How to Get a Tennessee Driver’s License: Tests, Fees, and Requirements

To get a Tennessee driver’s license, visit a full-service Driver Services Center with proof of identity, Social Security, and two proofs of Tennessee residency, then pass a vision screening, a 30-question knowledge test, and a road skills test. A full Class D license costs $28 and is valid for eight years. Your exact path depends on your age and history: teens start at 15 through a graduated program, adults 18 and older apply directly, and new residents with a valid out-of-state license can skip the written and road tests.

Documents You Need to Bring

Every document must be an original or certified copy. Photocopies are not accepted, and all documents are verified with the issuing agency, which can occasionally slow things down.¹

You need one document from each of the first two categories and two from the third:

Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal presence: a certified U.S. birth certificate, valid unexpired U.S. passport, Permanent Resident Card (I-551), or another qualifying immigration document.
Proof of your Social Security number: your Social Security card or a W-2 from the last 12 months.
Two proofs of Tennessee residency dated within the last four months: utility bills (electric, water, gas, cable, or landline phone), an unexpired auto or health insurance policy, a mortgage contract, or a signed rental lease. A rental lease counts as only one proof and must be paired with a landlord letter dated within 30 days.

Tennessee licenses are REAL ID compliant by default, which lets you use the card for domestic flights and federal facilities after enforcement began May 7, 2025.² You can request a standard non-REAL ID credential instead, but it will be marked “NOT FOR REAL ID ACT PURPOSES” and won’t work at airport security.¹

Applicants under 18 have two additional requirements: a parent or legal guardian must appear in person to sign an affidavit and financial responsibility form, and the teen needs proof of school attendance from a current Tennessee school (or a signed letter from an out-of-state school dated within 30 days).³

The Three Tests

Vision Screening

Everyone takes the screening at the center. Tennessee requires at least 20/40 visual acuity in each eye separately and both eyes together, with or without corrective lenses.⁴ Bring your glasses or contacts if you wear them. If you fail, you’ll get a form to take to an eye doctor and can return once you have a completed evaluation.

Knowledge Test

The written test has 30 questions on Tennessee traffic laws, road signs, and safe driving practices. You need 80 percent — 24 out of 30 — to pass, and the test is offered in English and Spanish.⁵

The Tennessee Driver Handbook, free on the Department of Safety and Homeland Security website, is the main study resource, and practice tests are available through the department’s e-Services portal. The road-sign and right-of-way questions are more specific than general driving experience will cover, so spend real time with the handbook.

Teens aged 15 to 17 can take the knowledge test online, proctored by a parent or guardian through the Tennessee Proctor ID App. Adults must test in person at a Driver Services Center.⁵

Road Skills Test

You bring your own vehicle. It needs current registration and insurance, working mirrors, headlights, brake lights, and turn signals. Anyone holding a learner permit who shows up for the road test must be accompanied by a licensed driver at least 21 years old; without that person, you won’t be allowed to test.⁶

The examiner evaluates turning, lane changes, stopping, yielding, and parking. Test routes near a given center tend to repeat, so practicing in that area helps. Schedule an appointment rather than walking in — road test slots fill up and walk-ins may be turned away.

If You’re 18 or Older and New to Driving

Adult first-timers skip the graduated program. You first need a learner permit, which costs $5.50 and is valid for one year.⁷ While holding the permit, you can drive only when accompanied by a licensed driver at least 21 years old.⁶ Once you pass the road skills test, you receive a full Class D license for $28, valid for eight years.

If You’re Under 18: The Graduated Program

Tennessee uses a three-stage graduated driver license (GDL) system for anyone under 18. Curfew and passenger restrictions are enforced, and violations can result in citations.

Stage 1: Learner Permit at 15

After passing the vision screening and written knowledge test, with a parent’s written approval, a 15-year-old can get a learner permit for $10.50, valid for one year.⁷ The teen may drive only when a licensed driver aged 21 or older is in the front passenger seat, and not between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. All occupants must wear seat belts.⁸

Stage 2: Intermediate Restricted License at 16

At 16, a teen can move to the intermediate restricted license by meeting all of the following:

Held the learner permit for at least 180 days
Accumulated no more than five points on the state’s driver improvement scale during those 180 days
Completed at least 50 hours of behind-the-wheel practice, including 10 hours at night, certified by a parent or licensed instructor
Passed the road skills test

The card is a Class D license printed with “INTERMEDIATE.” The nighttime curfew is 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., with exceptions for driving with a parent or designated licensed driver aged 21 or older, or to and from work or a school-sponsored event with written parental permission. Passenger restrictions also apply. The license costs $24.50.⁸⁷

Stage 3: Unrestricted License

One year after receiving the intermediate license, a driver can apply for an unrestricted license, which lifts the curfew and passenger restrictions. For most teens that happens at 17. The “INTERMEDIATE” label stays on the card until the driver turns 18 or graduates from high school; at that point, a $2 duplicate fee gets you a standard Class D card. A teen who graduates from high school before turning 18 can skip directly to an unrestricted license if the other licensing requirements are met.⁸

If You’re Moving to Tennessee With a License

New residents have 30 days to convert to a Tennessee license. Bring the same identity, Social Security, and residency documents described above, plus your current out-of-state license, which you must surrender at application. Tennessee does not allow residents to hold more than one valid license; a foreign country license is the only kind you may keep.⁹

If your out-of-state license is valid and current, only the vision screening is required. If your license has been expired more than six months, or you’re transferring from another country, you’ll take all three tests.⁹

Scheduling and Pre-Approval

Through the department’s e-Services portal, you can complete your application and upload your documents before your visit. Allow up to five business days for pre-approval. You still need to bring the original documents to the center; the online step just confirms your paperwork is right.⁹

Appointments are available at select Driver Services Centers for general transactions and knowledge tests. Road skills test appointments can be booked online for most applicants; people under 16 or from out of state must call to schedule. Walk-ins are accepted everywhere, but expect longer waits.¹⁰

The in-center sequence is document verification, vision screening, knowledge test, then the road skills test (same day or by appointment). Once you pass, staff take your photo and hand you a temporary license. The permanent card arrives by mail.

What You’ll Pay

All fees include the application fee. Driver Services Centers operated by County Clerk partners charge an additional $4 administrative fee.⁷

Class D license, 8 years: $28
Learner permit, under 18, 1 year: $10.50
Learner permit, 18 and older, 1 year: $5.50
Intermediate restricted license, under 18, 5 years: $24.50
Intermediate unrestricted upgrade: $2
First duplicate or replacement: $8
Second or subsequent duplicate: $12

Motorcycles and Commercial Vehicles Are Separate

A standard Class D license doesn’t cover motorcycles over 50cc or commercial vehicles. To ride a motorcycle, you need a Class M endorsement, which requires a motorcycle-specific knowledge test, pre-trip inspection, and road skills test; completing a Tennessee Motorcycle Rider Education Program course waives both the motorcycle knowledge and road skills tests.¹¹

1
TN.gov. REAL ID
2
Transportation Security Administration. TSA Publishes Final Rule on REAL ID Enforcement Beginning May 7, 2025
3
TN.gov. Teen/Graduated Driver License
4
Cornell Law School. Tennessee Comp R Regs 1340-01-13-.10 – Vision Standards
5
TN.gov. Driver License Knowledge Permit Test Online
6
TN.gov. Adult First-Time Drivers
7
TN.gov. Driver License Fees
8
Justia. Tennessee Code 55-50-311 – Learner Permit – Intermediate License – Fees – Restrictions – Penalties – Application – Parental Notification
9
TN.gov. Regular Driver License – Section: New Residents
10
TN.gov Safety Support. How Do I Make, View, or Cancel an Appointment at a Driver Service Center
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TN.gov. Motorcycle LicenseRequired Documents to Apply for a CDL