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TN Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security · Driver Services

Tennessee permit test four quarters, one day to retest

Tennessee says plainly how its knowledge test is weighted: four equal parts, each about a quarter of the exam. That makes studying easier. This page explains the blueprint, the Class PD learner permit at 15 and the three-stage path to a full license, with a 25-question practice test.

Last reviewed October 30, 2026 · TN Comprehensive Driver License Manual (current as of July 1, 2022)

The test blueprint

25%

Signs & signals

Shapes, colors, pavement markings, signal phases

25%

Safe driving

Following distance, sharing the road, emergencies

25%

Rules of the road

Right-of-way, speed limits, lanes, Move Over

25%

Alcohol & drugs

BAC limits, implied consent, impairment

Weighting from Section A, Chapter 4 of the manual. The question count and pass score aren't published there.

Test day at a Driver Service Center

Centers are open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can book an appointment online. The order is documents, vision screening, computerized knowledge test, fee, then your Class PD permit.

Bring proof of citizenship or lawful presence (usually a birth certificate), your Social Security number and two proofs of Tennessee residency. Under 18, also bring proof of school attendance (SF-1010) and a Teenage Affidavit signed by a parent or guardian.

The test comes in English, Spanish, Korean and Japanese. If you fail, you wait at least one day and pay $2 to try again. Fail on a Monday and you can return Tuesday.

Unverified: the permit fee (the manual's fee table didn't extract cleanly), any online testing option, and whether a manual newer than July 2022 exists.

Tennessee DMV practice test

25 questions covering all four quarters, with an 80% target as our benchmark.

Free quiz · no sign-up

Tennessee permit practice test

Questions
25
To pass
80%
About
17 min

Instant feedback and an explanation after every answer.

Preview the 25 free questions

  1. Minimum age for a Tennessee Class PD learner permit?

    • 14
    • 15
    • 15½
    • 16

  2. Minimum age of the licensed driver supervising a permit holder?

    • 18
    • 19
    • 21
    • 25

  3. Curfew for permit holders under 18?

    • 10 p.m.–6 a.m.
    • 11 p.m.–6 a.m.
    • Midnight–5 a.m.
    • 11 p.m.–5 a.m.

  4. After failing a knowledge test, how long must you wait?

    • No wait
    • 1 day
    • 7 days
    • 30 days

  5. What do you pay each time you fail?

    • $1
    • $2
    • $5
    • $10

  6. Besides English, which languages is the test offered in?

    • Spanish only
    • Spanish, Korean and Japanese
    • Ten languages
    • None

  7. What share of the test covers alcohol and drugs?

    • 10%
    • 25%
    • 33%
    • 50%

  8. How long must you hold the permit before an Intermediate Restricted license?

    • 90 days
    • 6 months
    • 9 months
    • 1 year

  9. How many certified practice hours are required?

    • 30
    • 40
    • 50
    • 60

  10. How many of those hours must be at night?

    • 5
    • 10
    • 15
    • 20

  11. Minimum age for an Intermediate Restricted license?

    • 15
    • 16
    • 16½
    • 17

  12. Intermediate Restricted curfew?

    • 10 p.m.–6 a.m.
    • 11 p.m.–6 a.m.
    • Midnight–6 a.m.
    • 1–5 a.m.

  13. How many passengers may an Intermediate Restricted driver carry?

    • 0
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3

  14. Minimum age for an Intermediate Unrestricted license?

    • 16½
    • 17
    • 17½
    • 18

  15. How long must you hold the Restricted license first?

    • 6 months
    • 9 months
    • 1 year
    • 18 months

  16. How long do violations delay moving up?

    • 30 days
    • 60 days
    • 90 days
    • 180 days

  17. Minimum age for a Class H hardship license?

    • 13
    • 14
    • 15
    • 16

  18. Rural interstate speed limit?

    • 65 mph
    • 70 mph
    • 75 mph
    • 80 mph

  19. Typical urban interstate limit?

    • 45 mph
    • 55 mph
    • 60 mph
    • 65 mph

  20. Below what speed is it unlawful to drive in the left-most interstate lane (absent congestion)?

    • 45 mph
    • 50 mph
    • 55 mph
    • 60 mph

  21. At what BAC is driving always illegal for adults?

    • .05
    • .08
    • .10
    • .02

  22. What BAC brings stiff penalties for drivers under 21?

    • .00
    • .02
    • .04
    • .08

  23. Minimum following-distance rule?

    • 1 second
    • 2 seconds
    • 4 seconds
    • 6 seconds

  24. Is a handheld phone allowed in an active school zone?

    • Yes
    • No
    • Only at night
    • Only when stopped

  25. You approach a stationary emergency vehicle on a multilane road. You must:

    • Speed past
    • Move over a lane, or slow down if you can't
    • Stop
    • Honk

Three stages after the permit

StageAgeTo get thereLimits
Learner Permit (PD)15Knowledge + vision21+ licensed driver in front; no driving 10 p.m.–6 a.m.; no phones
Intermediate Restricted16Permit held 6 months; 50 hrs incl. 10 at night (SF-1256); road testOne passenger (exceptions); no driving 11 p.m.–6 a.m.
Intermediate Unrestricted17Restricted held 1 year; fewer than 6 points; no at-fault crashLasts until 18

A violation delays moving up by 90 days. A Class H hardship license is possible at 14.

Tennessee road rules worth memorizing

  • Interstates: 70 mph rural, typically 55 mph urban. Driving under 55 in the left-most lane is illegal unless traffic is congested.
  • Alcohol: .08 is always illegal. Drivers under 21 face stiff penalties at .02. You can be charged with DUI at .00 if drugs impair you.
  • Phones: texting while driving is banned for everyone. Handheld use is banned in school zones. Permit holders under 18 may not use any phone, even hands-free.
  • Move Over: change lanes away from stationary emergency vehicles on multilane roads, or slow down if you can't.
  • Lanes: use shared center turn lanes only for left turns. Cross median barriers only at authorized crossovers.
  • Stopping distance: at 55 mph a car needs about 240 feet to stop, and a truck 450+ feet. That's why you don't cut in front of trucks.
  • Carry your license: driving without it in your possession carries a $2–$50 fine.

Study plan by quarter

Because each area is worth the same, a weak area costs you as much as any other. Take the practice test, sort your misses by topic, and reread that part of the manual. Alcohol and drugs is a full quarter, more than most states give it, so learn the BAC numbers and implied-consent rules thoroughly.

Neighboring states

Kentucky · Virginia · North Carolina · Georgia · Alabama · Mississippi · Arkansas · Missouri

Tennessee permit test FAQ

What's on the Tennessee permit test?

The manual says the test draws equally from four areas: signs and signals, safe driving, rules of the road, and drugs and alcohol, each about 25%. It's computerized at Driver Service Centers.

How many questions are on the Tennessee permit test, and what's passing?

The July 2022 manual doesn't say, and we couldn't confirm either number from an official source. Our 25 questions use an 80% target as a benchmark only.

What if I fail the Tennessee knowledge test?

You must wait at least one day before retesting, and you pay a $2 application fee each time you fail.

Can I take the TN permit test in Spanish?

Yes. It's offered in English, Spanish, Korean and Japanese. You may use a translation dictionary without notes. Oral testing is available for disabilities, and ASL interpreters for deaf applicants.

What are the Tennessee learner permit restrictions?

Drive only with a licensed driver 21+ in the front seat. Under 18, no driving from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., everyone belted, and no handheld or hands-free phone use.

How much does a Tennessee learner permit cost?

We couldn't verify it. The fee table in the 2022 manual didn't extract cleanly, so check with TDOSHS Driver Services before your visit.

Keep studying

Sources: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual; TDOSHS Driver Services. Not affiliated with the State of Tennessee.