Tennessee (TN) Teen Auto Insurance Laws, Rates & Requirements

Between 1994 and 2008, approximately 2,855 teens were involved in fatal car crashes in the state of Tennessee. The causes for teen accidents in Tennessee and nationwide range from inexperience and overconfidence to driving while impaired or distracted. Fortunately, the state of Tennessee has a plan to help decrease the number of teen accidents on its roads. The state currently enforces the rules of the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program. All new teen drivers must complete the program before receiving full driving privileges. It can take up to 3 long years to earn the right to carry an unrestricted license in Tennessee and the plan seems to be working. Between 1994 and 2008, the number of crashes involving teens actually decreased by more than 30%.

Continue reading to learn more about Tennessee’s teen driving laws and the consequences for violating them.

Tennessee Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) and Driver License Requirements

Tennessee’s Graduated Driver Licensing program has three phases of licensing:

1.    Learner permit
2.    Intermediate restricted license
3.    Intermediate unrestricted license
 
To obtain a learner permit, you must:

•    Be at least 15 years of age
•    Pass a vision screening
•    Pass a knowledge exam
•    Show proof of school attendance
•    Provide proof of Tennessee residency (2 forms of proof)
•    Provide proof of U.S. citizenship
•    Provide proof of identity (2 forms of proof)
•    Provide a social security card
•    Teenage affidavit/financial responsibility

If you under the age of 18, a parent or guardian must accompany you to apply for the permit. During the learner permit phase, you must complete 50 hours of behind the wheel driving practice.

Once you have satisfied all requirements of the learner permit stage, you may apply for an intermediate restricted license. To obtain your learner permit you must:

•    Be 16 years of age
•    Have held the learner’s permit for at least 6 months
•    Provide a 50-hour certification form signed by your parent or guardian
•    Pass the road skills test
•    Pass a vision screening
•    Provide all of the documentation listed above

Once you have satisfied all of the requirements of the intermediate restricted license you may apply for your unrestricted license. You will have to provide the documents listed above and pass a vision, written, and road test.

Tennessee Teen Driving Laws and Enforcement

Under the conditions of the learner permit:

•    You may drive a car only when accompanied by a licensed driver age 21 or older in front seat
•    You may not drive between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
•    Seatbelts are mandatory for the driver and passengers age 17 and under
•    Children age 8 or under must be in approved child restraint device

Under the conditions of the intermediate restricted license:

•    You can have only one passenger in the car with you at a time, unless one or more passengers are age 21 or older
•    You may not drive between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., unless accompanied by parent, legal guardian, or licensed driver age 21 or older designated by parent or legal guardian
•    Seatbelts are mandatory for the driver and passengers age 17 and under
•    Children age 8 or under must be in approved

Under the conditions of the intermediate unrestricted license:

•    Seatbelts are mandatory for the driver and passengers age 17 and under
•    Children age 8 or under must be in approved child restraint device
•    Driver will continue to hold an Intermediate License, but the license will
•    indicate the restrictions have been removed

If you violate any of the conditions of any Tennessee permit or license during the Graduated Licensing process, your licensing could be delayed anywhere from 90 days up to a year. For serious offenses, your permit or license will be revoked and you will be reissued a learner permit until you reach age 18.

Tennessee Cell Phone Use/Texting While Driving Laws

In Tennessee, it is against the law for all teens to text and drive. If you violate Tennessee’s texting law, you will be charged with a Class C misdemeanor. You will have to pay a $50 fine, plus $10 for court costs. Violation will also cost you a 90 day delay for intermediate restricted or intermediate unrestricted driver’s license. Because it is a non-moving offense, violating the texting law will not add points to your driver’s license. As of September 2009, the cell phone ban prohibiting talking on the cell phone while driving applies to learner permit holders and intermediate license holders. The penalties are the same.

Tennessee Teen DUI Laws

In the state of Tennessee, it is a crime for a teen (or anyone under the age of 21) to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration level (BAC) of 0.02% or higher. A BAC of 0.02% is as little as one beer, one glass of wine or one mixed drink for most people. It can be even less for some. Proof of a BAC of 0.02% is all that is needed to convict a Tennessee teen of DUI. If you get caught driving with a BAC of 0.02% or higher, you face license suspension, fines, and you may have to enroll in a program specifically designed for individuals convicted of DUI. 

Tennessee Teen Auto Insurance Requirements

Whether you are an adult or a teen, in the state of Tennessee you must carry minimum auto liability insurance coverage including $25,000/$50,000 for bodily injury and $15,000 for property damage. In most cases, the minimum amounts will not be enough to cover you and your teen for several reasons. For starters, the risk of an auto collision is significantly higher during a teen’s first year behind the wheel,  because of this, Tennessee auto insurance companies recommend purchasing higher amounts of coverage than the legal limits. In addition, Tennessee follows a Tort System. This means, if you are involved in an accident, someone must be found to be the cause or fault of the accident. The person deemed at fault is responsible for all damages. The vast majority of Tennessee auto insurance companies recommend carrying higher coverages for this reason as well.

If you plan to add a teen driver to your policy, instead of purchasing a separate auto insurance policy for them, keep in mind that your annual rate will increase anywhere from $1,200 to $4,900 a year. The average increase is around $2,171 a year.