The Tennessee road test
A plain-language guide, checked against the Tennessee Department of Safety: who the test is for, what to bring, how it is scored, and what a retake really costs.
The rule that decides your path
The Tennessee road test, also called the behind-the-wheel or driving skills test, is the final exam the TN Dept of Safety gives before it issues a driver's license. New drivers can take the Tennessee driving test at 16, after holding a learner permit for 180 days and logging 50 hours of supervised driving.
Tennessee sets a specific pre-license education step every new driver has to clear. Graduated licensing stages: Learner at 15, Intermediate Restricted at 16, Unrestricted at 17, Class D at 18. Graduated licensing does not apply to drivers 18 or older, or to under-18 high school graduates or GED holders.
Below you'll find the full Tennessee road test requirements: who qualifies, what to bring, how examiners score the drive, and the retake rules if you don't pass the first time. On our Driving Index, Tennessee's written knowledge test ranks tied for 32nd-hardest of 51.
OUR DRIVER'S ED PICK FOR TENNESSEE
Know the rules before you hit the road
4.8from 3 million+ drivers trained
Start your online driver's ed with DriversEd.com, teaching licensed drivers since 1997.
Opens driversed.com · we may earn a commission at no cost to you · it never changes the facts we report.
Supervised hours before the Tennessee road test
These are hours you spend driving with a licensed adult, usually a parent, before you can take the test. Keep a log as you go, on paper or in an app, because the state can ask to see it. Practice in a mix of conditions, day and night, highways and quiet streets, rain and clear weather, and get the night hours in early, since those are the ones most people leave to the last minute.
What to bring to the Tennessee road test
Tap each item to check it off. Your progress is saved on this device.
Documents
Your vehicle must have
Who comes with you. A learner permit holder must be accompanied by someone 21 or older with a valid license.
If you fail the Tennessee road test
Here's how a retake works in Tennessee: No same-day retest. Based on errors: 7 to 9 errors is a 1-day wait; 10 to 12 is 7 days; 13 to 15 is 14 days; 16 or more is 30 days. A $2 application fee each time you test and fail
Beyond any fee, a retry usually means another day off work or school, another ride to the office, and another car to borrow, so failing costs far more than it looks on paper.
Passing on the first try is the cheapest way through. A first license runs $28 (Class D; plus a $4 County Clerk fee).
How the Tennessee road test is scored
Errors are counted: 1 to 6 errors passes; 7 to 9 means a retest after 1 day; 10 to 12 after 7 days; 13 to 15 after 14 days; 16 or more after 30 days, or an automatic failure.
Mistakes that end the test right away
Do any of these and the examiner stops the drive, no matter how well the rest went.
- Violating any traffic law
- Lack of cooperation or refusal to follow directions
- Any dangerous action
- Contributing to an accident
Before the road test
Pass the Tennessee written test on your first try
Nearby road-test guides.
Six more states, neighbours first, then the closest matches on test difficulty.
Test specifications, fees and laws change. This guide was last verified July 2026; always confirm current requirements with the TN Dept of Safety (www.tn.gov) before booking a test. DMV IQ is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with any state DMV, DPS, MVD, or BMV.
Spot an error? Email [email protected] and we'll get it corrected.
Sources for this guide (3 official TN Dept of Safety pages)
- Eligibility: https://www.tn.gov/safety/driver-services/classd/teengdl.html
- What to bring: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/safety/documents/DL_Manual.pdf
- Test format: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/safety/documents/DL_Manual.pdf
- Scoring: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/safety/documents/DL_Manual.pdf
- Retakes: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/safety/documents/DL_Manual.pdf
- Fees: https://www.tn.gov/safety/driver-services/helpful-information/fees.html
- Handbook (as of July 1, 2022): https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/safety/documents/DL_Manual.pdf
Current as of 2026-07-16. Official Tennessee sources only; anything the state does not publish is left out rather than guessed.