Photo: Nicholas Soares, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
For Tennessee 16-year-olds who have just passed the road test, and the parents who set the house rules. The Intermediate Restricted license lets you drive alone, but with one passenger and no driving between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. You keep it for at least a year before moving up to the Intermediate Unrestricted license at 17.
Tennessee Intermediate Restricted license: the rules in one table
| Rule | Learner permit (15+) | Intermediate Restricted (16+) | Intermediate Unrestricted (17+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supervision | Licensed driver 21 or older in the front seat | None needed | None needed |
| Night limit | No driving 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. | No driving 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. | None |
| Passengers | Supervised driving only | One passenger, with exceptions | No limit |
| Phone (under 18) | No talking on a phone, even hands-free | No talking on a phone, even hands-free | No talking on a phone, even hands-free |
| Points (under 18) | 6 points triggers a hearing | 6 points triggers a hearing | 6 points triggers a hearing |
Who can get an Intermediate Restricted license in Tennessee?
- You are at least 16.
- You have held a learner permit for 180 days.
- A parent, legal guardian or driving instructor has certified 50 hours of driving, including 10 at night. See the 50 hour certificate guide.
- You have fewer than 6 points on your record in the 180 days before you apply. With 6 or more, you keep the permit until you have 180 days in a row under 6 points.
- You pass the road skills test.
How many passengers can a 16-year-old carry in Tennessee?
One. The Tennessee manual (July 2022 edition) gives two exceptions:
- more passengers are allowed if at least one passenger is 21 or older with a valid unrestricted license, or
- brothers and sisters (including step, adopted and foster siblings) who live in your house can ride to and from school, if you carry a letter from your parent allowing it.
Tennessee teen curfew: 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
On an Intermediate Restricted license you may not drive between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. This is one hour later than the learner permit limit, which is 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. The manual allows driving in that window only if:
- a parent or guardian is with you, or a licensed driver 21 or older whom your parent has named in writing (carry the note);
- you are driving to or from a named school activity, with written parent permission;
- you are driving to or from work, with written parent permission naming the workplace; or
- you are driving to or from hunting or fishing between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. with a valid license for it.
A forged or fake permission letter means losing the Intermediate Restricted license and going back to a learner permit until 18.
Phones: stricter for Tennessee drivers under 18
All Tennessee drivers are banned from holding a phone while driving. Drivers under 18 face a stricter rule: no talking on a mobile phone at all while the vehicle is moving, even with a hands-free device. The safe habit is to put the phone on Do Not Disturb before you set off. More: Tennessee hands free law and driver points.
Points: the 6-point line for Tennessee teens
- Under 6 points: a warning letter.
- 6 points or more: an administrative hearing, which a parent or guardian must attend, and a possible suspension.
- Moving up at 17: 6 or more points, contributing to a crash, or a second seat belt violation each add 90 days to your year. A second moving violation means you must finish an approved driver education course first. Contributing to a fatal crash means a learner permit only until 18.
As examples, speeding 1 to 5 mph over the limit is 1 point and 6 to 15 mph over is 3 points. Two moderate speeding tickets reach the teen threshold. Confirm current point values on the Department of Safety’s Schedule of Points Values.
Moving up to the Intermediate Unrestricted license
- Turn 17.
- Hold the Intermediate Restricted license for one year.
- Keep your record clean: fewer than 6 points, no at-fault crash and no second seat belt violation, or wait an extra 90 days.
- Upgrade online through Driver Services e-Services or at a center. No extra test is needed.
The Intermediate Unrestricted license has no time or passenger limits, but it still says “Intermediate” on the front. At 18, or earlier if you graduate high school or get a GED, you can move to a regular Class D license. Full route: learning to drive in Tennessee. How Tennessee compares: GDL laws by state.
Common questions
What time do 16-year-olds have to be off the road in Tennessee?
11 p.m., until 6 a.m., on an Intermediate Restricted license. On a learner permit it is 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Can I drive my friends to school on an Intermediate Restricted license?
Only one passenger, unless an exception applies, such as a passenger aged 21 or older with a valid unrestricted license riding with you.
Can I use Bluetooth calls at 16 in Tennessee?
No. Drivers under 18 may not talk on a phone while driving, even hands-free.
Does a seat belt ticket affect my license?
Yes. A second seat belt violation blocks the move to the Intermediate Unrestricted license.
Does the Intermediate Restricted license end automatically at 17?
No. You become eligible at 17 after one year on the license, then you upgrade online or at a center.
What happens if I get 6 points as a Tennessee teen?
You will be called to an administrative hearing with a parent or guardian, and your license can be suspended.
Sources
- Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, “Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual” (information as of July 1, 2022) (tn.gov)
- Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Office of Research and Education Accountability, “Driver Education in Tennessee” (comptroller.tn.gov)
- Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Office of Research and Education Accountability, “Tennessee’s Graduated Driver Licensing Law” (comptroller.tn.gov)
- Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, “E-Services Online Links” (safetysupport.tn.gov)