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View All PlansFree Tennessee DMV Driving Practice Test 2026
| 90-100 | => | 10% |
| 80-89 | => | 13% |
| 70-79 | => | 20% |
| 60-69 | => | 23% |
| <60% | => | 33% |
The Tennessee learner’s permit test consists of 30 multiple-choice questions comprising four sections: road signs and signals, road rules, drugs and alcohol, and safe driving practices. To pass, applicants must answer at least 24 questions correctly (80%). There are also online options for taking the knowledge test – check with your local DMV for details.
Our free online Tennessee DMV permit practice test – often called the knowledge, written, or driver’s license test – is updated for May 2026 and features questions derived from the Tennessee DMV 2026 Driver Handbook. Our tests provide instant feedback and mimic what you will face on the official Tennessee written test.
When you feel prepared, go to the Tennessee DMV with your identification documents and two proofs of residency (if you’re under 18, the proofs should have the name of your parent/guardian). You’ll also need your Social Security number and an SF1010 form proving school attendance and progress if you’re under 18. Submit the documents, pay the fee, and take the knowledge test.
Tennessee has a graduated driver’s license (GDL) program for applicants under 18 with three steps: the learner’s permit, during which your driving must be supervised; the Intermediate Restricted License, with restrictions on nighttime driving and carrying passengers; and the Intermediate Unrestricted License. Your participation in the GDL program ends once you turn 18 or have held the intermediate restricted license for 12 months and turned 17.
Tennessee permit test: quick facts
What to expect at the DMV
Where Tennessee test-takers struggle most
Based on 12,777 Tennessee learners who practiced on our site in the last 30 days. 44% pass our practice tests, with an average first-try score of 65%.
Tennessee requires all drivers to stop no closer than 15 feet and no farther than 50 feet from a railroad crossing when lights are flashing or a gate is down. You may not proceed until the crossing is clear and the signals have stopped. Never stop on the tracks themselves, even briefly.
Tennessee uses a point system where accumulating 12 points within 12 months triggers a suspension. Common violations carry 3-8 points each. Drivers under 18 face suspension at just 6 points within any 12-month period - half the adult threshold.
Tennessee law doubles fines for all moving violations committed in active construction zones. This applies whether workers are present or not, as long as construction zone signs are posted. A second violation in a construction zone within three years adds an additional mandatory penalty.
Headlights are required from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise, and any time visibility is less than 500 feet. Turn signals must be activated at least 100 feet before a turn in a city. Both front and rear lights must be functioning for a vehicle to be legally operated on a public road.
Yellow center line markings separate opposing traffic flows. A broken yellow line means passing is permitted when safe; a solid yellow line on your side means passing is prohibited. White markings separate lanes of same-direction traffic, with edge lines marking the boundary between the travel lane and the shoulder.
Data updated daily from our practice test results
First-try score distribution
How Tennessee learners score on their first practice test attempt
Tennessee-specific rules you must know
Rules that are unique to Tennessee or differ from most other states
Tennessee's knowledge test automatically ends once a test-taker answers 7 questions incorrectly, before all 30 questions are completed. This means there is no opportunity to "make up" wrong answers later in the test. Understanding this format matters for pacing and confidence during the exam.
The Eddie Conrad Act, effective January 2024, significantly increased texting-while-driving penalties for drivers under 18. A second or subsequent offense results in 7 points on the driving record, which can trigger a license suspension of 6 to 12 months. Cellphone use of any kind while driving on a permit or intermediate license is classified as a Class C misdemeanor in Tennessee - a criminal offense, not just a traffic citation.
Tennessee was one of the first states to offer an official parent-proctored at-home knowledge exam through the Proctor PID App, launched in 2022. The parent must be physically present and supervise the exam session. This option is available statewide as an alternative to testing at a DMV office.
Teen intermediate license holders in Tennessee may drive between 4 AM and 6 AM - during the standard overnight curfew - specifically to travel to or from a hunting or fishing location, provided they hold a valid hunting or fishing license. Tennessee is one of the few states with this specific rural-use exception written into its GDL law.
Reviewed for legal and handbook accuracy
M.S. (MIT, Columbia), Chief Educational Researcher. ACES member (Society for Editing). Verifies all 50 state tests against official handbooks weekly.
How to study for the Tennessee permit test
- Start here. One of 4 free online Tennessee tests. ~6 min. Read explanations as you go.
- Cover more ground. All tests have different questions - no repeats.
- Finish strong. Try the Exam Simulator for a full-length run.
Why this works
- Exam-like questions from the current handbook + questions most people get wrong. Explanations cite the manual.
- AI Assistant explains like a friend.
- Performance Insights shows where you need work.
- Challenge Bank™ saves your mistakes for targeted practice.
- Proven Progress Students improve from 65% → 72% after just 3 tests.
Sample Tennessee permit test questions
7 questions written and verified by our content team against the current Tennessee Driver Handbook
- Question 1 of 7
A 16-year-old driver with a Tennessee Intermediate Restricted License is allowed to have only one passenger in the vehicle. Which of the following is an exception to this passenger restriction?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A - The passengers are siblings from the driver's household
Intermediate Restricted License holders are usually not allowed to carry more than one passenger. There are just two exceptions: (1) At least one passenger is age 21 or older and holds a valid unrestricted license. (2) Passengers who are siblings from the same household (including step-, adopted, and foster siblings), with written parental consent, and only for the sole purpose of traveling to and from school. *See "Teen Driver FAQs," p. 19.*
- Question 2 of 7
What is the maximum posted speed limit on rural interstate highways in Tennessee?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B - 70 mph
Rural interstates in Tennessee may be posted up to 70 mph. Urban interstates are typically 55 mph. Watch for posted signs, as limits change based on road conditions and location. (Section B, Chapter 4 - Tennessee Speed Laws, p.47)
- Question 3 of 7
The Move Over Law in Tennessee requires drivers to yield the lane closest to any stationary emergency, maintenance, or recovery vehicle stopped on the shoulder. What is the maximum fine for violating this law?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D - $500
Violating the Move Over Law carries a maximum fine of $500. The law applies on interstates and any multi-lane highway with four or more lanes that has at least two lanes traveling in the same direction. When it is unsafe to change lanes, drivers must instead slow down and proceed with caution. (Section B, Chapter 5 - Move Over Law, p.72)
- Question 4 of 7
A Class H hardship license may be issued to a Tennessee minor who is at least what age?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B - 14
Hardship licenses are available to minors as young as 14 in cases of family hardship. The Class H license is valid only during daylight hours and for travel to locations specified in the approval letter. Less than one percent of minor licenses are hardship licenses. The license expires when the holder turns 16, no matter when it was approved. (Section A, Chapter 1 - Class H-Hardship, p.3)
- Question 5 of 7
Under Tennessee law, what are the consequences for a learner permit or intermediate license holder convicted of using a cell phone while driving?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B - A $50 fine, Class C misdemeanor, and 6 points on the driving record
Learner permit and intermediate license holders are banned from all cell phone use while driving on any Tennessee roadway. A conviction is a Class C misdemeanor: $50 fine and 6 points on the driving record. It also delays eligibility for the Intermediate Restricted License by 90 days. Adults face only a hands-free rule. (Section A, Chapter 3 - Cell Phone Usage Prohibited, p.18)
- Question 6 of 7
It is illegal in Tennessee to allow a child under age 6 to ride in the bed of a pickup truck. What restriction applies to children ages 6 through 11?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B - They are prohibited from riding in the bed on any state or interstate highway
Children under 6 are banned from the truck bed entirely. For children ages 6 up to 12 (i.e., ages 6 through 11), the law prohibits riding in the bed on state and interstate highways. Cities and counties may extend this ban to local roads by ordinance. Two narrow exceptions exist: organized parades at 20 mph or less, and agricultural activities. (Section B, Chapter 2 - Other Child Passenger Protection Laws, p.33)
- Question 7 of 7
How long must a teen driver hold an Intermediate Restricted License before being eligible to apply for an Intermediate Unrestricted License in Tennessee?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C - 12 months
The GDL system requires a minimum of one year at the Intermediate Restricted level. After that, a driver who is at least 17 may apply for the Intermediate Unrestricted License ($2 fee). If the teen accumulates 6 or more points, is at fault in a crash, or gets a second seatbelt violation, an extra 90-day waiting period kicks in. (Section A, Chapter 3 - Teen Driver FAQs, p.19-20)
Verified by Steven Litvintchouk, M.S. (MIT), Chief Educational Researcher, on .
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A smarter way to study for the permit test
Challenge Bank™
Our trademarked system automatically saves questions you miss, creating personalized tests that target your weak spots until you’ve mastered the material.
AI-powered feedback
Get smarter as you study. Our new AI-powered feedback provides detailed, question-level insights to help you understand the why behind each answer.
Interactive handbook
Go beyond the boring black-and-white manual. Our interactive handbook lets you read, listen with an MP3 audio version, or even chat with it to find the information you need, faster.
We build our practice questions from the current 2026 TN Driver Handbook and refine them using patterns recent test‑takers report.
Driver handbook • Knowledge‑test/permit overview • Fees & ID requirements • Office/appointment info
We mirror recurring themes (e.g., right‑of‑way traps, sign look‑alikes) and use similar distractors and wording styles.
We don’t collect or publish actual test items and we’re not affiliated with DMV.
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