Intermediate Restricted and Unrestricted licenses

Key points

1. The Intermediate Restricted License requires age 16 and passing the road test.

   Source: Handbook p. 14

   “You must be 16 years old and pass the driving skills test, also known as the road test.”
   Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 14

2. A parent, guardian or driving instructor must certify 50 hours of driving, including 10 at night.

   Source: Handbook p. 14

   “You must have verification from a parent, legal guardian or licensed driving instructor stating you have completed fifty hours (ten hours at night) of driving experience.”
   Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 14

3. An Intermediate Restricted driver may carry only 1 other passenger unless an exception applies.

   Source: Handbook p. 19

   “Those with an intermediate license can only have 1 other passenger in the vehicle. UNLESS:”
   Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 19

4. One exception is a passenger 21 or older with a valid, unrestricted license.

   Source: Handbook p. 19

   “One or more of the passengers is age 21 or older and has a valid, unrestricted license; OR”
   Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 19

5. Intermediate Restricted drivers may not drive from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. unless an exception applies.

   Source: Handbook p. 19

   “Those with an Intermediate Restricted License are prohibited from driving between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. UNLESS the meet one of the following circumstances:”
   Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 19

6. To move up, you cannot have moving violations or accidents adding up to 6 or more points within 12 months.

   Source: Handbook p. 14

   “You cannot have been convicted of moving violations or contributed to accidents that equal to 6 or more points within a 12 month period.”
   Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 14

7. Driving to or from hunting or fishing between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. is allowed with a valid hunting or fishing license.

   Source: Handbook p. 19

   “They are driving to or from hunting or fishing between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. and have in their possession a valid hunting or fishing license.”
   Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 19

8. A forged or fraudulent permission letter means losing the license and holding only a learner permit until 18.

   Source: Handbook p. 19

   “A driver with an Intermediate Restricted License who is convicted of having a forged or fraudulent letter or statement will have his/her Intermediate Restricted License revoked and will only be reissued a learner permit until he/ she reaches the age of 18.”
   Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 19

9. You must hold the Intermediate Restricted License at least 1 year, then pay a $2 fee to apply for the unrestricted level.

   Source: Handbook p. 19

   “Teens must hold their Intermediate Restricted License for a minimum of one year. After one year, an unrestricted Intermediate license may be applied for. There is a $2 application fee.”
   Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 19

10. The Intermediate Unrestricted License requires age 17 and meeting set conditions.

    Source: Handbook p. 14

    “To apply for the Intermediate Unrestricted from the Intermediate Restricted License, you must be 17 years old and meet the following conditions:”
    Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 14

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Tennessee practice test

1. 1. What minimum age and test are required for Tennessee's Intermediate Restricted License?

   1. Age 15 and a passed vision screening only
   2. Age 17 and a passed written exam only
   3. Age 16 and a passed driving skills test
   4. Age 18 and no test
   Show answer

   Age 16 and a passed driving skills test. The first intermediate level requires the applicant to be 16 years old and pass the driving skills test, also called the road test. A learner permit at 15 and a vision screening are not enough to reach this level. The 17-year-old choice points toward later advancement, while an 18-year-old no-test option skips the graduated process described here. Think of this license as the stage after supervised permit experience. Confirm both the age and road-test requirements before scheduling the application.

2. 2. How much supervised driving experience must support a Tennessee Intermediate Restricted License application?

   1. 30 hours, including 5 hours at night
   2. 50 hours, including 10 hours at night
   3. 60 hours, all during daylight
   4. 180 hours, including 50 hours at night
   Show answer

   50 hours, including 10 hours at night. The Tennessee application requires verification of 50 hours of driving experience, with 10 of those hours completed at night. The record must be certified by a parent, legal guardian, or licensed driving instructor on the official form. Thirty hours and 60 daylight-only hours change the requirement, while 180 hours confuses the experience total with the separate permit holding period. Keep a careful log as practice occurs. The night-hour portion is the detail most likely to be overlooked when totaling daytime practice.

3. 3. How many passengers may a Tennessee Intermediate Restricted License holder normally carry?

   1. No passengers at all
   2. Only one other passenger
   3. Up to two passengers
   4. Up to three passengers under 21
   Show answer

   Only one other passenger. An Intermediate Restricted driver may have only one other passenger unless one or more passengers is 21 or older with a valid unrestricted license, or the passengers are siblings living in the same home and the driver carries a parent's letter for school trips. No passengers at all is stricter than the law. Two or three passengers exceed the limit without an exception. The passenger rule lifts at the Intermediate Unrestricted level.

Source: the Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, Section A-3: Intermediate Licenses for Drivers Under 18. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.