people must be miserable at their jobs. Bottom line: Don't ever ever go to the Franklin DMV unless you feel like spending all day there. I can honestly say that these horrible miserable rude people ruined our day. And we still don't have what we needed. Not that they care. read more

I went in to get my REAL ID. I got there around 20 minutes before they opened on a Friday morning and there was already a line. About 10 minutes after I got there, an employee began getting info from us about why we were there, and asking to see relevant documents. When they opened at 8:30, they asked for our patience because they had several employees call in sick; this was a bit discouraging...BUT despite being short-staffed the info line moved very quickly and I was called up after about 10 minutes. The gentleman who waited on me was professional, polite, efficient and courteous. The whole procedure from the time I got there took less than an hour. I was pleasantly surprised by the professionalism and efficiency of the entire staff. Big thank you to all for making what could have been a tedious process flow effectively despite the fact that you were all short-handed. Kudos all around! read more

Being kind is never wasted, it always makes such a big difference. I appreciate Melissa for making our not so great visit better with her kindness. She was not only helpful but efficient, great customer service with a smile. read more

Ok! Service was fast!!! But the pictures they zoom all the way in, no neck!! Happy going in, thinking I'm cute today but this pic is like ugh. Now I feel horrible about myself. read more

I saw so many bad reviews but honestly I had a good experience! They were helpful to get all of our documents in order before we even walked in the door and the employees were friendly and got us out of there quickly! No problems! read more