Suspended license in Tennessee: points, other causes, and how to reinstate
In Tennessee, the first points threshold is 6 points within 1 year: Drivers under 18: notice of proposed suspension, mandatory hearing with a parent or guardian, possible 3- to 6-month suspension and a Defensive Driving Course within 90 days. A Defensive Driving Course (8-hour Driver Improvement referral) and the 4-hour Driver Education Course (Remove Speeding Po removes or prevents points, defensive driving class in lieu of suspension: once every five years for credit; 4-hour speeding-point course: one speeding conviction in a four-year period. The fee to reinstate after a suspension that is not alcohol-related is $65.
A DUI is only one of the ways a license gets suspended. Points from ordinary tickets, an unpaid ticket, a lapse in insurance, unpaid child support or a missed court date each carry their own suspension and their own path back. The rules below are the ones the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security states, each quoted from its page or from the statute.
How the points system works
Most states assign points to moving violations and suspend the license when the total inside a set window crosses a threshold. The threshold, the window and how long each violation keeps counting are all set by the state.
The Department of Safety and Homeland Security's Driver Improvement program monitors adult and juvenile driver records based on point values assigned to accidents and convictions for moving traffic violations. Drivers who accumulate twelve or more points within any 12-month period are sent a notice of proposed suspension and may request an administrative hearing; without a hearing request, driving privileges are suspended for six to twelve months.
| Points | Within | Consequence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 points | 1 year | Drivers under 18: notice of proposed suspension, mandatory hearing with a parent or guardian, possible 3- to 6-month suspension and a Defensive Driving Course within 90 days | tn.gov |
| 10 points | 1 year | Drivers under 18: driving privileges suspended for 6 months | tn.gov |
| 12 points | 1 year | Adults: notice of proposed suspension with an opportunity for an administrative hearing; six- to twelve-month suspension if no hearing is requested, or a defensive driving class in lieu of or reducing | tn.gov |
Points period stated by the agency: 1 year. Points count toward a proposed suspension when twelve or more fall within any twelve-month period; each time a crash or violation is posted, the Department's system scans back twenty-four months from the posted date to make that determination. An advisory letter is sent at six to eleven points within a year (only one such letter in five years). The Motor Vehicle Record shows the past 3 or 10 years of driving history.
“Drivers less than eighteen (18) years of age who accumulate six (6) or more points on their driving record within any twelve (12) month period are sent a notice of proposed suspension from the Department of Safety and Homeland Security and are placed in the Driver Improvement Program.”
“the computer shall scan back for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the posted date to determine whether the driver has accumulated twelve (12) or more points within a twelve (12) month period to warrant a proposed suspension notice.”
| Violation | Points |
|---|---|
| Speeding 1 through 5 mph in excess of speed zone | 1 |
| Speeding 6 through 15 mph in excess of speed zone | 3 |
| Speeding 16 through 25 mph in excess of speed zone | 4 |
| Speeding 46 mph and above in excess of speed zone | 8 |
| Reckless Driving | 6 |
| Careless or negligent driving | 4 |
Check points or the driving record: tn.gov
The statute: Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. ch. 1340-01-04 (Tennessee Driver Improvement Program), with suspension under Tenn. Code Ann. § 55
“When a driver has accumulated twelve (12) or more points within a one (1) year period, the Department shall issue a notice of proposed suspension stating the grounds for such suspension and that the driver shall be required to appear at an administrative hearing to contest the proposed suspension.”
Traffic school and point reduction
| Course | Defensive Driving Course (8-hour Driver Improvement referral) and the 4-hour Driver Education Course (Remove Speeding Po |
|---|---|
| Effect | Removes or prevents points |
| How often | defensive driving class in lieu of suspension: once every five years for credit; 4-hour speeding-point course: one speeding conviction in a four-year period |
Two Department programs affect points. A driver who requests a hearing on a proposed 12-point suspension is in most cases offered an 8-hour defensive driving class in lieu of suspension or to reduce it; it must be completed within 90 days of the suspension letter and can be credited only once every five years. Separately, a driver may remove up to five points for one speeding conviction by completing an approved 4-hour Driver Education Course within 90 days of the conviction, once in a four-year period; only the points are removed and the conviction remains. Course providers submit completion certificates to the Department within 30 days.
“You may be eligible to remove up to five (5) points for a speeding conviction from your driving record by taking an approved Driver Education Course. The 4-hour course must be completed within ninety (90) days from the date of your speeding conviction.”
Other reasons a license is suspended, and what ends each one
These are the causes the licensing agency itself lists on its suspension pages, with what it requires to lift each one. Court-imposed suspensions and DUI suspensions are covered on the state's DUI pages.
| Cause | What the agency states | To reinstate | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent Traffic Violations (Points Accumulation) - Driver Improvement | Twelve or more points within any 12-month period leads to a notice of proposed suspension; the Department's law index lists the suspension under T.C.A. § 55-50-505 as not mandatory, 6 to 12 months, with a restricted license available. | Defensive Driving Course certificate, SR-22 insurance form prepared after the date of the notice, surrender of the Tennessee driver license, and reinstatement fees. | $65 |
| Failure to Maintain Vehicle Insurance (Financial Responsibility) | A driver convicted of Failure to Show Proof of Financial Responsibility may be suspended if they do not show proof of liability insurance in effect on the date of the violation; this suspension is separate from an earlier citation suspension and carries an additional fee. | Proof of liability insurance, surrender of the Tennessee driver license, and the reinstatement fee. | $65 |
| Failure to Comply with Financial Responsibility and Failure to File an Owner/Operator Report | Drivers and owners involved in and contributing to a Tennessee crash causing $400 or more in damages can be revoked if they have not complied with the Financial Responsibility Law by filing the owner/operator report or if the report shows no insurance; revocation lasts until requirements are submitted. | A conditional or general release from the claimant, or an affidavit of non-suit after one year, SR-22 insurance, surrender of the license, and reinstatement fees. | — |
| Failure to Maintain SR-22 Insurance | Drivers required to carry SR-22 insurance may be suspended if the insurer reports a cancellation (SR-26) before the requirement is completed; T.C.A. § 55-12-126, not mandatory, until requirements are submitted, no restricted license. | SR-22 insurance form prepared after the date of the notice, surrender of the license, $65 reinstatement fee and $50 SR-22 fee. | $65 |
| Failure to Appear | On notice of a Failure to Appear, the Department sends the driver a notice giving 30 days to submit proof that it has been satisfied in order to avoid suspension; no restricted license is available. | Submit proof that the Failure to Appear has been satisfied, surrender the Tennessee driver license, and pay the reinstatement fee. | $35 or $65 |
| Failure to Satisfy a Traffic Citation | Drivers reported by a court for failing to satisfy a traffic citation are suspended until proof of satisfaction is submitted; a restricted license is available, and a separate entry covers default on a court payment plan for citations. | Submit proof that the citation has been satisfied, surrender the Tennessee driver license, and pay the reinstatement fee. | $35 or $65 |
| Failure to Satisfy Fines/Costs/Taxes on Criminal Offense | Drivers revoked prior to July 1, 2019 for failing to satisfy fines, costs or taxes on a criminal offense remain revoked until the offense is satisfied or placed on a court payment plan; for those revocations the reinstatement fee is waived while the offense is on a payment plan. | Submit proof that the criminal offense has been satisfied or is on a payment plan with the court, surrender the Tennessee driver license, and pay the reinstatement fee unless waived. | $65 |
| Revocation/Suspension/Cancellation in Another State | Drivers whose privileges are withdrawn in another state are suspended under T.C.A. § 55-50-902 until requirements are submitted; no restricted license. | Clearance letter from the other state showing cleared in the Problem Driver Pointer System, surrender of the Tennessee driver license, and the $75 failure-to-surrender fee if applicable. | — |
Source quotes for each cause
Frequent Traffic Violations (Points Accumulation) - Driver Improvement
“55-50-505 Mandatory suspension? No Suspension Length: 6 to 12 months Restricted license available? Yes Reinstatement requirements: Defensive Driving Course Certificate SR-22 Insurance form prepared after the date of the notice Surrender Tennessee Driver License Reinstatement fees : $65”
Failure to Maintain Vehicle Insurance (Financial Responsibility)
“A driver who is convicted for Failure to Show Proof of Financial Responsibility may have their driving privileges suspended if they do not show proof of liability insurance in effect on the date of the violation.”
Failure to Comply with Financial Responsibility and Failure to File an Owner/Operator Report
“Drivers and owners of vehicles who were involved in and contributed to a crash in Tennessee and caused damages in the amount of $400 or more can have their driving privileges revoked if they have not complied with the Financial Responsibility Law”
Failure to Maintain SR-22 Insurance
“Drivers who are required to carry and maintain SR-22 insurance may have their driving privileges suspended if their insurance company reports a cancellation (SR-26) prior to completing the requirement.”
Failure to Appear
“Upon notice of Failure to Appear, the Department of Safety and Homeland Security sends a notice to the driver giving 30 days to submit proof that the Failure to Appear has been satisfied in order to avoid suspension.”
Failure to Satisfy a Traffic Citation
“Restricted license available? Yes Reinstatement requirements: Submit proof that the citation has been satisfied Surrender Tennessee Driver License Reinstatement fees : $35 or 65 Reinstatement fee, $75 Failure to Surrender License Fee (if applicable)”
Failure to Satisfy Fines/Costs/Taxes on Criminal Offense
“For revocations effective prior to July 1, 2019, the reinstatement fee(s) will be waived if the criminal offenses are on a payment plan with the court(s).”
Revocation/Suspension/Cancellation in Another State
“55-50-902 Mandatory suspension? No Suspension Length: Until reinstatement requirements are submitted Restricted license available? No Reinstatement requirements: Clearance Letter from the other state and show cleared in Problem Driver Pointer System”
Reinstating after a non-DUI suspension
Reinstatement fee: $65. The Department's Financial Responsibility Laws index lists a $65 reinstatement fee for most non-DUI suspensions (points, insurance, SR-22 lapse, criminal fines), $35 or $65 for failure to appear or failure to satisfy a citation, a $50 SR-22 fee where an SR-22 is required, and a $75 Failure to Surrender License fee if applicable; each suspension carries its own fee.
“Drivers convicted of multiple violations will have separate suspensions, revocations, reinstatement requirements, and reinstatement fees for each violation.”
Step 1: Get the Tennessee reinstatement requirements
The requirements list for the specific suspension or revocation is obtained online; a driver never licensed in Tennessee uses the driver license number created in the notification letter.
“Step 1: Get your Tennessee Reinstatement Requirements here.”
Step 2: Get cleared with the court or the Department of Human Services
Clearance from the local court where the conviction was received, or from the Department of Human Services where applicable.
“Step 2: Get cleared with the Department of Human Services or the local court where the conviction was received.”
Step 3: Clear all state requirements
All state requirements on the reinstatement requirements list must be completed before reinstatement; fees can be paid and documents submitted online.
“Step 3: Get cleared with all State requirements listed on your reinstatement requirements these steps must be completed before reinstatement.”
Step 4: Reinstate online or at a Driver Service Center
After clearing all requirements (and, for a revocation, waiting out the revocation period) the license may be reinstated online or in person at a Driver Service Center.
“Suspended License: After clearing all requirements you may be eligible to reinstate your license online here or you would need to visit in person at a Driver Service Center locations.”
Official page: tn.gov
After a DUI the steps are different: how to get a license back after a DUI in Tennessee.
Driving during a non-DUI suspension
Available · Restricted License (Driver Improvement Program) for a Frequent Traffic Violations (Points Accumulation) suspension. The Department's restricted license page states that for a frequent traffic violations (points accumulation) suspension the restricted license must be applied for through the Driver Improvement Program; the application form is obtained from the hearing officer on the hearing date or downloaded, and is valid for frequent traffic (points) suspensions only. The law index marks a restricted license as available for the § 55-50-505 points suspension and for failure to satisfy a citation, but not for failure to appear or SR-22 lapses.
“For frequent traffic violations (Points Accumulation) suspension you MUST apply for the restricted license with the Driver Improvement Program.”
For the privilege after a DUI, see driving after a DUI in Tennessee.
Questions about a suspended license in Tennessee
- How many points lead to a Tennessee suspension?
- The Department of Safety and Homeland Security states that drivers who accumulate twelve or more points within any 12-month period are sent a notice of proposed suspension and may request an administrative hearing; without a request, driving privileges are suspended for six to twelve months. Under-18 drivers enter the Driver Improvement Program at six points.
- Can a course avoid or shorten a Tennessee points suspension?
- The Department states that in most cases a driver who requests a hearing is offered a defensive driving class in lieu of suspension or a reduction of suspension time, to be completed within 90 days of the suspension letter and credited only once every five years. Separately, an approved 4-hour Driver Education Course can remove up to five points for one speeding conviction once in four years.
- How is the 12-month period counted?
- Under Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. ch. 1340-01-04, each time a crash or violation is posted the Department's system scans back twenty-four months from the posted date to determine whether twelve or more points fall within a twelve-month period. An advisory letter is mailed at six to eleven points within a year, once in five years.
- What does reinstatement after a Tennessee points suspension require?
- The Department's Financial Responsibility Laws index lists, for the § 55-50-505 suspension, a Defensive Driving Course certificate, an SR-22 insurance form prepared after the notice date, surrender of the Tennessee driver license, a $65 reinstatement fee and a $50 SR-22 fee, with a restricted license available through the Driver Improvement Program.
- What other non-DUI suspensions does the Department list?
- The Financial Responsibility Laws index describes suspensions for failure to maintain vehicle insurance, failure to file an owner/operator report after a crash with $400 or more in damages, failure to maintain SR-22 insurance, failure to appear, failure to satisfy a traffic citation, unpaid criminal fines, and withdrawals in another state, each with its own requirements and fees.
Sources
- TDOSHS - Driver Improvement (Points Accumulation)
- TDOSHS - Schedule of Points Values
- TDOSHS - Driver Improvement (Adult and Juvenile Points Systems; restricted application)
- TDOSHS - How to remove points: 4-hour traffic school (Remove Speeding Points)
- Rules of the Tennessee Department of Safety, Chapter 1340-01-04 - Tennessee Driver Improvement Program (PDF hosted on tn.gov)
- TDOSHS - Financial Responsibility Laws (all suspension and revocation types, requirements and fees)
- TDOSHS - Reinstatements (Steps to Clear a Revocation or Suspension)
- TDOSHS - Restricted License Information
- TDOSHS - Driving Record (MVR)
Cite this page
Every state page quotes the statute or agency page each value comes from; when citing this page, include the verification date shown above.
WheelsBack. "Tennessee license suspension, points and reinstatement rules." Verified against primary sources August 29, 2026; sources re-checked September 4, 2026. https://wheelsback.com/tennessee/suspended-license/