Driving Tests

Tennessee Teen Driver Penalties: Points, Phone Tickets, License Loss

informational·how to guide·Published May 30, 2026

What happens if a teen driver gets points in Tennessee?

A Tennessee driver under 18 who gets 6 or more points in any 12-month period receives a notice of proposed suspension and must attend a hearing with a parent or guardian. With fewer than 6 points, the teen gets a warning letter. A first suspension at 6 to 9 points can last 3 to 6 months. At 10 or more points, it is 6 months.

Where these Tennessee rules come from

This guide uses the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS) pages on driver improvement and points and on the teen graduated driver license, and the Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual. It also uses Rule 1340-01-04 (Driver Improvement Program and Schedule of Points), the TDOSHS 50-hour certification form, the TDOSHS school attendance and license-types pages, and the Tennessee General Assembly bill page for Public Chapter 412. Information is as of 2026. Some TDOSHS pages word the points limit differently, and the manual text dates from 2022. Confirm the rules with the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (tn.gov/safety) before you drive.

How does the Tennessee juvenile points system work?

TDOSHS adds points to a driving record for each moving violation conviction and for each crash that the driver contributed to. Each time a new conviction or crash is posted, TDOSHS looks back 24 months for any 12-month period with enough points for a warning letter or a suspension notice. Each warning letter and each notice of proposed suspension also goes to the parent or guardian.

Tennessee juvenile points: what happens at each level

Tennessee juvenile points: what happens at each level
Points in 12 months	What happens
Fewer than 6	A warning letter from TDOSHS, with a copy to the parent or guardian
6 to 9 (first offense)	Notice of proposed suspension and a hearing. Driving privileges may be suspended for 3 to 6 months. The driver must finish a Defensive Driving Course within 90 days.
10 or more (first offense)	Notice of proposed suspension and a hearing. Driving privileges are suspended for 6 months.
6 or more, second or later offense	Driving privileges are suspended for 6 or 12 months, depending on the record

Can a teen keep the license after a suspension notice?

Attend the hearing. If the driver and the parent or guardian do not attend, the juvenile's driving privileges get a mandatory 6-month suspension. For good cause, TDOSHS may place a first-offense juvenile driver on administrative probation instead of suspension, for 12 months or until age 18. To get a suspended license back, the teen must meet every requirement first: proof of liability insurance, the Defensive Driving Course and the reinstatement fees. A free practice question on what TDOSHS does at 6 points for a driver under 18 tests this rule.

How many points do common teen violations carry?

How many points do common teen violations carry?
Violation	Points (Rule 1340-01-04)
Using a cell phone while driving (under 18)	6
Violating license restrictions, such as driving against the conditions on the license	6
Passing a stopped school bus that is taking on or letting off passengers	8
Speeding 6 through 15 mph over the limit (outside a construction zone)	3

Do points delay the next license step?

Yes. For a teen on the Graduated Driver License (GDL) path, keep the record at fewer than 6 points. A permit holder with 6 or more points in the 180 days before applying must keep the learner permit until the record has fewer than 6 points for 180 consecutive days. For the intermediate unrestricted license at 17, the TDOSHS 50-hour form and the manual use the same 6-point line, but a few TDOSHS web pages say "more than 6 points". A driver at exactly 6 points should ask TDOSHS before applying. The steps for the intermediate unrestricted license at 17 have the full list.

Other penalties that slow or reset a teen license

Extra 90 days: a teen must wait 90 days beyond the 1-year minimum for the intermediate unrestricted license after 6 or more points on the intermediate restricted license, a crash the teen contributed to, or a second seat belt conviction.
Second moving violation: the teen must finish an approved Driver Education class before the intermediate unrestricted license.
Forged permission letter: a conviction for a forged or fraudulent permission letter or statement means the intermediate restricted license is revoked. TDOSHS then issues only a learner permit until the driver turns 18.

What is the penalty for a teen who uses a phone while driving?

A driver with a learner permit or an intermediate license may not use a cell phone while driving, and the ban includes a cellular car telephone. A conviction is a Class C misdemeanor with a $50.00 fine, 6 points on the minor's record and a 90-day delay in eligibility for the intermediate restricted license. All drivers must also be hands-free: Public Chapter 412 (effective July 1, 2019) bans holding a phone with any part of the body and writing, sending or reading texts while driving. The Tennessee hands-free law guide covers the adult rules, and a practice question on a teen's hands-free phone call tests the teen rule.

How does school attendance affect a teen's license?

Proof of school: applicants under 18 must prove that they are enrolled in school, or bring a high school diploma or GED certificate if they graduated.
Dropping out at 15 or older: the school notifies TDOSHS, and the driving privilege can be suspended. Dropping out means 10 consecutive or 15 total days of unexcused absences in a semester.
Poor progress: a license can also be suspended when a student does not make satisfactory progress, which in general means passing three subjects per grading period.
First dropout: the student can drive again after returning to school. The fee is $20 for reinstatement, plus the usual application and license fees.
Second dropout: all driving privileges are suspended until age 18.

What are the alcohol penalties for drivers under 21?

A driver who is at least 16 but not yet 21 is convicted of underage driving while impaired if found driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .02 percent, or under the influence of alcohol or another intoxicant. The Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual lists the penalty: loss of the license for one year, a $250 fine and sometimes public service work. A teen aged 13 to 17 found to have had, drunk or sold alcohol or drugs loses the driving privilege for one year or until age 17, whichever is longer. A second conviction means two years or until age 18, whichever is longer.

Key takeaways

A Tennessee driver under 18 with 6 or more points in 12 months gets a notice of proposed suspension and a hearing with a parent or guardian.
Fewer than 6 points brings a warning letter. 6 to 9 points can mean a 3 to 6 month suspension. 10 or more points means 6 months.
A teen with a permit or intermediate license may not use a cell phone while driving. A conviction brings a $50.00 fine, 6 points and a 90-day delay.
Dropping out of school can suspend the license, and a second withdrawal means no driving until age 18.
Under 21 with a BAC of .02 percent: one year without a license and a $250 fine.
Next step: practice the traffic laws on the free Tennessee Class D practice test. It is in English only.

Tennessee teen driver penalties: common questions

Is the points limit lower for teens than for adults in Tennessee?

Yes. A driver under 18 gets a notice of proposed suspension at 6 or more points in any 12-month period. An adult gets the same notice only at 12 or more points in 12 months. Points from a crash that the teen contributed to count toward the same limit.

Does a ticket from age 17 still count after a teen turns 18?

Yes. The juvenile rules of Rule 1340-01-04 apply to a driver who was under 18 on the date of the crash or violation, so the date of the event decides. Convictions that happened more than 2 years before TDOSHS received the report are not used in the Driver Improvement Program.

How many speeding tickets add up to 6 points?

Two. On the Rule 1340-01-04 schedule, a ticket for 6 through 15 mph over the limit is 3 points, so two such tickets in 12 months bring a driver under 18 to 6 points and a suspension notice. The same speed in a construction zone is 4 points.

Can an 18- to 20-year-old lose a license over alcohol in Tennessee?

Yes. At 18, 19 or 20, a conviction for buying, trying to buy or having any alcoholic beverage costs the privilege to drive for one year, and two years for a second time. This applies to any alcohol-related conviction, also when the person was not driving or not in a vehicle.

Can a teen without a license lose the right to drive?

Yes. A teen aged 13 to 17 found with alcohol or drugs can lose the privilege to drive until age 17, even without a license. A student who drops out of school a second time must wait until age 18 before applying for a license again.