Photo: Daniel Lobo, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
For new Tennessee drivers and parents who want to know what a phone ticket or a speeding ticket does to a license. Under the Hands Free Tennessee law (T.C.A. 55-8-199), it is illegal to hold a cell phone or mobile device with any part of your body while driving. A violation can add points to your record. Drivers under 18 also may not talk on a phone at all while driving, even hands-free.
Key facts
- All drivers: no holding a phone or mobile device while driving.
- Under 18: no talking on a mobile phone while the vehicle is moving, hands-free or not.
- Adult suspension line: 12 or more points within any 12-month period.
- Under-18 line: 6 points.
- Speeding points relief: an approved 4-hour traffic school within 90 days of a speeding conviction removes that offense’s points, up to 5 points.
What the Hands Free Tennessee law bans
The core rule: while driving, you may not hold a cell phone or mobile device with any part of your body. The statute, T.C.A. 55-8-199, sets out what else is banned, what is allowed with a mounted device, and the exceptions. Read it if you rely on your phone for navigation.
The same statute sets the fines, which are higher for repeat offenses. Check the current amounts in the statute or with the Tennessee Department of Safety; they are not listed here. The Tennessee Highway Safety Office runs “Operation Hands Free” enforcement campaigns.
The safe habit for new drivers: set your route before you set off, then put the phone out of reach on Do Not Disturb.
How Tennessee compares with other states: hands-free and texting laws by state.
How Tennessee driver points work
Each moving violation carries a point value set by the Department of Safety. Some examples from the Schedule of Points Values:
| Violation | Points |
|---|---|
| Speeding 1 to 5 mph over the posted limit | 1 |
| Speeding 6 to 15 mph over the posted limit | 3 |
| Reckless driving | 6 |
| Using a cell phone while driving (under 18) | 6 |
| Failing to yield right of way | 4 |
| Failing to yield to, or move over for, emergency vehicles | 6 |
| Passing a stopped school, church or youth bus | 8 |
| Failing to stop at a railroad crossing | 8 |
| Contributing to a crash with property damage / injury / death | 3 / 4 / 8 |
Check the current schedule before relying on a value. Ask the Department of Safety for the point value of a hands-free violation on a regular license.
Each time a violation or crash is posted to your record, the Department’s system looks back 24 months to check whether you reached 12 points within any 12-month period.
What happens at each points level
| Driver | Points | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | Under 6 | Warning letter |
| Under 18 | 6 to 9 | Administrative hearing with a parent or guardian; possible suspension of 3 to 6 months |
| 18 and over | 12 or more in 12 months | Notice of proposed suspension and the chance of a hearing; without a hearing request, suspension of 6 to 12 months |
Drivers who request a hearing may be offered a defensive driving class instead of suspension or to shorten it. For Tennessee teens, points also decide whether you can move up a license stage. See Intermediate Restricted license rules.
Removing speeding points in Tennessee
- Get convicted of (or pay) the speeding ticket.
- Complete a Department-approved 4-hour traffic school within 90 days of the conviction.
- The points for that speeding conviction come off, up to a maximum of 5 points.
This works for one speeding offense per course and only once in a set number of years. Official pages differ on the period (4 or 5 years), so check with Driver Services first.
Suspended? Reinstatement basics
- Reinstating a suspended Tennessee license means meeting every requirement and paying reinstatement fees. Requirements and fee payment are online through Driver Services e-Services.
- For a court-reported failure to appear, you have 30 days to clear it with the court before suspension, after which the reinstatement fee is $65 (as of November 2026).
- Some offenses, including two reckless driving violations in 12 months and accumulation of points, can require SR-22 proof of insurance for the length of the suspension.
National background: how US points systems work. Full Tennessee route: learning to drive in Tennessee.
Common questions
Can I use my phone for GPS while driving in Tennessee?
The law bans holding the phone. What you may do with a mounted phone is set out in T.C.A. 55-8-199. The simplest rule is to set the route before you drive and not touch the phone again.
Can a 17-year-old talk on Bluetooth while driving in Tennessee?
No. Drivers under 18 may not talk on a mobile phone while driving, even hands-free.
How many points before your license is suspended in Tennessee?
12 points within 12 months for adults. For drivers under 18, 6 points leads to a hearing and possible suspension.
How long do points stay on your record in Tennessee?
The suspension check looks back 24 months from each new violation. Ask Driver Services how long a conviction stays on your full record.
Does traffic school remove a hands-free ticket?
The 4-hour course point removal covers speeding convictions. For other violations, ask the court or Driver Services.
Can an at-fault crash be removed from my record?
The Department must record all reportable crashes. If the report is wrong, contact the police department whose officer attended. Once a revised report is entered, the Department can correct your record.
Sources
- Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, “Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual” (information as of July 1, 2022) (tn.gov)
- Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, “Temporary restricted license-paper copy” (safetysupport.tn.gov)
- Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, “Do I need SR-22 Insurance?” (safetysupport.tn.gov)
- Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, “E-Services Online Links” (safetysupport.tn.gov)
- Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, “Can an accident be removed from my record since I wasn’t at fault?” (safetysupport.tn.gov)