In Tennessee, most 17-year-olds hold a Level 2 Intermediate Restricted License, and the driving restrictions on 17-year-olds in TN come with that license: no driving between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., no more than one passenger, no phone use of any kind behind the wheel, and a 0.02% blood alcohol limit. Breaking any of them can delay the move to an unrestricted license by 90 days or more.
The 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Curfew
A 17-year-old with an Intermediate Restricted License cannot drive between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. unless a narrow exception applies.1Justia. Tennessee Code 55-50-311 – Learner Permit – Intermediate License – Fees – Restrictions – Penalties – Application – Parental Notification The list of exceptions is short:
- A parent or legal guardian is riding in the car.
- A licensed driver age 21 or older, designated by the parent or guardian, is riding along.
- The teen is driving to or from work and carries written permission from a parent or guardian naming the employer.
- The teen is driving to or from a specific school-sponsored event and carries a parent’s written note identifying the event.
- Between 4:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. only, the teen holds a valid hunting or fishing license and is driving to or from that activity.
Notice what is missing. There is no exception for medical situations, no exception for social outings, and no exception for general errands. If a 17-year-old is stopped during curfew hours, the officer will ask for the written documentation that fits one of the listed reasons. For teens who regularly work evening shifts or attend late school events, keeping a signed, specific parent letter in the glove box is the practical safeguard.1Justia. Tennessee Code 55-50-311 – Learner Permit – Intermediate License – Fees – Restrictions – Penalties – Application – Parental Notification
The One-Passenger Rule
An Intermediate Restricted License allows only one passenger in the vehicle.2Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Types of Issued Licenses Two exceptions:
- At least one passenger is 21 or older and holds a valid unrestricted license. Additional passengers are then allowed.
- The passengers are siblings, stepsiblings, or adopted or foster children from the same household, the trip is to or from school, and the teen carries a parent’s letter authorizing those specific passengers.
Outside those two situations, the cap is strict. It applies on highways, on back roads, and in parking lots. Picking up two friends after practice or carpooling to a weekend event is a violation even when the driving is uneventful.1Justia. Tennessee Code 55-50-311 – Learner Permit – Intermediate License – Fees – Restrictions – Penalties – Application – Parental Notification
No Phone Use at All
Tennessee’s hands-free law is stricter for drivers under 18. Adults 18 or older can use an earpiece, a wrist-worn device, or a single button to start and end a call, and they can use GPS on a mounted phone. A 17-year-old gets none of those exceptions.3Justia. Tennessee Code 55-8-199 – Prohibited Uses of Wireless Telecommunications Devices or Stand-Alone Electronic Devices
In practice, a 17-year-old cannot make or take voice calls through any method while driving, cannot dictate or read text messages, and cannot use the phone’s GPS for navigation. The only thing the law allows any driver to do is a single swipe or tap on a device already mounted on the windshield, dashboard, or center console, and only if it does not activate camera, video, or gaming features. That narrow allowance does not cover voice calls or GPS for under-18 drivers.
The penalties escalate fast. A first offense brings a fine of up to $50. A second or subsequent offense by someone under 18 adds seven points to the driving record, which by itself passes the six-point threshold that delays advancement to an unrestricted license.3Justia. Tennessee Code 55-8-199 – Prohibited Uses of Wireless Telecommunications Devices or Stand-Alone Electronic Devices A single repeat cell phone violation can set a teen back months.
Zero Tolerance for Alcohol and Drugs
Tennessee sets the legal blood alcohol concentration limit at 0.02% for any driver under 21, a trace amount that could show up from certain medications or mouthwash. Driving under the influence of marijuana, a controlled substance, or any combination that impairs safe driving is also prohibited.4Justia. Tennessee Code 55-10-415 – Underage Driving While Impaired – Penalties
For a 17-year-old, underage driving while impaired is handled as a delinquent act rather than a criminal misdemeanor, but the practical penalties are the same as for an 18-to-20-year-old: a one-year license suspension, a $250 fine, and public service work at the court’s discretion.4Justia. Tennessee Code 55-10-415 – Underage Driving While Impaired – Penalties
Refusing a chemical test is not itself a criminal offense, but it revokes the license on its own timeline: one year for a first refusal, two years with a prior conviction, and up to five years if the refusal follows a crash that killed someone. That revocation runs separately from any penalty for the underlying impaired-driving charge, so a teen who refuses a test and is later found guilty of underage DWI faces both suspensions.5Justia. Tennessee Code 55-10-407 – Penalty for Violations of Section 55-10-406
Tennessee’s Drug Free Youth Act reaches further than most impaired-driving laws. If a minor age 13 to 17 faces any drug-related charge, including possession, sale, or use of a controlled substance, a court may suspend their driving privileges even when the offense had nothing to do with driving. A first offense can bring suspension for up to one year or until the minor turns 17, whichever is longer. A second offense can bring up to two years or until age 18.
Seat Belts
Every driver and passenger must wear a seat belt, and for a 17-year-old the second citation carries a specific consequence: it triggers the same 90-day delay in advancing to an unrestricted license that applies to hitting six points or causing an at-fault accident. The fine is $30 per violation, and the driver is responsible for making sure every passenger is buckled.1Justia. Tennessee Code 55-50-311 – Learner Permit – Intermediate License – Fees – Restrictions – Penalties – Application – Parental Notification
What Breaking the Rules Costs
Three things independently add 90 days to the restricted phase:
- Accumulating six or more points on the driving record.
- Contributing to an accident.
- Receiving a second seat belt violation.
The delays stack. A teen who caused an at-fault accident and also hit six points would sit in the restricted phase an extra 180 days.1Justia. Tennessee Code 55-50-311 – Learner Permit – Intermediate License – Fees – Restrictions – Penalties – Application – Parental Notification
Points from traffic convictions stay on the record for two years, and it does not take much to reach six. A ticket for going 16 mph over the speed limit is four points on its own. A following-too-closely citation is three more. Two ordinary tickets can be enough to trigger the delay.1Justia. Tennessee Code 55-50-311 – Learner Permit – Intermediate License – Fees – Restrictions – Penalties – Application – Parental Notification
The most severe consequence applies when an intermediate license holder contributes to an accident that results in a death. The license is revoked entirely, and the driver is issued a learner permit that must be held until age 18, at which point they may apply for an unrestricted license.1Justia. Tennessee Code 55-50-311 – Learner Permit – Intermediate License – Fees – Restrictions – Penalties – Application – Parental Notification
Moving to the Unrestricted License
To advance from the Intermediate Restricted License to the Intermediate Unrestricted License, a 17-year-old must:6Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Teen/Graduated Driver License
- Hold the restricted license for at least one year.
- Have fewer than six points on the driving record during that year.
- Have no at-fault accidents.
- Have fewer than two seat belt violations.
- Get a parent or guardian signature on the Teenage Affidavit form consenting to advancement.
No new road test or written exam is required. Once approved, the curfew and passenger limits are lifted.2Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Types of Issued Licenses
All intermediate restrictions end at age 18 regardless of GDL stage. A driver who turns 18 can apply for a full unrestricted license even without completing a full year on the intermediate restricted license, as long as they have held a permit or intermediate license for at least 12 months total.6Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Teen/Graduated Driver License
School Enrollment Can Affect the License
Tennessee ties driving privileges to school enrollment for anyone under 18 who has not graduated. When applying, a teen must present a Certificate of Compulsory School Attendance form completed by their school, valid for 30 days. A teen who has already graduated or earned a GED presents that credential instead.7Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Minor/Teenage Affidavit and Proof of School Attendance
Excessive absences carry real weight. If a student age 15 or older withdraws, defined as 10 consecutive unexcused absences or 15 total unexcused absences in a semester, the school notifies the Department of Safety on form SF-1010.8Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Certification of Compulsory School Attendance After a first withdrawal, driving privileges can be restored by returning to school. After a second withdrawal, privileges are suspended until the student turns 18.7Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Minor/Teenage Affidavit and Proof of School Attendance