Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte
The tennessee driving points chart below comes from the TDOSHS Schedule of Points Values: speeding in a car adds 1 to 8 points, and other moving violations add 3 to 8 points. Adults face a notice of proposed suspension at 12 or more points in any 12 months, and drivers under 18 at 6 or more. Check your own driving record (MVR) to see which convictions apply to you.
Key Facts
- The source: every value here comes from the TDOSHS Schedule of Points Values, updated in August 2025. See where the chart comes from.
- Speeding: 1 to 8 points in a car, and 2 to 8 points in a work zone. See speeding points.
- Top values: passing a stopped school bus and reckless endangerment by vehicle are 8 points each. See other moving violations.
- Driving while suspended: the law since July 1, 2025 allows not more than 4 points, though the Schedule still lists 8. See driving while suspended.
- The limits: 12 or more points in any 12 months for adults, and 6 or more for drivers under 18. See how the chart ties to the limits.
Where the Tennessee Driving Points Chart Comes From
The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS) sets point values. TCA 55-50-505 lets the commissioner set “the number of points to be assigned” to each violation. The law itself lists no point numbers.
TDOSHS posts the values on its Schedule of Points Values. The tables below use the Schedule’s own wording where we could. Points apply after a conviction, and paying the fine counts as a conviction under TCA 55-50-102(16).
This chart shows the main lines for a regular, non-commercial vehicle. The Schedule has more lines, so check it for any charge not listed here.
Speeding in a Car
Speeding points depend on how far over the posted limit you were. Here are the Schedule lines for a non-commercial vehicle.
| Schedule line (non-commercial) | Points |
|---|---|
| Speed not indicated on source documents | 3 |
| Speeding 1 through 5 mph in excess of speed zone | 1 |
| Speeding 6 through 15 mph in excess of speed zone | 3 |
| Speeding 16 through 25 mph in excess of speed zone | 4 |
| Speeding 26 through 35 mph in excess of speed zone | 5 |
| Speeding 36 through 45 mph in excess of speed zone | 6 |
| Speeding 46 mph and above in excess of speed zone | 8 |
The “speed not indicated” line applies when the ticket or court report does not show your speed. Our guide to how many points a speeding ticket is explains the speeding bands in more detail.
Speeding in a Work Zone
The Schedule has a separate set of values for construction zones. Each band is higher than the matching car value.
| Construction zone band | Points |
|---|---|
| 1 through 5 mph over posted speed | 2 |
| 6 through 15 mph over posted speed | 4 |
| 16 through 25 mph over posted speed | 5 |
| 26 through 35 mph over posted speed | 6 |
| 36 mph and above over posted speed | 8 |
Other Moving Violations
These lines cover common moving violations in a non-commercial vehicle. The wording follows the Schedule.
| Violation (Schedule wording) | Points |
|---|---|
| Following improperly | 3 |
| Making improper turn | 3 |
| Failure to signal direction or to reduce speed suddenly | 3 |
| Texting while driving | 3 |
| Handheld device | 3 |
| Careless or negligent driving | 4 |
| Failing to yield the right-of-way | 4 |
| Improper passing | 4 |
| Leaving the scene of a crash (if no revocation or suspension action) | 5 |
| Failure to yield to emergency vehicles | 6 |
| Operating a vehicle while using cell phone (under 18) | 6 |
| Reckless Driving | 6 |
| Passing a stopped school bus, church or youth bus taking on or discharging passengers | 8 |
| Reckless endangerment by vehicle (misdemeanor) | 8 |
Two lines need care. Cell phone use carries 6 points only for drivers under 18, while texting and handheld device lines are 3 points each. Leaving the scene is 5 points only when no revocation or suspension action applies.
The emergency vehicle line also covers failing to change lanes or slow down for authorized vehicles on the roadside.
Crash Points
The Schedule also adds points for contributing to a crash. The value rises with the harm:
- Property damage: 3 points
- Bodily injury: 4 points
- Another person’s death: 8 points
Driving While Suspended
This line has a known gap between the Schedule and the law. The Schedule lists 8 points for driving while the license “required for type of vehicle operated is under suspension, revocation or cancellation.”
Since July 1, 2025, TCA 55-50-504(k) says “Not more than four (4) points shall be assessed” for that offense. The change came from Public Chapter 504 of 2025. When the two differ, the statute controls.
Commercial Vehicles
Commercial vehicles have their own, higher values on the Schedule. For example, reckless driving is 6 points in a car but 7 points in a commercial vehicle.
If you were driving a commercial vehicle, use the commercial section of the Schedule, not the car values above.
How the Chart Ties to the Limits
Point values matter because of the TDOSHS limits. For adults, Rule 1340-01-04-.04(1) calls for an advisory letter at 6 to 11 points in a year. At 12 or more points in any 12-month period, TDOSHS sends a notice of proposed suspension with a chance at a hearing.
For drivers under 18, the Points Accumulation page sets the notice at 6 or more points. One cell phone conviction for a teen is already 6 points.
Here is simple adult math with chart values. Improper passing (4), making an improper turn (3) and a 36-45 mph speeding conviction (6) total 13 points. If all three fall in any 12-month period, that total passes the adult limit.
A single 8-point line plus one 4-point line also reaches 12. For example, passing a stopped school bus (8) and careless or negligent driving (4) together make 12 points.
Lines That Matter for Teens
Drivers under 18 face a lower limit, so the chart hits them harder. With fewer than 6 points, TDOSHS sends a warning letter, and a copy goes to a parent or guardian. At 6 or more, the teen gets a notice and a hearing that a parent or guardian attends.
Any 6-point line, or two 3-point lines, reaches that level. Our guide to minor driver license points covers the teen rules.
Our Tennessee points system guide explains the notice, the hearing and how TDOSHS counts time.
What the Chart Does Not Show
The chart lists values, not what happens after. Three related rules sit outside it:
- Speeding point removal: under TCA 55-8-207, a department-approved course finished within 90 days of a speeding conviction removes that conviction’s points, up to 5, once in a four-year period. The conviction stays.
- Seat belt tickets: under TCA 55-9-603, a seat belt violation adds no points. See our guide to seat belt ticket costs.
- Your own total: the chart cannot tell you what is on your record. Your MVR from TDOSHS can.
The TDOSHS Traffic School page says, “Only the points will be removed, the conviction will remain.” Point removal covers speeding only.
To see your own convictions, order your MVR from TDOSHS for $5 online, in person or by mail. The TDOSHS MVR page says it shows “the past 3 or 10 years of your driving history.” Our guide on how to check points walks through each way to order it.
The 8-Hour Class and the Chart
A points notice can lead to an 8-hour defensive driving class in the TDOSHS Driver Improvement Program. TDOSHS says that “In most cases” a driver at a hearing may take the class “in lieu of suspension or a reduction of suspension time.”
The 8-hour class does not remove points. It must be done within 90 days of the letter or hearing, and it gives credit once every 5 years. After it, the driver is on probation for 12 months under Rule 1340-01-04-.04(7)(e).
What We Found on the Official Pages
On the TDOSHS Schedule we checked on October 27, 2026, the page was last modified on August 12, 2025. It lists more lines than the 2014 version of Rule 1340-01-04. Texting, handheld device, construction zone and reckless endangerment lines appear on the Schedule but not in the rule’s list.
The Schedule groups driving while suspended under “Other Violations” at 8 points. It does not yet show the 4-point cap that took effect on July 1, 2025.
Common Mistakes
Each item below is checked against the TDOSHS Schedule or Tennessee law:
- Using car values for a work zone ticket. Work zone bands run 2 to 8 points.
- Calling all cell phone tickets 6 points. That value is for drivers under 18; texting and handheld lines are 3.
- Using 7 points for reckless driving in a car. Seven is the commercial value; a car is 6.
- Relying on the 8-point line for driving while suspended. The law since July 1, 2025 says not more than 4.
- Adding seat belt tickets to your total. They carry no points.
- Guessing instead of checking. Your MVR shows your own convictions.
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
What is the most points one Tennessee ticket can add?
On the car Schedule, the top value is 8 points. Speeding 46 mph or more over, passing a stopped school bus, reckless endangerment by vehicle and contributing to a crash that causes a death are each 8 points.
How many points is careless driving in Tennessee?
Careless or negligent driving is 4 points on the TDOSHS Schedule. That is the same value as failing to yield the right-of-way and improper passing.
How many points is texting while driving?
Texting while driving is 3 points, and the handheld device line is also 3. For drivers under 18, operating a vehicle while using a cell phone is 6 points.
Are the values different for commercial drivers?
Yes. Commercial vehicles have higher values on the Schedule. For example, reckless driving is 7 points in a commercial vehicle and 6 in a car.
Does a crash add points in Tennessee?
Contributing to a crash adds points. The Schedule lists 3 points for property damage, 4 for bodily injury and 8 for another person’s death.
Is the TDOSHS chart up to date?
The Schedule was last modified on August 12, 2025. It still lists 8 points for driving while suspended, but the law since July 1, 2025 says not more than 4. For any other line, the Schedule is the official source.
How many points is failing to yield to an emergency vehicle?
It is 6 points on the TDOSHS Schedule. The same line covers failing to change lanes or slow down for authorized vehicles on the roadside.
Does paying a ticket add points?
Yes. Under TCA 55-50-102(16), “the payment of a fine or court cost” counts as a conviction. The points on the chart then apply to that conviction.
Conclusion
The TDOSHS Schedule sets a value for each conviction, and those values add up toward 12 points for adults or 6 for drivers under 18. Order your MVR to match your convictions to the chart. Speeding is the only line on the chart that a course can take off, under TCA 55-8-207, so use the TDOSHS 4-hour list for that, and ask the court before an online course if it ordered one. Take the Tennessee Driver Education Course online if it fits your case.
Related Articles
- Tennessee Points on License: How the System Works
- How Many Points Is a Speeding Ticket in TN? By MPH Over
- How to Check Points on License TN: Get Your TDOSHS MVR
- How Much Is a Seatbelt Ticket in Tennessee?
Sources
- TDOSHS — Schedule of Points Values
- TDOSHS — Driver Improvement (Points Accumulation)
- Tennessee Rule Chapter 1340-01-04 — Tennessee Driver Improvement Program (PDF)
- Tennessee Public Chapter No. 504 (2025) (PDF)
- TDOSHS — Obtaining a Driving Record (MVR)
- TDOSHS — Traffic School: How to Remove Points (4-Hour)
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.