An intermediate license in Tennessee is the middle stage of the state’s graduated driver licensing system for teens. It becomes available at age 16 after a driver has held a learner’s permit for at least 180 days, and it lets you drive on your own with limits on late-night driving and passengers until you qualify for an unrestricted license.
Who Qualifies
You must be at least 16 and have held a Tennessee learner’s permit for a minimum of 180 days. During that time, your record cannot show more than six points, or your progression to the next stage can be delayed.1TN Dept of Safety. Tennessee Driver’s License Information – Section: Intermediate Restricted License
Because you’re under 18, you also have to show you’re in school or have graduated. That’s done with a Certificate of Compulsory School Attendance from your school, valid for 30 days after it’s issued.2TN Dept of Safety. Proof of School Attendance A student who is considered withdrawn, meaning 10 consecutive or 15 total unexcused absences in a semester, can have driving privileges denied or suspended.3Justia. Tennessee Code § 49-6-3017
You’ll also need proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency, using one of the documents the state accepts for identity and residency.4TN Dept of Safety. Identification and Citizenship Requirements
The 50 Hours Behind the Wheel
Before you can move up from the learner’s permit, you have to log at least 50 hours of supervised driving. Ten of those hours must be at night.1TN Dept of Safety. Tennessee Driver’s License Information – Section: Intermediate Restricted License
A parent, legal guardian, or licensed driving instructor has to verify the hours. While driving on a permit, you have to be with a licensed driver who is at least 21. Submitting false or forged verification can cost you your license until you turn 18.5Justia. Tennessee Code § 55-50-311
Taking the Road Test
The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security administers the road skills test. You can schedule an appointment online, and some locations accept walk-ins.6TN Dept of Safety. How do I schedule a road test? You’ll usually need to bring your own vehicle in safe working order. Serious traffic violations or failing to follow the examiner’s instructions will fail the test.
What You Can’t Do With an Intermediate License
Two restrictions define this stage: a nighttime curfew and a passenger cap.
You generally can’t drive between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. The exceptions are:
- You’re accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or a licensed driver age 21 or older
- You’re driving to or from a job or a school-sponsored activity with written permission
- You’re traveling for specific early-morning hunting or fishing trips with a valid license
You also can’t carry more than one passenger unless a licensed driver age 21 or older is in the front seat. Siblings and step-siblings don’t count against the limit if you have a letter from a parent or guardian allowing travel to or from school.5Justia. Tennessee Code § 55-50-311
Penalties for Breaking the Rules
Violating an intermediate license restriction carries a $10 fine. If a driver under 18 accumulates six or more points in a 12-month period, the state can require a Driver Improvement Program and an administrative hearing.5Justia. Tennessee Code § 55-50-3117TN Dept of Safety. Driver Improvement and Point Accumulation
Underage driving while impaired is treated far more seriously: a one-year license suspension and a $250 fine.8Justia. Tennessee Code § 55-10-415 Getting a suspended juvenile license back means meeting the department’s requirements, which can include reinstatement fees and proof of liability insurance.9TN Dept of Safety. Juvenile Driver Improvement
Moving to an Unrestricted License
You can apply for an unrestricted license one year after receiving the intermediate license, as long as you meet the legal requirements. The intermediate restrictions stay in force until that application is approved. They also end automatically when you turn 18.5Justia. Tennessee Code § 55-50-311