Getting your Tennessee learner permit

By the end of this topic you can

• You can list the documents a Tennessee teen needs for a permit.
• You can explain what form SF-1010 is and how long it stays valid.
• You can describe the vision standard and what happens if you do not meet it.
• You can state the supervision and night-time rules for permit holders.

What you need to know and understand

• You must be at least 15 to apply for a Tennessee learner permit.
• Proof of identity, Social Security number and US citizenship or lawful status are required.
• Under 18, you need school attendance proof (usually form SF-1010) or a diploma or GED.
• A parent or guardian signs the Minor/Teenage Affidavit in person or has it notarized.
• The vision standard is 20/40; a vision statement from an eye doctor is needed if you fall short.
• Permit holders drive only with a licensed driver aged 21 or older in the front seat, and not from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Your document checklist

During the school year, SF-1010 is valid for 30 days from its date, so get it close to your appointment. Report cards and transcripts are not accepted instead. Homeschooled students use a letter from the local director of schools and form SF-1193.

• Proof of identity and your Social Security number.
• Proof of US citizenship or lawful presence.
• Form SF-1010, the Certification of Compulsory School Attendance, signed by a school official, or your diploma or GED.
• The Minor/Teenage Affidavit, signed by a parent or guardian.
• Glasses or contact lenses if you need them to see clearly.
• The permit fee. The July 2022 manual listed $10.50 for an under-18 permit; check the current fee before you go.

The vision screening

You need at least 20/40 vision in each eye. If either eye is worse, you are given a vision statement for an optometrist or ophthalmologist to complete. If new glasses or contacts will bring you up to the standard, wait until you have them before you go back.

A person with good vision in one eye and none in the other can still be licensed, with a restriction requiring outside mirrors on both sides of the vehicle.

Where to apply and what happens next

1. Pass the knowledge test, either online at home (ages 15 to 17, with a parent or guardian as proctor) or at a Driver Services Center.
2. Visit a Driver Services Center with your documents. Appointments help avoid long waits.
3. Pass the vision screening, pay the fee and receive your permit.
4. Start your 180-day holding period and begin logging practice hours.

Common mistakes

• Bringing an SF-1010 that is more than 30 days old during the school year. Ask the school for a fresh one.
• Forgetting that a parent must sign the affidavit in person or get it notarized.
• Practicing with a friend under 21. The supervising driver must be licensed and at least 21.
• Assuming passing the online test is the end. You still visit a center for the vision check and the permit itself.

Test yourself: Getting your Tennessee learner permit

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Tennessee Permit Test
• How to Get a Driver’s License in Tennessee
• Tennessee Permit Practice Test