Summary of Tennessee (TN) DOS Driver Manual 2026

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (DOS) issues Class D noncommercial licenses, REAL ID compliant credentials, and commercial driver licenses. New Tennessee residents must obtain a Tennessee driver license within 30 days of establishing residency, and all drivers must notify the Driver Services Division within 10 days of an address or legal name change.

Under Tennessee's Graduated Driver License (GDL) program for applicants under age 18, teens at age 15 may apply for a Learner Permit after submitting proof of school attendance and passing vision (minimum 20/40 acuity) and written knowledge tests (30 multiple-choice questions with an 80 percent / 24 correct pass mark). Permit holders must hold the permit for at least 180 days and log 50 hours of supervised driving practice (including 10 hours at night). Teens advance to an Intermediate Restricted License at age 16 subject to night curfews (11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.) and passenger restrictions allowing no more than one non-family passenger; Intermediate Unrestricted License is available at 17, and full Class D licensing at 18. Operating a handheld phone in a school zone or texting while driving is strictly illegal, carrying fines up to $50.

Drivers must inspect critical vehicle safety components prior to driving, including brakes, tires, lights, mirrors, and seat belts, and adjust seats and mirrors for optimal peripheral vision.

Under Tennessee's mandatory Safety Belt Law, all motor vehicle occupants must wear safety belts. Tennessee's Child Passenger Protection Law requires rear-facing child seats for infants under 1 year of age (and under 20 pounds), forward-facing seats for ages 1 through 3 (and 20 to 40 pounds), and booster seats for children aged 4 through 8 (and under 4 feet 9 inches tall). Leaving children under age 7 unattended in a motor vehicle is a Class B misdemeanor.

Traffic control devices communicate mandatory legal directives across Tennessee roadways. Octagon red signs mandate full stops, downward triangles indicate yield, pennant signs placed on the left side of the highway mark no-passing zones, and diamond signs warn of road hazards. Work zone warning signs feature orange backgrounds, and traffic fines are doubled in active construction zones.

Flashing red traffic signals function as a stop sign, while a flashing yellow arrow permits turns after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. Double solid yellow pavement lines prohibit passing in both directions, broken white lines separate lanes moving in the same direction, and High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes marked with white diamonds are reserved during peak commuting hours.

Tennessee's basic speed rule requires driving at a reasonable and prudent speed for current traffic and weather conditions regardless of posted signs. Statutory speed limits across the state include 15 to 25 mph in posted school zones, 30 to 35 mph in urban residential or business districts, 55 mph on rural two-lane highways, and 65 to 70 mph on interstate highways. Turn signals must be activated continuously at least 50 feet prior to turning.

Yield right-of-way to emergency vehicles, pedestrians in crosswalks, and circulating traffic in roundabouts. Stop at least 10 feet away from a stopped school bus displaying flashing red lights on all undivided roads. When parking along public streets, park parallel within 18 inches of the curb; parking is prohibited within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, 20 feet of a crosswalk, 30 feet of a stop sign or signal, or 50 feet of a railroad crossing.

Driving on Tennessee interstate highways requires merging smoothly at traffic speed using acceleration lanes, observing lane discipline, and maintaining a visual scanning lead of 10 to 12 seconds ahead.

Under Tennessee's Move Over Law, when approaching stationary emergency, recovery, utility, or maintenance vehicles displaying flashing lights, drivers must change lanes into an adjacent lane or slow down to a safe speed. In heavy traffic, practice zipper merges at lane closures to maintain steady flow.

Headlights must be illuminated from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise, during fog, rain, or snow, and whenever windshield wipers are in continuous use. High-beam headlights must be dimmed within 500 feet of oncoming vehicles and 200 feet when following.

Driving in heavy rain or standing water presents hydroplaning risks at speeds of 35 mph or higher. If a skid occurs, ease off the gas pedal and steer into the direction of the skid without locking brakes; if a blowout occurs, hold the steering wheel firmly and ease off the accelerator.

Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs is a serious crime in Tennessee carrying mandatory jail sentences, heavy fines, and license revocations. The legal Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) threshold limit is 0.08 percent or higher for drivers 21 and older, 0.02 percent (zero tolerance) for drivers under 21, and 0.04 percent for CDL holders.

Under Tennessee's Implied Consent Law, chemical test refusal results in an automatic 1-year license revocation. A first DUI conviction carries penalties including 48 hours to 11 months and 29 days in jail (4 consecutive days if BAC is 0.20% or higher), fines from $350 to $1,500, mandatory DUI school, and a 1-year license revocation.

Under the Tennessee Point System, moving traffic violations accrue points on the driving record. Accumulating 12 or more points within 12 months for adults (or 6 or more points for drivers under 18) triggers a proposed license suspension and mandatory attendance at a Driver Improvement Program.

Under Tennessee's Financial Responsibility Law, motor vehicle owners must maintain continuous liability insurance with minimum limits of $25,000 for bodily injury to one person, $50,000 for total bodily injury per crash, and $25,000 for property damage (25/50/25). Crashes resulting in injury, death, or total property damage of $1,500 or more must be reported to the Tennessee DOS within 20 days.