DMV Tennessee · Fees, age, and practice test
Tennessee Permit Test: Cost, Age, and DMV Facts
Start the free Tennessee practice testSourced procedural facts for Tennessee DMV, plus a free 500-question practice test with real sign images and audio.
Free Tennessee DMV practice test with 500 practice questions written from the official Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, each with an explanation and a handbook page citation. No signup and no ads. The Tennessee permit test has 30 questions, and you need 24 correct (80%) to pass. Page updated 2026-10-16.
Also here: exam simulator in the real test format, flashcards for the whole bank, a one-page cheat sheet, handbook lessons, chapter by chapter, and audio read-aloud for questions.
How many questions are on the Tennessee permit test?
The Tennessee permit test has 30 questions, and you need 24 correct (80%) to pass.
See the official source · Checked 2026-10-18 against the official text on file.
How much does the Tennessee permit test cost?
No separate knowledge-test charge is listed in the state fee table; Class PD permit totals are $10.50 under 18 or $5.50 at 18+
- Learner permit / application fee: $10.50 under age 18 or $5.50 at 18+ for a one-year Class PD permit, including application fee; county clerks add $4
- Initial driver license fee: $28 for a regular eight-year Class D license; under-18 intermediate restricted GDL exchange is $24.50; county clerk partners add $4
Source: TN Dept. of Safety and Homeland Security - Driver Services · Fee source checked 2026-10-05. Our 500-question Tennessee practice test is free and separate from these DMV fees.
Is the Tennessee permit test hard?
You can miss up to 6 of the 30 questions and still pass with 24 correct (80%).
Every question comes from the Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, so reading it and practicing until you pass consistently is the most direct preparation.
What do I need to bring to the Tennessee DMV for a permit?
The official Tennessee checklist for a permit has 13 items, covering application, identity, lawful presence, Social Security number, residency, parent or guardian, driver education, fees and vision test.
Who this list covers: First-time regular non-REAL ID Class PD passenger-vehicle learner permit applicants age 15 or older who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, including minors and adults. Optional REAL ID document differences are noted separately. Temporary/XPD permits, hardship permits, transfers, renewals and road tests are outside this checklist.
- Complete the application; optional online document pre-approval can save time
- Original or certified documents proving identity and citizenship or permanent residence
- One accepted U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residence document
- Your Social Security number, or a sworn no-SSN affidavit if never issued
- Two accepted proofs of Tennessee residency
- Under 18: Minor/Teenage Affidavit and Cancellation form signed by an eligible adult
- Under 18: Relationship evidence if the parent or guardian has a different last name
- Under 18: Financial-responsibility form and insurance evidence
- Under 18: School attendance certificate issued within 30 days, or high school diploma/GED
- Under 18: Payment for the $10.50 regular PD learner-permit fee (under 18)
- 18 and older: Payment for the $5.50 regular PD learner-permit fee (18 and over)
- Be ready for written testing and vision screening
- Name-change documents, if your current name differs
Source: official Tennessee document list · Checked 2026-10-05. Conditions and exceptions for each item are on the full printable checklist, with a source for every item.
Practice the Tennessee permit test now
500 questions written from the official Tennessee driver manual. Free, no signup, with an explanation and the manual quote for every answer.
Your 3-stage Tennessee study path
- Stage 1: Study the sheets. Read the Tennessee cheat sheet for signs, numbers, and must-know rules.
- Stage 2: Drill topics. Run the free Tennessee practice test with instant explanations until weak topics turn green.
- Stage 3: Simulate the exam. Take the timed exam simulator under graded practice conditions.
Tennessee verified practice bank · 500 questions · Page updated 2026-10-16
Before your Tennessee knowledge test
Cost details
- Class PD costs $10.50 under 18 or $5.50 at 18+, including the $2 application fee; county clerk partners add $4. Official cost source
Before you apply
These notes cover selected application steps. Check the linked official instructions for the full requirements for your situation.
- You can submit the application and documents online for preapproval; allow up to five business days, then bring originals or certified copies. Official application instructions
- Under-18 applicants need a parent/guardian and school-attendance proof; ages 15-17 may test online with a parent or guardian proctor. Official application instructions
Cost and application notes checked .
Quick facts
Minimum permit age
15 years old (must also pass vision screening and knowledge test)
Permit fee
$10.50 under age 18 or $5.50 at 18+ for a one-year Class PD permit, including application fee; county clerks add $4
Initial license fee
$28 for a regular eight-year Class D license; under-18 intermediate restricted GDL exchange is $24.50; county clerk partners add $4
Questions on the knowledge test
The test consists of 30 questions (60 minutes allowed)
Passing score
A minimum score of 80% is required to pass
Retake wait after failing
Online knowledge-test applicants must wait 24 hours after failing; a maximum of two online attempts is allowed
Supervised driving before road test
50 hours of behind-the-wheel driving, including 10 at night, before the Intermediate Restricted License road test
Documents to bring
Proof of US citizenship/lawful presence, proof of Social Security number, two proofs of TN residency, proof of school enrollment, parent/guardian signature if a minor
Find an office / appointment
Tennessee Dept. of Safety provides a Driver Service Locations and Appointments tool (searchable by county, zip, or city); appointments recommended/schedulable at select centers (not all).
REAL ID status
REAL ID available; obtaining one requires an in-person visit with proof of citizenship/legal presence, SSN, and two proofs of TN residency. Optional (non-REAL ID licenses remain valid). Federal enforcement date May 7, 2025.
Motorcycle license
Motorcycle Only License at 16 (permit at 15). Requires vision screening, knowledge test, and on-cycle road skills test.
Commercial license (CDL)
Minimum age 18; drivers under 21 are restricted to operating only within Tennessee.
Official source: TN Dept. of Safety and Homeland Security - Driver Services
Things like renewing registration, REAL ID, or a change of address are outside what this page covers -- go straight to the official Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division site.
Tennessee DMV fees at a glance
| Fee | Official figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Permit fee | $10.50 under age 18 or $5.50 at 18+ for a one-year Class PD permit, including application fee; county clerks add $4 | source |
| Initial license fee | $28 for a regular eight-year Class D license; under-18 intermediate restricted GDL exchange is $24.50; county clerk partners add $4 | source |
Studying for it? Take the free Tennessee DMV practice test (500 questions, instant explanations, no signup).
What a Tennessee driver license covers
Initial license fee: $28 for a regular eight-year Class D license; under-18 intermediate restricted GDL exchange is $24.50; county clerk partners add $4 (official source)
REAL ID status: REAL ID available; obtaining one requires an in-person visit with proof of citizenship/legal presence, SSN, and two proofs of TN residency. Optional (non-REAL ID licenses remain valid). Federal enforcement date May 7, 2025. (official source)
The gold star marks a REAL ID compliant card. Many states hand you a paper interim license the day you pass and mail the physical card later; the interim paper generally works for driving but not for TSA airport ID. Check the official Tennessee DMV site for exact card timelines.
Getting a license in Tennessee
Getting your first permit
In Tennessee, the minimum permit age is 15 years old (must also pass vision screening and knowledge test). When you apply for a permit or license, bring: proof of US citizenship/lawful presence, proof of Social Security number, two proofs of TN residency, proof of school enrollment, parent/guardian signature if a minor. Tennessee Dept. of Safety provides a Driver Service Locations and Appointments tool (searchable by county, zip, or city); appointments recommended/schedulable at select centers (not all).
Fees, retakes, and practice hours
If you fail the knowledge test: online knowledge-test applicants must wait 24 hours after failing; a maximum of two online attempts is allowed. Before the road test, the state requires 50 hours of behind-the-wheel driving, including 10 at night, before the Intermediate Restricted License road test.
REAL ID, motorcycle, and CDL
REAL ID available; obtaining one requires an in-person visit with proof of citizenship/legal presence, SSN, and two proofs of TN residency. Optional (non-REAL ID licenses remain valid). Federal enforcement date May 7, 2025. For a motorcycle license: motorcycle Only License at 16 (permit at 15). Requires vision screening, knowledge test, and on-cycle road skills test. For a commercial license (CDL): minimum age 18; drivers under 21 are restricted to operating only within Tennessee.
The Tennessee bank has 500 questions across 9 topics
Test day: what to bring and where to go: a printable Tennessee checklist of the documents for the permit test, plus the official office finder and appointment links.
Study the handbook, chapter by chapter: 24 free lessons that boil the Tennessee driver manual down to the rules and exact numbers on the test, each quoted with its page.
The Tennessee questions learners miss most: ranked from anonymous first-attempt answers on this site, each with the correct answer and its handbook lesson.
One Tennessee permit test question a day
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