Tennessee Intermediate Unrestricted License at 17 and Class D at 18
When can you get the Tennessee intermediate unrestricted license?
You can apply for the Tennessee intermediate unrestricted license (Level 3) when you are 17 and have held the intermediate restricted license for 1 year. You also need no at-fault crash, no 2nd seat belt violation and fewer than 6 points. No extra test is required. The state fee is $2 as of 2026. At 18 you can apply for a Class D license without the word Intermediate.
Where the Tennessee Level 3 rules come from
The rules come from the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS) Teen/Graduated Driver License page, its driver license fee page and the Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (text of 2022). TDOSHS also publishes a license types page, the 50-hour certification form and its schedule of points (Rule 1340-01-04). This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (tn.gov/safety) before you drive.
What you need for the Level 3 intermediate unrestricted license
- Be 17 years old. Level 3 is the third step of the Graduated Driver License (GDL), after the learner permit and the intermediate restricted license.
- Hold the intermediate restricted license (Level 2) for 1 year.
- Have no traffic crash that was your fault.
- Have no 2nd seat belt violation.
- Keep fewer than 6 points on your driving record. Two TDOSHS web pages say "more than 6 points", but the 50-hour form and the Driver Manual say 6 or more, so fewer than 6 is the safe target.
Is there a test for the unrestricted license?
No. TDOSHS says "No additional tests are required" for the intermediate unrestricted license. The state fee is $2 (U.S. dollars) as of 2026. If you use a County Clerk Partner, it adds a $4 administrative fee. To check the timing rule with a short example, try our free question on the Level 3 step.
What if something happens during your restricted year?
Level 2 and Level 3 side by side
| Rule | Level 2: intermediate restricted | Level 3: intermediate unrestricted |
|---|---|---|
| Passengers | Only one passenger in the car | No passenger limit |
| Night driving | Not between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. | No night limit |
| Wording on the license | Class D, with Intermediate Driver License in the yellow header bar | Class D, with Intermediate Driver License in the yellow header bar |
| Cell phone | Not allowed while driving | Not allowed while driving |
Which limits end at Level 3, and which stay?
The one-passenger limit and the 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. rule end when you get Level 3. You get no restriction card. The word "Intermediate" stays on the license, and the driver and passengers must still wear a safety belt. The Driver Manual bars any driver with a learner permit or intermediate license from using a cell phone while driving, so Level 3 drivers follow that rule too. The question on the teen phone call rule shows how it works. The Level 2 restricted license rules explain what you can do before this step.
What happens at 18: the Class D license
At 18 you can get a Class D regular license. You can get it sooner if you graduate from high school or get a GED before 18. The word "Intermediate" is removed from the new license, but the "Under 21" indicators stay.
Do you need to change your license at 18?
Key takeaways
- The intermediate unrestricted license (Level 3) needs age 17 and 1 year on the intermediate restricted license.
- No at-fault crash, no 2nd seat belt violation and fewer than 6 points. A problem can add 90 days to the wait.
- No additional test is required. The state fee is $2, plus $4 if you use a County Clerk Partner.
- At 18, or after high school graduation or a GED, you can apply for the Class D license without the word Intermediate. TDOSHS lists $10 for this step.
- Next step: practice the traffic laws and signs on the free Tennessee Class D practice test.
Tennessee Level 3 license: common questions
Can I get the unrestricted license before I turn 17?
No. You must be 17 and have held the intermediate restricted license for 1 year. If you got the restricted license on your 16th birthday, both rules are met on your 17th birthday. If you got it later, you wait for the full year, even after you turn 17.
Does one speeding ticket delay my unrestricted license?
It depends on the points. The TDOSHS schedule of points gives 3 points for 6 to 15 mph over the limit and 6 points for 36 to 45 mph over. 6 or more points on the restricted license adds 90 days to your wait. A 2nd moving violation also means a driver education class first. The teen driver penalties guide covers the other ticket rules.
How long do I wait after a 2nd seat belt violation?
90 more days. The Driver Manual and the TDOSHS 50-hour form say a second seat belt violation adds a 90-day wait to the 1-year restricted period. So, at the earliest, you can apply 1 year and 90 days after you got the restricted license, if you are 17. Ask TDOSHS about your own record.
Is the unrestricted license the same as a regular Class D license?
No. Both are Class D, but the Level 3 license still shows the words Intermediate Driver License in its yellow header bar. Level 3 lifts the passenger and night limits, but the cell phone ban for intermediate license holders still applies. The regular Class D license removes the word Intermediate and keeps the Under 21 indicators.
I finish high school at 17. Do I still need the unrestricted license?
No. The Driver Manual says the GDL requirements do not apply to anyone under 18 who has graduated high school or received a GED. TDOSHS says you may then get a Class D regular license without the wait for age 18. Ask the Driver Services Center what proof of graduation or GED to bring.
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