Tennessee Points on License: How the System Works

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte

Tennessee points on license records add up from moving-violation convictions, and 12 or more points in any 12 months brings a notice of proposed suspension. Drivers under 18 reach that step at 6 points. The notice is not an automatic suspension, since you first get a chance at a hearing.

Key Facts

  • Who keeps score: the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS) sets point values and runs the Driver Improvement Program. See how the system works.
  • Speeding points: 1 to 8 points in a car, based on how far over the limit you were. See point values.
  • Adult limits: 6 to 11 points in a year brings an advisory letter, and 12 or more in any 12 months brings a notice. See how many points before suspension.
  • The time window: TDOSHS scans back 24 months each time a violation posts. See how TDOSHS counts time.
  • Two course rules: a 4-hour course can remove the points for one speeding conviction, but the 8-hour class does not remove points. See courses and points.

How Tennessee Points on License Records Work

TDOSHS runs the Driver Improvement Program under TCA 55-50-505. That law lets TDOSHS decide how many points each violation carries. It also lets TDOSHS set the totals that lead to action.

If you searched for the Tennessee DMV, the agency in charge of points is TDOSHS. It posts its numbers on the Schedule of Points Values.

Points go on your driving record after a conviction for a moving violation. Some crashes carry points too. For example, contributing to a crash with property damage is 3 points, and one with an injury is 4.

A conviction does not need a trial. Under TCA 55-50-102(16), “the payment of a fine or court cost” counts as a conviction. So paying a ticket adds its points the same way a court ruling does.

Point Values for Common Violations

Each conviction carries a set value on the TDOSHS Schedule. Speeding in a car is scored by how far over the limit you were. At 1-5 mph over, it is 1 point, and at 6-15 mph over, it is 3 points.

The values climb from there. Speeding 16-25 mph over is 4 points, 26-35 mph over is 5, and 36-45 mph over is 6. Speeding 46 mph or more over the limit is 8 points.

A few other values from the Schedule show the range:

  • Careless or negligent driving: 4 points
  • Reckless driving: 6 points in a car
  • Passing a stopped school bus: 8 points

Our Tennessee points chart lists every value on the Schedule. For speeding alone, including work zones, see how many points a speeding ticket is.

Driving While Suspended

This value changed by law. Since July 1, 2025, TCA 55-50-504(k) says “Not more than four (4) points shall be assessed” for driving while your license is cancelled, suspended or revoked. The change came from Public Chapter 504 of 2025.

The TDOSHS Schedule still lists 8 points for this offense. When the two differ, the statute controls. Our guide to driving on a suspended license covers the offense itself.

How Many Points Before Suspension

For adults, two totals matter. Under Rule 1340-01-04-.04(1), a driver with 6 to 11 points in one year gets an advisory letter. It is a warning, not a penalty.

At 12 or more points in any 12-month period, TDOSHS acts. The Points Accumulation page says these drivers “are sent a notice of proposed suspension and given an opportunity to attend an administrative hearing.” So 12 points does not mean an automatic suspension.

Your response shapes what comes next. TDOSHS says a driver who does not request a hearing is suspended for six to 12 months. Our guide to license suspension for points walks through the notice, the hearing and each outcome.

Here is simple math with Schedule values. A careless driving conviction (4), a failure to yield (4) and a 26-35 mph speeding ticket (5) total 13 points. Within 12 months, that passes the adult limit.

Drivers Under 18

The limit is lower for teens. TDOSHS sends a notice of proposed suspension at 6 or more points in any 12 months for drivers under 18. With fewer than 6 points, the teen gets a warning letter, and a copy goes to a parent or guardian.

A parent or guardian must attend the teen’s hearing. Our guide to minor driver license points covers the teen rules and the intermediate license.

How TDOSHS Counts Time

Tennessee has no published rule that says when points “expire.” Instead, two parts of Rule 1340-01-04 control which convictions count:

  • The 24-month scan: each time a crash or violation posts, TDOSHS scans back 24 months from the posted date. It looks for 12 or more points within any 12-month period (Rule .04(6)).
  • The 2-year rule: convictions for violations that happened more than 2 years before TDOSHS got the report are not used in the program (Rule .02(3)).

Your driving record is a separate thing. The TDOSHS MVR page says the record “will show the past 3 or 10 years of your driving history.” Our guides on how long points count and how long a ticket stays on your record go deeper.

How a Tennessee violation turns into points, from the conviction and posting to the 24-month scan, the advisory letter and the notice

Courses and Points

Tennessee has two kinds of courses, and they do different jobs:

  • The Driver Education Course: at least 4 hours, in a classroom or online (Rule 1340-03-07-.02(3)). It is used when a court orders a course and for speeding point removal.
  • The 8-hour defensive driving class: part of the TDOSHS Driver Improvement Program, offered after a notice of proposed suspension.

TDOSHS says courts may order “a 4-hour or 8-hour Driver Education Course.” The court order or TDOSHS letter says which one you need.

Removing Points for One Speeding Conviction

TCA 55-8-207 is the one rule that takes points off. Finish a department-approved course within 90 days of a speeding conviction, and the points for that conviction come off, up to 5 points. It covers one speeding offense per course and only once in a four-year period.

The TDOSHS Traffic School page adds, “Only the points will be removed, the conviction will remain.” Providers must send certificates to TDOSHS within 30 days. It covers speeding only.

Since July 1, 2026, Public Chapter 993 adds a path. A person charged with speeding who pays the fine and costs instead of going to court may also register for a department-approved course.

These courses must be available online through the TDOSHS website. Our guide on removing points covers each limit.

The 8-Hour Class After a Notice

At a points hearing, TDOSHS says “In most cases” the driver may take a defensive driving class “in lieu of suspension or a reduction of suspension time.” It must be done within 90 days of the letter or hearing. It “can only be completed once every five (5) years to receive credit.”

The 8-hour class does not remove points. Violations before the class still count, and the driver is on probation for 12 months afterward (Rule .04(6), (7)(e)). The Defensive Driving Schools page says “Live-stream classes are now approved.”

Court-Ordered Courses

A court may require a TDOSHS-approved driver education course “in addition to or in lieu of any portion of other penalty imposed” (TCA 55-10-301(b)(1)). The court decides what that means. No Tennessee law says a course dismisses a ticket.

The court clerk must give you a list of approved entities in the county. The Court Ordered Traffic Schools page also says, “prior to registering for an online course, please confirm that the course will be accepted by the court.” This option does not apply to Class A, B or C license holders or to anyone driving a commercial motor vehicle (TCA 55-10-301(c)-(d)).

Checking Your Own Record

You can see your history by ordering your Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) from TDOSHS. It costs $5 online, in person or by mail. Online orders are for Tennessee residents only.

The MVR page does not say whether points are listed. To find your total, match each violation to its Schedule value. Our guides on how to check points and reading your driving record cover each step.

If a suspension does happen, getting your license back has its own steps. Rule .04(12)(a) calls for serving the suspension, paying a restoration fee and filing proof of financial responsibility. See our guide to license reinstatement for the process.

What We Found on the Official Pages

On the TDOSHS pages we checked on October 27, 2026, three details stood out.

First, the Schedule of Points Values was last updated on August 12, 2025. It still shows 8 points for driving while suspended, even though the law has said not more than 4 since July 1, 2025.

Second, the Points Accumulation page, updated July 20, 2026, does not mention the adult advisory letter. The letter comes from the rule. Third, the page speaks of points “within any 12-month period” and gives no end date for points.

Key numbers in the Tennessee point system, from the 12-point adult limit to the 5-point speeding removal cap

Common Mistakes

Each item below is checked against a Tennessee law, rule or TDOSHS page:

  • Thinking 12 points means a suspension right away. It brings a notice and a chance at a hearing.
  • Forgetting that paying counts. Paying the fine and costs is a conviction under TCA 55-50-102(16).
  • Expecting the 8-hour class to clear points. It does not, and 12 months of probation follow.
  • Using point removal for a non-speeding ticket. TCA 55-8-207 covers speeding only.
  • Missing the 90-day window. The speeding course must be done within 90 days of the conviction.
  • Relying on the 8-point line for driving while suspended. The law since July 1, 2025 says not more than 4.

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 many points can you have before suspension in Tennessee?

Adults get a notice of proposed suspension at 12 or more points in any 12 months. Drivers under 18 get one at 6 or more. The notice comes with a chance at a hearing before any suspension.

What happens at 6 points for an adult?

Rule 1340-01-04-.04(1) says an advisory letter is mailed to adults with 6 to 11 points in a year. The letter is a warning. It does not suspend your license.

Do old points stop counting?

TDOSHS looks for 12 points within any 12 months during a 24-month scan. It also does not use convictions for violations more than 2 years before it got the report. No official source sets a date when points leave the record.

Can a course take points off my Tennessee license?

Only for speeding. 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 on your record.

Does the 8-hour class lower my point total?

No. The 8-hour class does not remove points. It can stand in for a suspension or shorten it, and 12 months of probation follow.

How many points is reckless driving in Tennessee?

Reckless driving is 6 points in a car on the TDOSHS Schedule. In a commercial vehicle, the Schedule lists 7 points.

Where do I send a hearing request?

TDOSHS takes requests by email at [email protected] or by mail to the Driver Improvement Section, P.O. Box 25290, Nashville, TN 37202-5290.

Include your name, license number and date of birth. With more than 20 points, or as a repeat offender, the written request must arrive within 30 days of the notice date.

Conclusion

Tennessee’s point system adds a set value for each conviction and acts at 12 points in any 12 months for adults, or 6 for teens. Order your MVR and read any TDOSHS letter closely. Readers with a court order for a 4-hour course should first confirm their court takes an online option, and readers using TCA 55-8-207 for speeding points should look over the TDOSHS 4-hour list. Take the Tennessee Driver Education Course online once you know it fits your case.

Sources

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.