Tennessee Driving Record: How to Get It and What It Shows

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte

Your Tennessee driving record is called the MVR, and you can order it for $5 online, in person or by mail. The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS) calls it “an official copy of your driving record,” and it shows the past 3 or 10 years of your driving history. Once you have it, you can compare it with the TDOSHS points schedule to see where you stand.

Key Facts

What it is: the MVR is TDOSHS’s official copy of your driving record. See what the MVR is.
Cost: $5 online, in person or by mail. See three ways to get it.
Certified copy: only a mail request gives you one, and mail takes about two weeks. See ordering by mail.
Time span: it shows the past 3 or 10 years, and it does not show your address. See what the record covers.
Reading it: match each violation to the TDOSHS Schedule of Points Values. See how to read it.

What the Tennessee Driving Record (MVR) Is

MVR stands for motor vehicle record. The TDOSHS MVR page calls it “an official copy of your driving record.” TDOSHS keeps the record and sells the copy.

You may have searched for a “Tennessee DMV driving record.” In Tennessee, the agency is the Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS), not a DMV.

TDOSHS also runs the Driver Improvement Program and sets point values (TCA 55-50-505). Your MVR lets you see the same record TDOSHS keeps. So it is the best place to start if you want to know where you stand.

Three Ways to Get Your Tennessee Driving Record

TDOSHS offers three ways to order the MVR. Each one costs $5.

Way to order	Who can use it	What you need	Good to know
Online (e-Services)	Tennessee residents	Five personal and license details (listed below)	Prepaid cards are not accepted
In person	You, or someone you authorize	A visit to a Driver Services Center	Someone else needs your notarized statement
By mail	The requester, with a signed request (TDOSHS may ask for more)	A signed request that gives the reason, plus a cashier’s check or money order	The only way to get a certified copy

Ordering Online

The online option is for Tennessee residents only. You use the “Visit e-Services” link on the TDOSHS MVR page.

You will need five pieces of information:

your full name
your date of birth
your Tennessee driver license number
your Social Security number
the last five digits of your DD number

The fee is $5. TDOSHS says prepaid cards are not accepted.

Ordering in Person

Every Driver Services Center offers the MVR, and the fee is the same $5. The TDOSHS Locations page lists “MVR driving records” for both Full-Service and Express Service Centers.

You may also send another person. That person must bring a notarized statement from you that authorizes them to get the record.

Ordering by Mail

TDOSHS calls mail the “only option for certified copy.” Pay $5 by cashier’s check or money order made out to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security.

Your written request must explain why you want the record. TDOSHS says it “MUST be signed by the requester.” Send it to this address:

MVR Request, PO Box 945, Nashville, TN 37202

TDOSHS says to “Allow two weeks from the mailing date to receive the MVR.” Plan ahead if you need it by a set date.

What the Record Covers

TDOSHS says, “The MVR will show the past 3 or 10 years of your driving history.” That is the window you see on the copy.

Your address is left off the copy. TDOSHS says this is done “To protect your privacy,” so the MVR cannot confirm your mailing address.

Keep your address current with TDOSHS another way. A TDOSHS suspension takes effect 10 days after notice is mailed to your last known address (TCA 55-50-504(h)).

The TDOSHS MVR page does not list every item on the record. It does not say how points appear. For that reason, read your copy with the TDOSHS Schedule of Points Values open beside it.

Five steps to read a Tennessee MVR, from checking the time span to matching point values and looking for errors

How to Read Your Tennessee Driving Record

Reading the MVR is mostly matching and adding. Follow these steps with your copy:

Check the time span. Note whether your copy covers 3 or 10 years.
List each violation and its date. Write them down in date order.
Find each point value. Use the TDOSHS Schedule of Points Values.
Group the points by 12-month windows. Add the points that fall inside any 12 months.
Compare with the limits. Adults face action at 12 or more points in 12 months. Drivers under 18 face it at 6 or more.
Look for anything wrong. A wrong entry can change your total.

Matching Violations to Point Values

The Schedule lists a value for each kind of violation. Here are a few values for a car:

Speeding 16 to 25 mph over: 4 points.
Texting while driving: 3 points.
Making an improper turn: 3 points.
Following improperly: 3 points.
Passing a stopped school bus: 8 points.

For example, a 16 to 25 mph speeding ticket (4), a texting ticket (3) and an improper turn (3) total 10 points. For an adult, that is in the advisory letter range of 6 to 11 points. Our Tennessee points chart lists every value.

Reading the Dates

Dates matter as much as points. Under Rule 1340-01-04-.04(6), a new posting sets off a 24-month look-back from the date it posted. Inside that span, TDOSHS checks whether any 12-month stretch holds 12 or more points.

A second rule limits old entries. Rule 1340-01-04-.02(3) keeps a conviction out of the program when the violation happened more than 2 years before TDOSHS received the report. Our guide on how long a ticket stays on your record explains what the MVR time span means for a single ticket.

When Your Total Is High

Your total tells you what TDOSHS may do next. The TDOSHS Points Accumulation page describes the steps.

Adults with 6 to 11 points in a year: an advisory letter (Rule 1340-01-04-.04(1)).
Adults with 12 or more in any 12 months: a notice of proposed suspension and a chance at a hearing.
Drivers under 18 with 6 or more in 12 months: a notice and the Driver Improvement Program.

A notice is not an automatic suspension. Our guide to the Tennessee points system explains each step after it.

Paid Tickets Count as Convictions

Paying a ticket does not keep it off your record. Tennessee lets you pay rather than appear, if the court approves (TCA 55-10-207(f)). TCA 55-50-102(16) then treats “the payment of a fine or court cost” as a conviction.

So a paid ticket is a conviction under Tennessee law. After your case ends, order a fresh MVR to check how it was posted.

Fixing an Error on Your Record

A record error can matter a lot. Rule 1340-01-04-.04(5) applies when a driver offers valid proof of a record-keeping error. If the fix brings your total under 12 points, “the suspension action shall be withdrawn.”

The rule does not list which papers count as valid proof. For a question about your own record, ask TDOSHS or talk with a Tennessee attorney.

Removed Speeding Points and Your Record

Tennessee has one rule that takes points off a record. It covers speeding only (TCA 55-8-207).

Under that rule, you finish a department-approved course within 90 days of a speeding conviction. TDOSHS then removes the points for that conviction, up to 5 points. It works for one speeding offense per course and only once in a four-year period.

The TDOSHS Remove Speeding Points page is clear about the record. Providers report completions to TDOSHS within 30 days, and then “Only the points will be removed, the conviction will remain.”

Privacy and Who Can Get Your Record

Federal law limits what TDOSHS can release. The TDOSHS MVR page says, “The Federal Driver Privacy Protection Act prohibits the release of personal identifying information from driver license and vehicle registration records.”

Within those limits, TDOSHS sets who may order your record. Online, you enter details only you should know. In person, a person you send needs your notarized statement.

Summary card of Tennessee MVR facts: a $5 fee, 3 or 10 years shown, no address, certified copies by mail and two weeks by mail

What We Found on the Official Pages

On the TDOSHS pages we checked on October 27, 2026, the MVR fee was $5 for all three ways to order. The MVR page was last updated August 14, 2026.

That page does not use the words “points,” “insurance” or “employer.” It explains how to order the record, not how to score it.

The Locations page (updated October 21, 2026) lists MVR driving records at both Full-Service and Express Service Centers. Reinstatement services are listed only for Full-Service Centers.

Common Mistakes

Each point below is checked against a TDOSHS page or rule:

Ordering online as a non-resident. The online option is for Tennessee residents only.
Expecting a certified copy online or in person. Only a mail request gives a certified copy.
Sending the wrong payment by mail. TDOSHS asks for a cashier’s check or money order.
Sending someone without a notarized statement. That person needs your signed, notarized authorization.
Adding points from the wrong time frame. TDOSHS looks for 12 points within any 12 months.
Thinking point removal clears the ticket. For speeding, only the points come off, and the conviction stays.

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 does a Tennessee driving record cost?

It costs $5 online, in person or by mail. The online option is for Tennessee residents. A mail request is the only way to get a certified copy.

Can I get my Tennessee driving record online?

Yes, if you are a Tennessee resident. Use the e-Services link on the TDOSHS MVR page. You need your name, date of birth, license number, Social Security number and the last five digits of your DD number.

How far back does a Tennessee MVR go?

TDOSHS says the MVR shows the past 3 or 10 years of your driving history. It does not show your address.

How do I get a certified copy of my driving record?

Mail a signed request that gives the reason, with a $5 cashier’s check or money order, to MVR Request, PO Box 945, Nashville, TN 37202. Allow two weeks from the mailing date.

Can someone else pick up my driving record?

Yes. A person you authorize can get it at a Driver Services Center. TDOSHS says that person needs a notarized statement from you.

What if my driving record has a mistake?

Rule 1340-01-04-.04(5) applies when a driver offers valid proof of a record-keeping error. If the fix brings your total under 12 points, a suspension action is withdrawn. Ask TDOSHS about your own record.

Does point removal take a ticket off my record?

No. Under TCA 55-8-207, only the points for one speeding conviction come off, up to 5. TDOSHS says the conviction will remain.

Conclusion

Your Tennessee driving record costs $5, shows 3 or 10 years, and is best read side by side with the TDOSHS Schedule of Points Values. If a court ordered a driver education course, confirm the court will accept an online course, and then you can take the Tennessee Driver Education Course online.

If your record shows a speeding conviction, check the TDOSHS 4-hour list first: under TCA 55-8-207, a department-approved course done within 90 days of that conviction removes its points, up to 5, once in four years, while the conviction stays on the record.

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.