Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte
TN drivers license reinstatement starts with your own requirements list from the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS). You clear each item on it, pay the fees set by law, file SR-22 insurance if the list asks for it, and then reinstate online or in person. TDOSHS lists the same four steps for every Tennessee license holder, but your list shows what applies to you.
Key Facts
- Four steps: get your requirements, clear the court or agency, clear state items, then reinstate. See the four steps.
- Fees set by law: $65 per offense, $50 when proof of financial responsibility is required, and $35 for nonmoving violations. See reinstatement fees.
- Payment plan: owe more than $75, pay $25 down, then $75 every 3 months. See the payment plan.
- SR-22: keep it for the whole suspension or revocation period. See SR-22 insurance.
- Review time: online documents can take up to 5 business days. See how to reinstate.
- Restricted license: some drivers may qualify while still suspended. See restricted licenses.
Suspension vs Revocation
TDOSHS uses two words for losing your license. They do not mean the same thing.
The TDOSHS Reinstatements page says, “A driver’s license suspension is the temporary withdrawal of legal driving privileges for a specific period.” It also says, “Revocation means the driver’s license permission has officially been taken away.”
Either way, you must reinstate to get your full driving privileges back. If you searched for a “TN DMV reinstatement,” the agency that handles it is TDOSHS, the Department of Safety and Homeland Security.
Check Your Status First
Before you pay anything, confirm where you stand. Two TDOSHS tools help:
- Your requirements list: the online tool linked on the Reinstatements page.
- Your driving record (MVR): $5 online, in person or by mail, from the TDOSHS MVR page. It shows the past 3 or 10 years.
Keep your address current with TDOSHS. A TDOSHS suspension takes effect 10 days after notice is mailed to your last known address (TCA 55-50-504(h)).
That rule does not apply to suspensions by a court. Our guide to your Tennessee driving record shows how to order the MVR.
The Four Steps for TN Drivers License Reinstatement
TDOSHS lists four steps for Tennessee license holders:
- Get your Tennessee reinstatement requirements. The Reinstatements page links to an online tool that shows your list.
- Get cleared with the court or agency. TDOSHS says to get cleared “with the Department of Human Services or the local court where the conviction was received.”
- Clear all state requirements on your list. TDOSHS says “these steps must be completed before reinstatement.”
- Reinstate. “After clearing all requirements you may be eligible to reinstate your license.”
Your list is the key document. It shows what you must clear and what you owe. TDOSHS pages do not list a total cost for everyone.
Reinstatement Fees Set by Law
The fee amounts come from TCA 55-12-129. TDOSHS pages do not list them, so here is what the law says.
| Fee under TCA 55-12-129 | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Restoration fee | $65 | For each offense that led to the suspension or revocation, unless another law says otherwise |
| Proof of financial responsibility | $50 | When the law requires proof of financial responsibility |
| Failure to satisfy a citation | $65 each | For each such suspension, with no more than $400 at one time for those |
| Nonmoving violations | $35 | Except driver license and registration offenses |
These are fees TDOSHS collects to reinstate. They are not court fines or court costs, which each court sets.
Your own total depends on your record. The requirements list shows what you owe. For example, two failure-to-satisfy suspensions mean two $65 fees, plus any other fee on your list.
A failure-to-appear suspension has its own notice rules. The court must report it to TDOSHS within 6 months of the violation date, except for commercial license holders. You then have 30 days after the notice to ask for a hearing to show an error in the records (TCA 55-50-502).
How to Reinstate: Online, In Person or by Mail
You can finish the process online or in person. TDOSHS also lists a mailing address.
Online
The Reinstatements page has links to pay fees and to upload documents. TDOSHS says, “Please allow up to 5 business days for review and do not submit the same document more than one time via any method.”
That warning matters. TDOSHS adds, “Duplicate submissions will delay the review of your documents.” Send each document once.
In Person
The TDOSHS Locations page says Full-Service Driver Services Centers offer “reinstatement services.” Express Service Centers do not list that service.
The Reinstatements page also says third-party partners such as a “county clerk, library, etc.” are not reinstatement locations.
By Mail and Phone
TDOSHS lists this mailing address and phone number:
- Mail: Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Financial Responsibility, PO Box 945, Nashville, TN 37202
- Phone: (866) 903-7357
TDOSHS also lists a courier address at 1150 Foster Ave., Nashville, TN 37210. It says reinstatements are not processed in person at that location.
The Reinstatement Fee Payment Plan
If you cannot pay all the fees at once, TDOSHS offers an installment plan. The TDOSHS Payment Plan page sets these terms:
- Who qualifies: you must owe more than $75 in reinstatement fees and meet all other reinstatement requirements.
- Down payment: $25, which TDOSHS calls an administrative fee.
- Payments: $75 every 3 months until the balance is paid, over up to 60 months.
- How to start: by mail-in request or in person at any Driver Services Center.
The law lets TDOSHS reinstate you once you enter a plan (TCA 55-12-129(g)). A plan in good standing can be changed to add fees from a new suspension. If you default, TDOSHS can set up a new plan for the balance.
If you miss a payment, you get a notice. Within 30 days of that notice, you may ask for a hearing (TCA 55-12-129(g)(4)(B)).
Court Fines Are a Separate Plan
The TDOSHS plan covers reinstatement fees only. Unpaid court fines and costs are handled with the local court or the court clerk (TCA 55-50-502(d)).
TDOSHS may reinstate you once the court certifies that you entered a payment plan and other requirements are met. A person who defaults on a court plan is not eligible for future plans under that law.
SR-22 Insurance
Your list may require SR-22 insurance. The TDOSHS Reinstatements page explains the rules:
- Who files it: “The insurance policy MUST be filed by an insurance company electronically to the department.”
- How long: it “MUST be maintained for the length of the suspension or revocation period.” TDOSHS gives an example: a one-year revocation means a one-year SR-22 requirement.
- If it ends early: a lapse before you finish the requirement can lead to another suspension.
- Cost: “The insurance company determines the cost.”
- Not on your list: “If the SR22 requirement is not listed you are no longer required to carry SR-22 insurance.”
Restricted Licenses
Some drivers may get a restricted license while still suspended or revoked. The TDOSHS Restricted License page says, “Under Tennessee law, some people may qualify for a restricted driver license depending on their situation.”
The steps on that page are these:
- Get a certified order for a restricted driver license that is signed by a judge.
- Get SR-22 insurance that is in effect.
- Within 10 days of the court order, go to a Driver Services Center and apply for a 90-day temporary license, and pay the fees.
The license is valid only during the revocation period. It is not available for Class A, B or C commercial licenses. Points suspensions follow a different route, through the Driver Improvement Program.
After a Points Suspension
A points suspension has its own rules. Under Rule 1340-01-04-.04(12)(a), you serve the suspension, pay a restoration fee and file proof of financial responsibility.
A driver suspended for not attending an assigned course may reinstate early by finishing an approved course (Rule .04(12)(b)). Our guide to license suspension for points covers that path.
Requirements From Another State
If you hold a Tennessee license and also owe something in another state, TDOSHS says to clear Tennessee first. Then clear the other state’s requirement.
The Reinstatements page gives the details for this case. Read it, or call the number above, before you send documents.
What We Found on the Official Pages
On the TDOSHS pages we checked on October 27, 2026, no page listed a total reinstatement cost. The fee amounts are in TCA 55-12-129, and your requirements list shows your own amount.
The Reinstatements page (updated June 5, 2026) and the Locations page (updated October 21, 2026) differ on where reinstatement is done. The Locations page lists reinstatement services only for Full-Service Centers. Plan for a Full-Service Center if you go in person.
The Payment Plan page (updated February 23, 2026) and the Restricted License page (updated September 28, 2026) matched the terms above.
Common Mistakes
Each point below is checked against a TDOSHS page or Tennessee law:
- Skipping the requirements list. It shows what you must clear and what you owe.
- Sending the same document twice. TDOSHS says duplicates delay the review.
- Going to a county clerk or library. They do not do reinstatements.
- Expecting the TDOSHS plan to cover court fines. Court fines need a plan with the court or its clerk.
- Dropping SR-22 too soon. A lapse can lead to another suspension.
- Driving before you reinstate. Driving on a suspended license is a separate crime.
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 it cost to reinstate a license in Tennessee?
TCA 55-12-129 sets a $65 restoration fee for each offense, $50 when proof of financial responsibility is required, and $35 for nonmoving violations. Your TDOSHS requirements list shows your own total.
Can I pay my reinstatement fees in installments?
Yes, if you owe more than $75 and meet all other requirements. You pay $25 down, then $75 every 3 months over up to 60 months.
How long does reinstatement take?
TDOSHS says to allow up to 5 business days for review of documents sent online. Send each document only once, because duplicates delay the review.
Where can I reinstate in person?
Full-Service Driver Services Centers offer reinstatement services. County clerks and libraries do not.
How long do I need SR-22 insurance?
TDOSHS says SR-22 must be kept for the length of the suspension or revocation period. If SR-22 is not on your requirements list, you do not need it.
Does the TDOSHS payment plan cover court fines?
No. The TDOSHS plan covers reinstatement fees. Unpaid court fines are a separate plan with the local court or court clerk.
Can I get a restricted license while suspended?
Some drivers may qualify. You need a judge-signed order and SR-22, and you apply within 10 days of the order for a 90-day temporary license.
What is the difference between a suspension and a revocation?
TDOSHS says a suspension is the temporary withdrawal of driving privileges for a set period. A revocation means the license permission has been taken away. Both require reinstatement.
Conclusion
TN drivers license reinstatement follows four TDOSHS steps, and a course does not replace them; your requirements list shows what you must clear and pay.
If your court orders a driver education course, check with that court that an online course is accepted before you take the Tennessee Driver Education Course online. If you have a speeding conviction, look at the TDOSHS 4-hour list first: under TCA 55-8-207, a department-approved course finished within 90 days of the conviction takes off up to 5 points, once in four years, and the conviction stays.
Related Articles
- Tennessee Points on License: How the System Works
- How Many Points to Suspend License in TN? What Happens
- Driving on a Suspended License in Tennessee: First and Repeat Offenses
- Your Tennessee Driving Record: How to Get It and What It Shows
Sources
- TDOSHS — Reinstatements
- TDOSHS — Payment Plan for Reinstatement Fees
- TDOSHS — Restricted License Information
- TDOSHS — Locations and Appointments
- TDOSHS — Driver Improvement (Points Accumulation)
- Tennessee Rule Chapter 1340-01-04 — Tennessee Driver Improvement Program (PDF)
- TDOSHS — Obtaining a Driving Record (MVR)
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.