The Tennessee Motorcycle Handbook is the free study guide the Department of Safety and Homeland Security publishes for anyone pursuing a Class M license or motorcycle endorsement. You can download it as a PDF from the department’s Driver Services page or pick up a printed copy at any Driver Services Center; the content is identical.1Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security. Motorcycle License2Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Tennessee Motorcycle Operator Manual The written knowledge test at your Driver Services Center comes directly from this book, so working through it cover to cover is the most efficient prep you can do.
Who Can Get a Motorcycle License in Tennessee
Tennessee issues a motorcycle learner permit (Class PDPM) to riders as young as 15. The permit is restricted: engine displacement capped at 650cc, no passengers, no interstate highways, daylight riding only, and a 20-mile radius from home. You must be at least 16 for a full Class M license.
If you already hold a Class D driver license, you don’t need a separate motorcycle license. You add the endorsement by passing the required tests, and your license becomes a combined Class DM.
Documents and Fees for Class M
Tennessee’s application statute requires proof of age and identity, a Social Security number on the application, and documentation of U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residence for initial issuance or reinstatement.3Justia. Tennessee Code 55-50-321 – Applications
You also need two documents proving Tennessee residency at your current physical address. Utility bills, bank statements, mortgage documents, or a rental lease with a landlord letter all qualify. Each document must be dated within the last four months, and your two proofs cannot come from the same source, so a water bill and a gas bill from the same utility count as one. Bring originals or certified copies.4Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Proof of Tennessee Residency
Federal REAL ID enforcement began May 7, 2025. If you want your motorcycle license to serve as a REAL ID, tell the examiner when you apply; you may need additional documents such as proof of legal name changes.5Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID
A standalone Class M license costs $29 for eight years. A combined Class DM license runs $55 for eight years. Both totals include a $3 application fee, and county clerks add a $4 administrative fee on top of the state total.6Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security. Driver License Fees
The Knowledge Test
The written test is multiple-choice with 25 questions, and you need 20 correct to pass. Every question is drawn from the handbook. The core topics are:
- Location and function of the clutch, throttle, front brake, rear brake, and gear shifter.
- Lane positioning within your lane, using the left-center-right system the manual teaches.
- Defensive riding, hazard scanning, and following distance, built around the SEE strategy (Search, Evaluate, Execute).
- Impaired riding. Tennessee prohibits operating a motorcycle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher.
- Group riding formation, communication signals, and intersection handling.
If you fail, you can retake the test, though the examiner may set a waiting period before your next attempt.
The On-Cycle Skills Test
After you pass the written exam, you ride your own motorcycle for an on-cycle skills test at the Driver Services Center. The examiner starts with a pre-trip inspection to confirm the bike is roadworthy: working headlamp, tail light, brake light, turn signals, horn, mirrors, and acceptable tires.
The riding portion follows the MSF evaluation format used in Tennessee’s approved rider education courses. Standard exercises include a cone weave, a normal stop from moderate speed, a U-turn within a confined space, a quick stop for emergency braking, and an obstacle swerve.7Motorcycle Safety Foundation. Basic RiderCourse Errors like putting a foot down during the U-turn, knocking over a cone, or braking poorly cost points. Bring a bike you’re genuinely comfortable on; test day is not the moment to learn an unfamiliar machine.
Skipping Both Tests With a Rider Course
Tennessee waives both the knowledge and on-cycle tests if you complete an approved motorcycle safety course, such as the MSF Basic RiderCourse. You bring the completion certificate and your identification documents to the Driver Services Center, and the endorsement gets added to your license.7Motorcycle Safety Foundation. Basic RiderCourse Motorcycles and helmets are usually provided; you show up with over-the-ankle boots, full-finger gloves, long pants, and a long-sleeve jacket or shirt. Many insurers offer premium discounts for course completion, though the amount varies by carrier.
Helmet Law
Tennessee requires every rider and every passenger to wear a helmet, regardless of age. The law splits by age on which standards a helmet must meet. Riders under 21 must wear a helmet meeting the full federal DOT standard, FMVSS No. 218. Riders 21 and older may also wear helmets certified by ASTM, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Southern Impact Research Center, or the Snell Foundation.8Justia. Tennessee Code 55-9-302 – Crash Helmet Required for Driver and Passenger – Exceptions
A DOT-compliant helmet has a label on the back with the manufacturer or brand, model designation, and the words “DOT FMVSS No. 218 CERTIFIED.” It should be at least one inch thick with a stiff inner foam liner and sturdy riveted chin straps. Thin novelty helmets with flimsy plastic buckles do not meet any recognized standard.9National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Choose the Right Motorcycle Helmet
Eye Protection, Mirrors, and Footrests
Every motorcycle on a Tennessee road must have a windshield, or the rider and any passenger must wear safety goggles, a face shield, or glasses with impact-resistant lenses. A built-in helmet face shield satisfies the requirement; ordinary sunglasses do not.10Justia. Tennessee Code 55-9-304 – Windshields – Safety Goggles, Face Shields or Glasses
The motorcycle itself must have a rearview mirror and securely attached footrests for the operator and any passenger. Missing either one is a citable equipment violation.11Justia. Tennessee Code 55-9-305 – Rearview Mirrors and Footrests
Carrying Passengers
You can carry a passenger only if the motorcycle has a permanent seat designed for two, or a separate seat firmly attached at the rear or side. The passenger must sit astride, facing forward, one leg on each side. You cannot carry packages that prevent you from keeping both hands on the handlebars, and no passenger may ride in a position that interferes with your control or view.12Justia. Tennessee Code 55-8-164 – Riding on Motorcycles
For a child passenger, the child’s feet must reach the footpegs. A child too small for the pegs cannot legally ride as a passenger on the motorcycle. The only exception is a sidecar.12Justia. Tennessee Code 55-8-164 – Riding on Motorcycles
Insurance Minimums
Tennessee requires liability insurance on every vehicle with a motorcycle plate. The state minimums are the same as for passenger cars:13Tennessee Department of Revenue. Financial Responsibility Law
- $25,000 bodily injury per person
- $50,000 total bodily injury per accident
- $25,000 property damage per accident
Riding without proof of insurance can result in fines and license suspension.
T-CLOCS Pre-Ride Inspection
The handbook builds its pre-ride inspection around the MSF’s T-CLOCS checklist, six areas to check before every ride:2Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Tennessee Motorcycle Operator Manual
- T, Tires and Wheels: inflation, tread, sidewalls, and both brake levers firm when applied.
- C, Controls: clutch and throttle operate smoothly, throttle snaps back when released, horn works.
- L, Lights and Electrics: headlight high and low beam, tail light, brake light, turn signals, mirrors clean and adjusted.
- O, Oil and Other Fluids: engine oil and transmission fluid levels, brake hydraulic fluid and coolant weekly, fuel valve open if equipped, look underneath for leaks.
- C, Chassis: front suspension free of binding, rear shocks smooth, chain or belt tension and sprockets to manufacturer specs.
- S, Stands: side stand retracts fully and spring holds it against the frame; same for the center stand if equipped.
The manual includes a tear-out T-CLOCS reference sheet you can keep in your jacket or tank bag.14Motorcycle Safety Foundation. T-CLOCS Pre-Ride Inspection Checklist
Lane Splitting Is Not Legal in Tennessee
Tennessee does not allow lane splitting or lane filtering. A bill was introduced that would have permitted motorcycles to ride between rows of stopped or slow-moving vehicles on limited-access highways when traffic dropped to 25 mph or below, but it has not become law.15Tennessee General Assembly. HB1454 – Bill Information Riding between lanes of traffic is a moving violation. The handbook does not address the practice at all.