Driving Tests

Tennessee Road Test: What to Bring, Vehicle Check and Retest

informational·how to guide·Published May 20, 2026

What do I bring to the Tennessee road test?

Bring your own vehicle with valid tags and working safety equipment, your original documents or certified copies, and, if you hold a learner permit, a licensed driver 21 or older. Pass the knowledge test first, book an appointment and arrive 15 minutes early. A traffic violation, a dangerous action or contributing to an accident fails you at once. A failed test means a wait of one to 30 days.

Where the Tennessee road test rules come from

The test rules come from the Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS), Driver Services Division. The manual text is dated July 1, 2022. The appointment, document and permit-holder rules come from the TDOSHS teen Graduated Driver License page and the Driver Services Center appointments page. The rules for adults and new residents come from the TDOSHS Adult First-Time Drivers and New Residents pages. 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 to bring to the Tennessee road test

Your own vehicle. It must have valid tags and all its safety equipment in working order.
A licensed driver, if you hold a learner permit. At any age, a permit holder must come with a person 21 or older who has a valid driver license. Without this person, the test does not start.
Original documents or certified copies. Photocopies are not accepted, even if TDOSHS pre-approved your documents online. Bring one proof of U.S. citizenship or legal presence, one proof of your Social Security number and two proofs of Tennessee residency. The Tennessee driver license documents guide lists the accepted proofs.
For a teen at 16: the 50-Hour Certification form, signed by a parent, guardian or driving instructor.

How to book a Tennessee road test appointment

Road tests are by appointment because each test takes time. Book at the Driver Services Center you choose, up to 45 days before the date you want. Appointments are not available at every center, so check the center before you plan your day. If you have no appointment, you may not be able to take the road test.
You cannot book online if you are under 16 or from out of state. For these cases, the TDOSHS teen page has a request form that helps you schedule a road test.

What is the vehicle check on the Tennessee road test?

The vehicle must have valid tags, meet Tennessee safety law and have its equipment in working order. Before you drive, the examiner asks you to show how to use eight items: safety belts, brakes, headlights (high and low beam), tail and brake lights, windshield wipers, the defroster and fan (you show how to defog the windshield), rearview mirrors and the horn. The car needs a foot brake and a separate parking brake, as the free question page on road test brakes shows. It also needs a working speedometer, a muffler, and driver and passenger doors that open from inside and outside.

The 12 skills the Tennessee examiner watches

Getting ready: you check your mirrors, fasten your safety belt and turn on lights or wipers if you need them.
Starting out: you look for other cars, signal and wait until it is safe to enter traffic.
Control: smooth acceleration, correct use of the pedals, steering wheel and other controls, and curves.
Intersections and turns: the proper lane and a look both left and right for vehicles.
Signals and signs: you obey the traffic signals and posted signs.
Driving in traffic: full attention, careful scanning for signs, signals, pedestrians and vehicles, and the correct right-of-way.
Stopping: smoothly, at the right spot, and quickly and safely in an emergency.
Backing: a look over your shoulder, a straight line, safe turns while backing, and backing into or out of a parking space.
Distance, signals, sharing and speed: a safe gap to other cars, signals that are not too late or too early, courtesy, and a speed that suits the limit, traffic, light, weather and road.

Steps to get ready for your Tennessee road test

1
Pass the knowledge test. If you arrive for the road test without a passed knowledge test, the center cancels your appointment.
2
Teens: hold the learner permit for 180 days, log 50 hours of driving (10 at night) and get the 50-hour form signed.
3
Book the road test up to 45 days ahead.
4
Before test day, check the horn, lights, belts, brakes, signals and wipers, and make sure that the registration is current.
5
Arrive at least 15 minutes before your appointment, with your documents and, if you hold a permit, your licensed driver.

What causes an automatic fail on the Tennessee road test?

A violation of any traffic law.
Lack of cooperation, or a refusal to follow the examiner's directions.
Any dangerous action.
Contributing to an accident.
Cheating on a required test. This is also an automatic failure, and you cannot try again for 30 days.

Tennessee road test retest wait by number of errors

Tennessee road test retest wait by number of errors
Errors on the skills test	Earliest retest
1 to 6 errors	You pass. No retest.
7 to 9 errors	The next day
10 to 12 errors	After 7 days
13 to 15 errors	After 14 days
16 or more errors, or an automatic failure	After 30 days

What if I fail the Tennessee road test?

You cannot take the road test again on the same day. The wait in the table is the manual's "mandatory practice time period", and the same waits apply after a second or later failed test. As of 2026, you pay the $2 (U.S. dollars) application fee each time you take a test and fail. When you come back, bring all your original documents again.

Who takes the Tennessee road test?

You are 16 and hold a learner permit

You take the road test for the Intermediate Restricted License after you meet the permit-time and practice-hour rules. The Intermediate Restricted License guide gives the full steps, and the free question page on permit time and practice hours tests the rule.

You are 18 or older and get your first license

A first Class D license needs a vision screening, the knowledge test and the road test.

You move to Tennessee with a license from another state

You take a vision screening. If your license is valid, that is the only test. If it expired more than six months ago, you also take the knowledge and road tests.

You move to Tennessee from another country

You take the vision screening, the knowledge test and the road test. You may keep the license from your country.

Key takeaways

Bring your own vehicle with valid tags and a working horn, lights, belts, brakes, signals and wipers.
Permit holders of any age need a licensed driver 21 or older with them at the center.
Pass the knowledge test, book an appointment and arrive at least 15 minutes early.
A traffic violation, a dangerous action, contributing to an accident or a refusal to follow directions is an automatic fail.
After a failed test, you wait from the next day up to 30 days, by your number of errors.
Next step: if you still need the knowledge test, practice on the free Tennessee Class D practice test. It is in English only.

Tennessee road test: common questions

Can my parent ride with me during the Tennessee road test?

No. Only you and the examiner, or other authorized personnel, may be in the vehicle during the test, and no animal may be in it. If you hold a learner permit, a licensed driver 21 or older must still come with you to the Driver Services Center, or the test does not start.

How long does the Tennessee road test take?

Road tests average 20 to 25 minutes. Plan for more time at the Driver Services Center: arrive at least 15 minutes before your appointment, so the staff can process your paperwork and review your documents before the drive.

What happens if I am late for my Tennessee road test?

If you arrive 5 minutes late or more, expect the center to cancel your road test, and you must book a new date. A late customer may be treated as a walk-in, and without an appointment you may not be able to take the road test that day.

Can I take the Tennessee road test in the rain?

Yes, in light to moderate rain, fog or snow. Road tests are not given in extreme weather, such as heavy rain or snow, dense fog, hail, high winds or icy roads. In winter months, road tests are not given in the dark, and test times change for the shorter daylight.

How many mistakes can you make on the Tennessee road test?

Table 4.2 of the manual counts 1 to 6 errors as a pass. With 7 or more errors, you wait before a retest, from the next day up to 30 days. One cause for immediate failure, such as a traffic law violation, puts you in the 30-day group at any error count.

Will the examiner tell me what I did wrong?

Yes. After the drive, the examiner tells you your errors, how to correct them and which maneuvers to practice. Use the wait before your retest to practice those skills with a licensed driver, then review the matching parts of the Tennessee Driver Manual.