Free Tennessee DMV Practice Test (2026)

Tennessee · Checked October 2026

Practice for the Tennessee permit test with a learning path built around the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division rules: a Tennessee-only module on the state's own laws and teen-license limits, core rules-of-the-road lessons, instant explanations and a timed exam simulation.

Start learning About the Tennessee test

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Tennessee permit test at a glance

Questions30

To pass24 correct (80%)

Min. permit age15

AgencyTDOSHS

Teens 15 to 17 can take the knowledge test online with a parent or guardian as proctor through the Tennessee Proctor ID app: 30 questions, 60 minutes, 80% to pass, in English or Spanish; if you fail you wait 24 hours, and you get at most two online attempts. At Driver Services Centers the computerized test is also offered in Spanish, Korean and Japanese; there is a mandatory 1-day wait after a failure and a $2 fee for each failed test.

Tip: Start with module 1, “Tennessee laws & permit rules”. These 12 questions cover rules that are specific to Tennessee, the part of the test that general study guides usually miss.

Tennessee traffic laws you will be tested on

Topic	Tennessee rule	Source
Hands-free law	Since 2019, drivers may not hold a phone with any part of their body, write, send or read texts, reach for a phone so they leave the seated position or seat belt, or watch or record video. Hand-held phone use is also an offense in marked school zones while the warning flashers are on.	tn.gov
Under-21 alcohol limit	A driver 16 to 20 with a BAC of 0.02% or more is guilty of underage driving while impaired: loss of license for 1 year, a $250 fine and sometimes community service.	tn.gov
DUI and implied consent	A BAC of 0.08% or more is the legal level of intoxication, but you can be convicted of DUI below it. By driving you consent to a test; if you are arrested and refuse, the court will likely suspend your license for 12 months.	tn.gov
Seat belts (primary law)	Officers can stop you just for a seat belt or child restraint violation. Everyone in the front seat must buckle up, and back-seat passengers must too if they are under 17 or if the driver has a learner permit or intermediate license.	tn.gov
Child passenger seats	Under 1 year or under 20 pounds: rear-facing car seat. Ages 1 to 3 and over 20 pounds: forward-facing car seat. Ages 4 to 8 and under 4 feet 9 inches: booster seat with a seat belt, in the back seat if possible.	tn.gov
Move-over law	On interstates and multilane highways, move out of the lane next to a stopped emergency, maintenance or recovery vehicle, whether it is on the right or left shoulder. If changing lanes is unsafe, slow down and proceed with caution.	tn.gov
Speed limits	Unless posted, the limit is 55 mph on state and federal highways. Interstates go up to 70 mph (often 55 in cities), with a 45 mph minimum, and you may not drive under 55 mph in the far-left lane unless traffic prevents it. Speeding in a school zone counts as reckless driving and adds 6 points.	tn.gov
Headlights	Use headlights from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise, any time you cannot see people or vehicles clearly 200 feet ahead, and whenever rain, mist or snow requires constant use of your wipers.	tn.gov

Tennessee learner permit and teen license rules

Learner permit (Class PD) at 15: drive only with a licensed driver 21 or older in the front seat, never between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.; you and all passengers must wear seat belts.
Hold the learner permit at least 180 days and log 50 hours of driving, including 10 at night, certified by a parent, guardian or driving instructor.
Intermediate Restricted License at 16 after passing the road test, with fewer than 6 points in the 180 days before you apply.
Intermediate Restricted: no driving from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. unless with a parent, guardian or a licensed driver 21+ they designated in writing; only one passenger unless a licensed adult 21+ is along or you are taking siblings to or from school with a parent's letter.
Intermediate Unrestricted at 17 after 1 year on the restricted license; 6 or more points, an at-fault crash or a second seat belt violation adds 90 days.
Regular Class D license at 18, or when you graduate from high school or get a GED, whichever comes first.

How to get your Tennessee learner's permit

Study the Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual and the free online practice questions.
Complete the Regular Driver License application in e-Services and upload your documents for pre-approval (allow up to five business days).
Gather originals: one proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence, your Social Security number and two proofs of Tennessee residency; if under 18, proof of school attendance (Certification of Compulsory School Attendance) and a parent or guardian to sign the Minor/Teenage Affidavit and show proof of insurance.
Take the knowledge test online with a parent proctor (ages 15 to 17) or at a Driver Services Center; appointments are optional but save time.
At the center, pass the vision screening (20/40 in each eye and both eyes together), present your documents and pay the learner permit fee ($10.50 if under 18).
Practice for at least 180 days and 50 hours, then schedule the road skills test and arrive with a licensed driver 21 or older.

Sample Tennessee-specific questions

Here are four of the 12 questions in our Tennessee module. Each one is based on the official Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual or Tennessee law; open the answer to see the rule behind it.

1. On Tennessee's online knowledge test (30 questions), what score do you need to pass?

70% (21 correct)
75% (23 correct)
85% (26 correct)
80% (24 correct)

Show answer

Correct answer: 80% (24 correct). The online test has 30 questions and a 60-minute limit, and you need at least 80% to pass. Source: tn.gov

2. With a Tennessee learner permit, during which hours are you not allowed to drive?

Midnight to 5 a.m.
10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Show answer

Correct answer: 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.. Learner permit holders may not drive between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., even with a supervising driver. Source: tn.gov

3. Who must ride with a Tennessee learner permit holder?

A licensed driver 21 or older in the front seat
Any licensed driver 18 or older
A parent in any seat
A driving instructor only

Show answer

Correct answer: A licensed driver 21 or older in the front seat. A learner permit only allows driving with a licensed driver who is at least 21 and riding in the front seat. Source: tn.gov

4. How much behind-the-wheel experience must be certified before a Tennessee teen gets an Intermediate Restricted License?

30 hours, including 5 at night
40 hours, including 10 at night
50 hours, including 10 at night
60 hours, including 15 at night

Show answer

Correct answer: 50 hours, including 10 at night. A parent, guardian or driving instructor must certify 50 hours of driving, including 10 hours at night, on the official form. Source: tn.gov

How this practice test works

Learn the Tennessee rules first: module 1 covers the state's permit test, teen-license limits and traffic laws.
Work through the core modules: signs, signals, right-of-way, speed, lanes, special situations, impairment and sharing the road.
Practice 5 questions at a time: every answer shows an explanation, and missed questions come back until you get them right.
Take the timed Tennessee exam simulation and review every mistake before your appointment.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take the permit test at home?

Yes, if you are 15 to 17. A parent or legal guardian registers as proctor with the Tennessee Proctor ID app, and you test on a computer or tablet (not a phone). You get two online attempts, 24 hours apart, and the state can still ask you to retest at a center.

Can I take the knowledge test in Spanish?

Yes. The online test is in English and Spanish, and Driver Services Centers with computerized testing also offer Spanish, Korean and Japanese. You may use a translation dictionary with no notes, but interpreters and electronic devices are not allowed.

When are the Intermediate Restricted rules lifted?

At 17, after holding the Intermediate Restricted License for one year, you can get the Intermediate Unrestricted License with no new tests. Six or more points, an at-fault crash or a second seat belt violation delays it 90 days, and a second moving violation means you must complete a driver education class first.

What happens if I fail the knowledge test at a center?

You cannot retake it the same day; there is a mandatory 1-day wait, and you pay the $2 application fee each time you fail. Cheating means automatic failure and a 30-day wait.

Are these the real DMV test questions?

No. The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division does not publish its exam. Our Tennessee module is written from the official handbook and state law, and the core modules cover the rules of the road taught in every state handbook.

Is this practice test free?

Yes. Every lesson, practice round and exam simulation is free, with no sign-up.

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Official Tennessee sources

Every Tennessee fact and question on this page was checked in October 2026 against the official handbook, the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division website or Tennessee law. When an official source did not publish a detail (for example, the number of test questions), we say so instead of guessing. Rules change, so confirm with the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division before your test. PracticePermit.us is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with any government agency. How we write and check our questions.

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