Getting your driver’s license is typically one of the most pivotal events in many people’s lives since it opens up a whole new way of getting around not only your hometown and state but the whole country and beyond!
So, how does one go about learning to drive and ultimately obtaining their driver’s license for Class D vehicles in the Volunteer State? Find out about the requirements for getting a learner’s permit and driver’s license as a first-time driver in Tennessee!
How Learner’s Permits and Driver’s Licenses Work in TN
Learner permits are also called Class PD (for “Permit” and “Class D vehicles”) licenses in certain state literature.
Tennessee has a Graduated Driver License (GDL) Program, which means there are 3 stages of licensure available to teen first-time drivers to help prepare them for safe driving. The “fourth” stage is the normal, unrestricted driver’s license.
🚗 Stage I - For 15-Year-Olds
At age 15, you are eligible to apply for your PD aka Learner Permit. You must be enrolled in school and pass a vision screening and a driving knowledge exam, aka the Tennessee permit test.
What Can I Do With My Tennessee Learner Permit?
With a learner’s permit, you can drive only while accompanied by a fully licensed driver who is age 21 or over and they must be sitting in the front passenger seat. You and every passenger in the car must wear their safety belts.
Additionally, you cannot drive between 10 P.M. and 6 A.M.
🚗 Stage II - For 16-Year-Olds
Once you’ve held your Learner Permit for at least 180 days (without getting any tickets that add up to more than 6 points) and turned 16, you can apply for your Stage II license, called the Intermediate Restricted License. You must have at least 50 hours of supervised driving experience, at least 10 hours of which must be nighttime driving, and pass a road skills test.
What Can I Do With My Intermediate Restricted License?
With this license, you may only drive with one passenger in the car, unless at least one of your passengers is a fully licensed person over age 21.
The exception is if your passengers are siblings, including step-siblings and adopted and fostered children in the same home as you and you have a letter from your parent or guardian authorizing you to drive them around. You may only transport them to and from school.
Additionally, you may not drive between 11 P.M. and 6 A.M. except for qualifying circumstances such as
- When accompanied by a parent, guardian, or fully licensed driver over the age of 21
- When driving to or from work or school
- When driving to or from hunting or fishing (4 A.M. to 6 A.M. only) and you have a valid hunting/fishing license with you
In all cases, you must also have in your possession a letter from your parent or guardian explicitly stating you have their permission for the specific circumstance.
🚗 Stage III - For 17-Year-Olds
Once you turn 17, you can convert your Stage II license into a Stage III license, called the Intermediate Unrestricted License. You are eligible for this conversion only once you’ve had your Stage II license for at least one year without having more than 6 points on your license, without having more than one safety belt violation, and without having an at-fault traffic accident.
What Can I Do With My Intermediate Unrestricted License?
This license is granted to those who have shown they are responsible and capable enough to earn it, so once you get it, you can drive like a fully licensed driver.
🚗 Stage IV - For 18-Year-Olds and Older
This is the Regular Driver’s License. When you turn 18 or graduate high school (whichever comes first), your Stage III license automatically becomes a Regular license; you do not need to go get a new one at the Tennessee DMV (aka Driver Services Center) until it naturally expires. When you renew your license, if you are older than 21, the “Under 21” indicator will be removed, as will the printed “Intermediate” designation.
If you are a first-time driver who is already older than 18, you can skip Stages I through III and immediately get your full, unrestricted license, provided you have the right documents and can pass the knowledge exam and road skills test. You can also opt to get an Adult Learner’s Permit by passing the Knowledge Test only and taking the Driving Test at a later time.
How to Get Your Tennessee Driver’s Permit and License
Now you know the flow of how getting your license in Tennessee works, but what are the details? What documents are needed, what are the tests like, and where do you need to go to get all of this done?
Preparing for Your Learner’s Permit Test
Before you go forward and take the Knowledge Test required for your permit, it’s a good idea to study the material. You can read the TN Driver License Manual and even take a Tennessee practice permit test or two to get familiar with the layout and types of questions.
Getting Your Learner Permit
To apply for your permit, you must bring the following with you to a TN DMV (Driver Services Center):
- A parent or guardian to sign forms with you
- Proof of attendance at a high school
- Proof of identity and citizenship
- Proof of Tennessee residence
- Your Social Security Number
You can either take the Driver License Knowlege Test (aka the Tennessee Driver’s Permit Test) at the Driver Services Center or take the Tennessee permit test online as long as you are between 15 and 17 years old and have a parent or guardian who can supervise while utilizing the Tennessee Proctor ID App on their phone.
The TN permit test online consists of 30 questions relating to traffic signs and signals, safe driving principles, rules of the road, and drugs and alcohol. You must finish the test within 60 minutes and score at least 80% (24 correct questions) to pass.
If you fail, you must wait at least one day before trying again, and you can only take the test at home via the Tennessee DMV online method twice.
You must also pass a vision screening.
Preparing for Your Driver’s License Test
Whether you’re applying for the Stage II license (Intermediate Restricted License) as a 16-year-old who has had their learner permit for more than 6 months or as an 18+-year-old applying directly for the Regular Driver License, it’s a good idea to prepare for getting your license.
Note that if you are applying for the license without having had your permit first, you will need to take the Knowledge Test at this time as well as pass a vision screening in addition to the Road Test.
If you are attempting to graduate from a Stage I license, you are required to complete at least 50 hours of supervised driving with a parent, guardian, other licensed driver over the age of 21, and/or driver’s education instructor. At least 10 of the hours must be at night.
The cost of driving school varies between locations and how many hours you spend driving. However, most driving schools for teens that offer in-person classes and behind-the-wheel driving costs about $650 to $900. Online-only classes can be less than $50.
If you are applying for your full license directly, you do not need to have completed any driving instruction, however, it can be a good idea to take some practical classes in advance! Simply pass your Knowledge Test to get an Adult Learner’s Permit and take some driving courses before you attempt your Road Test.
Either way, having time spent driving in practice and real-life situations is a good idea so you can handle your road test at the Tennessee DMV with confidence and ease.
Getting Your Driver’s License
Schedule your Road Test with the DMV Memphis TN, DMV Nashville TN, or wherever you’re located, Driver Services Center. You will need to bring all the same documents you need for a learner’s permit (except the proof of being enrolled in school) along with proof of lawful residency in the US, your 50-Hour Certification Form, and/or your driver’s education certificate if you have one.
You may be able to present a certificate of completion from an approved driving education class and skip taking the road skills test; check with your driver’s ed instructor!
You will also need to provide your own vehicle to drive during the test, so make sure your car or truck is in good working order and meets all the road-worthy requirements before you arrive.
Lastly, you need to be accompanied by a fully licensed driver who is over the age of 21, regardless of your age.
You will drive with the road test administrator and prove your ability to drive with competence.
Typically, you must be at least 15 years old to take a driver's education course. You can take the course without your permit but you may not take the behind-the-wheel lessons until after you get your learner's permit. You may take driver's ed when you're 14 if you are approved for a Hardship License.
Is Driver’s Ed Required in Tennessee?
In general, driver education is not required in order to obtain your learner permit or driver's license. However, if you hold an Intermediate Restricted License (Stage II license) and you get a second moving violation, you will need to complete an approved driver education course before you can get your Intermediate Unrestricted License (Stage III license).
Furthermore, a Defensive Driving School, court-appointed Traffic School, or approved Driver Education Course may be required (or at least a good idea for reducing points on your license) as part of Tennessee’s Driver Improvement Initiative if you get too many moving traffic violations.
Check with the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS) for where to find approved Defensive Driving schools and more.
Driver Education Options in Tennessee
When you’re learning to drive, there are a few avenues to find expert knowledge, training, and instruction. Most driving courses for teens and adults in Tennessee are at least 30 hours of classroom instruction with at least 4 hours of behind-the-wheel street driving lessons. Some courses also offer Simulated Driving Lessons in addition to real-life driving lessons.
A Defensive Driving Course TN is typically only 4 or 8 hours long and can be completed in one day.
How to Get Your License in a Nutshell
High School Courses
If you’re in high school, there’s a good chance your school offers driver’s ed either as an elective or as an after-school or summer course. This is a great option for learning about the rules and technical aspects of driving in the classroom including taking a Tennessee permit practice test, and preparing to take the real Tennessee driver’s permit test.
Tennessee Driving School
Typically conducted over the course of 4 days plus 4 to 8 hours of self-scheduled driving lessons afterward, these classes tend to be either 36 or 40 hours long (which include 4 or 8 hours of driving).
Most driver education schools offer classes for teens and adults.
You’ll be able to learn with behind-the-wheel (and/or simulated) driving practice, perhaps even going through a Tennessee DMV practice test with your instructor. These driving education courses also often offer a Tennessee driver's license test-equivalent exam, allowing you to skip having to take another road test at a Driver Services Center as long as you have your certificate.
You can find a driving school Nashville or wherever you are easily online.
Practice Driving with Your Parents
Many people opt for the old-fashioned way of learning to drive with their parents. This can be done either on its own or in tandem with driving classes.
Either way, you will need 50 hours of supervised driving in order to go from a learner’s permit to an intermediate license, so learning with your parents, guardian, or a trusted 21+ licensed individual is necessary.
Learner’s Permit Tutoring and Driving Tutoring
Get help studying for the permit test Tennessee with help from a knowledgeable tutor. Through a driving school or with a service like Superprof, you can find someone to help you review the required information and who can administer a TN permit practice test.
These qualified instructors can also serve as the person who is fully licensed and over 21 years old to help you meet the 50-hour requirement for your license. They can help you get ready with a DMV practice test TN so you can pass your road skills test with flying colors.
You can also use help from a tutor to brush up on your skills or get a handful of practice hours as an adult driver preparing for your license.
Getting a driver’s license (and keeping your driver’s license) is an important part of being an independent Tennesseean, so make sure you study and practice well, and follow all the rules of the road as you continue to drive safely!
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