How to Get a Tennessee Driver’s License as an Adult (18+)

Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Tennessee keeps the route simple for adults. If you are 18 or older, the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security says you must pass the knowledge test, but you do not have to get a learner permit or wait any set time before the road test. There is no driver education requirement and no 50-hour certificate for adults. This guide covers the steps, when a permit is still worth having, and how the road test and retests work at a Driver Services Center.

Key facts

• Tests: vision screening, Class D knowledge test and road skills test.
• Learner permit at 18+: not required, and no waiting period (Department help center).
• Driver education: not required in Tennessee at any age.
• 50-hour certificate and school attendance form: teen requirements only.
• Vision standard: 20/40. If either eye tests worse, you need a vision statement from an optometrist or ophthalmologist.
• Retest: never the same day. The wait depends on how many errors you made.

How do you get a Tennessee license as an adult? Five steps

1. Apply online first. Fill in the Regular Driver License application in the Department’s e-Services and upload documents for pre-approval, which can take up to 5 business days. You still bring the originals or certified copies to the center.
2. Gather your documents: proof of identity, Social Security number, U.S. citizenship or lawful status, and Tennessee residence. Use the US documents checklist to prepare, and decide whether you want a REAL ID.
3. Pass the vision screening and knowledge test at a Driver Services Center. Appointments are available for knowledge tests at some centers. Prep: Tennessee knowledge test guide and Tennessee permit practice test.
4. Practice legally. See the next section.
5. Pass the road skills test and get your Class D license. No Intermediate stages apply to adults.

Should an adult still get a Tennessee learner permit?

You are not required to, but think about how you will practice. You can only drive on public roads with a license or a permit. If you have never driven, a learner permit gives you a legal way to build skills with a licensed driver beside you before you test.

If you hold a learner permit when you go for your road test, the Department says you must be accompanied to the center by a licensed driver aged 21 or older. Without one, you will not be allowed to take the test.

Booking the Tennessee road test

• Schedule through the Department’s online ticketing system (choose the regular driver license road test). If you are from out of state, you cannot book online; use the help request form instead.
• Arrive 15 minutes before your appointment. If you are late it may be cancelled and you will be treated as a walk-in.
• Cancel or reschedule in the same system under My Appointments.
• An expired permit blocks online booking, so renew it first.

The road test checks normal driving and maneuvers set out in the Tennessee driver license manual. Prepare with the Tennessee road skills test explained, the road test day checklist and road test car rules.

What happens if you fail the Tennessee road test?

The examiner tells you your errors, how to correct them and what to practice. You cannot retest on the same day. The Department sets a mandatory practice time before your next attempt, based on your total score (number of errors), and applies the same guideline to every later retest. Ask the examiner when you can return.

After you pass: rules for new adult drivers

• Phones: Tennessee’s hands-free law covers every driver. See Tennessee hands-free law and driver points.
• Points: moving violations add points. Adults face a proposed suspension at 12 points within 12 months.
• Traffic school: an approved 4-hour course completed within 90 days of a speeding conviction can remove up to 5 points for that offense.
• Alcohol: under 21, zero-tolerance rules apply. See zero tolerance laws for drivers under 21.

Common questions

Do I need driver’s ed to get a license in Tennessee at 18?

No. Tennessee does not require driver education at any age. Lessons are optional but help if you have never driven.

Can I skip the permit in Tennessee if I’m over 18?

Yes. The Department says applicants over 18 must take the knowledge test but do not have to get a permit or wait a set time. You still need a legal way to practice.

Do I need the 50-hour certificate as an adult?

No. The certificate and the school attendance form are for applicants under 18.

Can I take the knowledge test online at home?

The online test is offered to teens aged 15 to 17 with a parent or guardian as proctor. Adults test at a Driver Services Center.

How much does it cost?

Tennessee sets a fee for each license class. Check the current figure on the Department’s Driver License Fees page before you go. Comparison: license costs by state.

I failed the vision screening. What now?

Get a vision statement from an optometrist or ophthalmologist and bring it to the center.

Back to learning to drive in Tennessee. Other states: learning to drive as an adult in the US.

Sources

• Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, “Adult First-Time Drivers” (tn.gov)
• Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, “How do I obtain a Learners Permit” (safetysupport.tn.gov)
• Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, “How do I make, view, or cancel an appointment at a Driver Service Center?” (safetysupport.tn.gov)
• Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, “Failed Road Test” (safetysupport.tn.gov)
• Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, “What if I cannot pass the vision screening?” (safetysupport.tn.gov)
• Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, “Temporary restricted license-paper copy” (safetysupport.tn.gov)
• Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Office of Research and Education Accountability, “Driver Education in Tennessee” (comptroller.tn.gov)