Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte
If you are wondering how much is a seatbelt ticket in tennessee, the answer is $30 for a first violation and $55 for a second or later one when you pay the court clerk instead of going to court (TCA 55-9-603). No court costs, clerk’s fees or litigation tax can be added. A seat belt violation also carries no points on your Tennessee driving record.
Key Facts
- The fine: $30 for a first violation and $55 for a second or later one, paid instead of appearing. See fine amounts.
- No add-ons: no court costs, clerk’s fees, officer fees or litigation tax. See no extra fees.
- No points: the law bars a point value for this violation. See points.
- A citation, not an arrest: an officer may not arrest you only for not wearing a belt. See the traffic stop.
- Who must buckle up: the driver and front-seat passengers 4 and older, and anyone 16 or 17 in any seat. See who must buckle up.
How Much Is a Seatbelt Ticket in Tennessee?
The amounts are set by state law in TCA 55-9-603(d)(2)(A). A person charged may, “in lieu of appearance in court,” pay a fine to the court clerk:
- First violation: $30.
- Second or later violation: $55.
You pay the clerk of the court that handles the offense in the county where the ticket was written. That court is named on your citation.
There is one more amount in the law. For drivers or passengers aged 16 or 17 ticketed under the any-seat rule, the amount paid instead of appearing is $30 (TCA 55-9-603(d)(3)(A)).
These are the amounts for paying instead of going to court, not what a judge might order in court.
No Court Costs or Extra Fees
The seat belt law has its own rule on fees. Subsection (e) bars the add-ons that can come with other tickets.
No clerk’s fee and no court costs may be charged to anyone convicted under this law. That includes the statutory fees of officers. No litigation tax may be charged either.
The clerk’s share comes out of the fine, not on top of it. Under subsection (d)(2)(B), the clerk keeps $5 of the $30 first-violation fine.
So when you pay in lieu of appearing, the amount in the law is the amount due. For other tickets, court costs are set by each court. Our speeding ticket guide explains how fines and costs work for speeding.
Do Seat Belt Tickets Add Points?
No. TCA 55-9-603(g) says a violation shall not “be assigned a point value for suspension or revocation of a license” by the department of safety.
The TDOSHS Schedule of Points Values matches that rule. It has no seat belt entry. Our points chart lists the violations that do carry points.
The law also limits reporting. Under TCA 55-9-603(f)(2), the department of safety “shall not report any convictions under this section except for law enforcement” or governmental purposes.
Offense Class and the Traffic Stop
A seat belt violation is still an offense. Subsection (d)(1) says, “A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor.”
The stop itself has a firm limit. Under subsection (f)(1), an officer who sees a violation “shall issue a citation” but shall not arrest or take into custody any person solely for this violation. The same rule applies to the any-seat rule for ages 16 and 17.
The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS) explains enforcement on its Safety Tips page. It says, “Tennessee is a primary Safety Belt state.” It also says drivers must wear safety belts at all times when operating a motor vehicle in Tennessee.
Who Must Buckle Up in Tennessee
TCA 55-9-603 sets three main rules. Each one covers a different group:
| Who | Where in the vehicle | Law |
|---|---|---|
| The driver and passengers age 4 and older | Front seat | TCA 55-9-603(a)-(b) |
| Anyone age 16 or 17 | Any seat | TCA 55-9-603(i) |
| Passengers age 4 to 17 with a learner permit or intermediate license driver | Any seat | TCA 55-9-603(j) |
The rule applies “at all times the vehicle is in forward motion.” Subsection (b)(1) limits it to the driver and front-seat passengers.
The 16-and-17 rule reaches every seat. The learner permit and intermediate license rule makes the new driver responsible for belting all passengers aged 4 to 17.
Exemptions in the Law
Two exemptions are plain:
- Physical disability: a passenger or driver with a physical disability that prevents proper restraint, with a physician’s written certification (TCA 55-9-603(h)).
- Public or livery vehicles: the law’s definition of a passenger motor vehicle leaves out vehicles used as a public or livery conveyance for passengers (TCA 55-9-603(c)).
Check the statute or ask the court if you think an exemption applies to you.
Child Seats Are a Separate Law
Young children fall under a different statute. Child passenger restraint systems are covered by TCA 55-9-602, which has its own rules and penalties.
The amounts on this page come only from the safety belt law, TCA 55-9-603.
Can a Driver Course Help With a Seat Belt Ticket?
Not with points. A seat belt ticket has no points to remove (TCA 55-9-603(g)).
The speeding course rule does not apply either. TCA 55-8-207 removes points for one speeding conviction only.
It removes up to 5 points with a course finished within 90 days of the conviction. It works once in a four-year period, and the conviction stays. The TDOSHS Remove Speeding Points page describes that rule.
A court may order a driver education course in a case under TCA 55-10-301. That is a separate court decision, not a seat belt rule.
What We Found on the Official Pages
On the TDOSHS pages we checked on October 27, 2026, two details matched the statute. The Schedule of Points Values, last updated August 12, 2025, has no line for seat belts. The Safety Tips page, last updated March 2, 2026, calls Tennessee “a primary Safety Belt state.”
To find the court clerk named on your citation, use the Tennessee Courts Clerks List. It sorts clerks by county and court type.
Common Mistakes About Seat Belt Tickets
Each point below is checked against TCA 55-9-603 or a TDOSHS page:
- Expecting court costs on top. The law bars court costs, clerk’s fees and litigation tax.
- Adding the clerk’s $5 to the fine. The $5 comes out of the $30.
- Looking for seat belt points. The law bars a point value.
- Thinking only the front seat counts for teens. Anyone 16 or 17 must be belted in any seat.
- Mixing up child seat rules. Child restraints are a separate law, TCA 55-9-602.
How Requirements Can Vary
Tennessee point values, the Driver Improvement Program and the speeding point-removal rule come from state law and TDOSHS rules (TCA 55-50-505, TCA 55-8-207 and Rule 1340-01-04) and apply statewide. Whether a court orders a course for your ticket, which course it orders, and how your case is handled are up to the court on your ticket or the TDOSHS letter you received. Fines and court costs depend on the court and the charge.
Laws, rules and court practice can change. Check your ticket, any court order or TDOSHS letter, the TDOSHS website and the Tennessee Code before you enroll or pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a first seat belt ticket in Tennessee?
It is $30 if you pay the court clerk instead of going to court. No court costs, clerk’s fees or litigation tax can be added (TCA 55-9-603).
How much is a second seat belt ticket?
A second or later violation is $55 when paid instead of appearing. The same no-court-costs rule applies.
Does a seat belt ticket put points on my license?
No. TCA 55-9-603(g) bars a point value for this violation. The TDOSHS Schedule of Points Values has no seat belt entry.
Can I be arrested for not wearing a seat belt?
Not for that alone. The officer must issue a citation but may not arrest or take you into custody solely for a seat belt violation.
Is Tennessee a primary seat belt state?
Yes. TDOSHS says “Tennessee is a primary Safety Belt state” on its Safety Tips page.
Do back-seat passengers have to wear a seat belt?
The general rule covers the driver and front-seat passengers 4 and older. Anyone 16 or 17 must be belted in any seat, and learner permit or intermediate license drivers must belt all passengers aged 4 to 17.
Conclusion
A Tennessee seat belt ticket costs $30 for a first violation and $55 for a later one when paid instead of appearing, with no court costs and no points. A driver course does not change those amounts.
If a court orders a driver education course in another case, or you have a speeding conviction, confirm the court accepts an online course or check the TDOSHS 4-hour list. Then take the Tennessee Driver Education Course online.
Related Articles
- How Much Is a Speeding Ticket in Tennessee? Costs, Points
- Tennessee Demerit Points Chart: How Many Points for Each Traffic Violation
- Tennessee Traffic Ticket Options: Pay, Contest, or Ask About Driving School
Sources
- TDOSHS — Safety Tips and Guidance
- TDOSHS — Schedule of Points Values
- TDOSHS — Traffic School: How to Remove Points (4-Hour)
- Tennessee Courts — Clerks List
- Tennessee State Courts (Administrative Office of the Courts)
Billy Forte is the owner of Driving Logic, an online driver education course provider serving Tennessee and other U.S. states.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Tennessee course rules, point values, fines and penalties depend on your ticket, court, TDOSHS notice and case facts, and they can change. Use official TDOSHS, Tennessee Code and court sources, and consult a qualified Tennessee attorney for advice about your own case.