Tennessee Minor Driver Improvement Program: Parent Guide

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte

If your teen has too many points, the Tennessee minor driver improvement program starts at 6 or more points in any 12 months for drivers under 18, which is half the adult level. The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS) then sends a notice, and the teen and a parent or guardian must go to a hearing. That hearing can lead to a defensive driving course, a suspension, or both.

Key Facts

Starting point: 6 or more points in any 12 months for a driver under 18. See when the program starts.
Below 6 points: TDOSHS mails a warning letter and sends a copy to a parent. See the warning letter.
The hearing: the teen and a parent or guardian must attend. See the notice and the hearing.
Course deadline: a required course must be done within 90 days of the letter or the hearing. See the 90-day course deadline.
Teen license: 6 or more points can delay the unrestricted license by 90 days. See the intermediate license.

When the Tennessee Minor Driver Improvement Program Starts

The program starts at 6 points within 12 months. The TDOSHS Driver Improvement (Points Accumulation) page says drivers under 18 “that accumulate six (6) or more points” “are placed in the Driver Improvement Program.” Adults reach that step at 12 points.

Age is set by the date of the event. The rule covers drivers “less than eighteen (18) years of age on the event date of any crash or violation.” So a ticket from age 17 still falls under the teen rule.

TDOSHS runs this program under TCA 55-50-505. The detailed teen rules are in Rule 1340-01-04-.04(13). That rule is the main source for this article.

Teen Point Values Parents Should Know

Points come from the TDOSHS Schedule of Points Values. One line on that schedule applies only to teens. Using a cell phone while driving under 18 is 6 points.

That means one cell phone conviction can reach the teen threshold by itself. Other values add up fast too. For example, speeding 6-15 mph over (3 points) plus a failure to signal (3 points) equals 6 points.

For the full list of teen point rules, see our guide to Tennessee minor driver license points.

Under 6 Points: The Warning Letter

A teen with fewer than 6 points still hears from TDOSHS. Under Rule 1340-01-04-.04(13)(b), a driver under 18 with “fewer than six (6) points” for a crash or violation “shall receive a warning letter.”

The rule also says the letter goes out “with a copy sent to the driver’s parent/guardian.” So parents get notice early, before the teen reaches the program.

Treat this letter as a signal. One more ticket in the same 12 months may push the total to 6.

6 or More Points: The Notice and the Hearing

At 6 or more points in 12 months, TDOSHS sends a notice of proposed suspension. The teen must then attend an administrative hearing. The TDOSHS page says the hearing takes place “with their parent or guardian present.”

The rule is firm on this point. The driver “and the driver’s parent/guardian shall be required to appear” at the hearing. Read the notice for the date and time.

TDOSHS lists these contacts for the Driver Improvement Section:

Email: [email protected]
Mail: Driver Improvement Section, P.O. Box 25290, Nashville, TN 37202-5290

For how the notice works for adult drivers, see our guide to the Tennessee notice of proposed suspension.

What Can Happen at the Hearing

Rule 1340-01-04-.04(9) says the hearing officer “will explain the Driver Improvement Program, review the driver’s driving record,” and advise the driver of the options.

The result depends on two things. The first is whether this is the teen’s first time in the program. The second is how many points the teen has.

Teen’s situation	What the hearing officer can do
First offense, 6 to 9 points	Suspend for 3 to 6 months and/or require a defensive driving course
First offense, 10 or more points	Suspend for up to 6 months, plus a required course
Second or later offense, 6 or more points	Suspend for 6 or 12 months

For a first offense with 6 to 9 points, the rule says the officer “may suspend.” It also allows the officer to “require the driver to attend a defensive driving course” instead or as well. The TDOSHS page says the driver “must attend and complete a Defensive Driving Course within 90 days.”

For a first offense with 10 or more points, a suspension and a course both apply. For a second or later offense, the rule sets a suspension of either 6 or 12 months.

If the Teen Misses the Hearing

Missing the hearing makes things worse. Under Rule 1340-01-04-.04(13), a first offender who fails to appear is suspended for 6 months and must still take a course.

For a second or later offense, a missed hearing means a 12-month suspension.

To reach the Driver Improvement Section, use the contacts listed above.

A five-step parent checklist for the Tennessee teen Driver Improvement hearing and course

The 90-Day Course Deadline

A required course has a firm deadline. Rule 1340-01-04-.04(13)(f) gives 90 days from the date of the letter or order that assigns the course. If the course was assigned at the hearing, the 90 days run from the hearing date.

Not finishing on time leads to a suspension. Under the same rule, the suspension is 6 or 12 months.

Also, there is no cap on repeats for teens. Rule .04(13)(i) says TDOSHS can require the course with no limit on how many times.

Which Course Counts

The course in this program is the 8-hour defensive driving class. Rule 1340-01-04-.05(1)(e) says providers must “Provide an eight (8) hour defensive driving class.”

TDOSHS keeps a list called “8-Hour TDOSHS-Approved Defensive Driving Courses for Driver Improvement Referrals.” It is on the TDOSHS Defensive Driving Schools page. That page says “Live-stream classes are now approved for the 8-hour defensive driving course.” It also says “Email certificates to [email protected].”

TDOSHS does not teach the class itself. You contact a school on the list.

How the Program Affects the Intermediate License

Points also affect a teen’s path to a full license. These rules come from TCA 55-50-311:

6 or more points after the intermediate license is issued means 90 more days before the teen can apply for an unrestricted license.
A second moving violation means the teen must finish a certified driver education course before the unrestricted license.
The court that convicts the teen must notify the designated parent or legal guardian.

So one set of points can lead to two separate results. One is the Driver Improvement Program action. The other is the delay on the unrestricted license.

Getting the License Back After a Suspension

A suspension does not end on its own. TDOSHS says reinstatement needs proof of insurance, the course and fees.

There is also a review step. Rule 1340-01-04-.04(11) says a suspended driver “is eligible to appeal the suspension through the appeals process” in the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act.

The TDOSHS Reinstatements page explains how to pay fees and upload documents online. Full-Service Driver Services Centers also offer reinstatement services. Check it before the suspension ends so nothing is missing.

The 4-Hour Course Is a Different Course

Tennessee has a second course type. The 4-hour Driver Education Course is used when a court orders a course and for speeding point removal. TDOSHS says courts may order “a 4-hour or 8-hour Driver Education Course,” so the court order says which one.

Speeding point removal is a state rule under TCA 55-8-207. A department-approved course finished within 90 days of a speeding conviction removes the points for that conviction, up to 5 points. It applies once in a four-year period and to speeding only. “Only the points will be removed, the conviction will remain.”

In this program, the course TDOSHS assigns comes from the 8-hour list. For more on speeding tickets and courses, see our Tennessee driving school guide for speeding tickets.

Who does what in the Tennessee teen Driver Improvement Program, from TDOSHS to the approved school

What We Found on the Official Pages

On the TDOSHS pages we checked on October 27, 2026, one detail did not match the rule. For a first offense with 10 or more points, the TDOSHS page says the suspension is 6 months. Rule 1340-01-04-.04(13)(d) says 3 or 6 months, “depending on the driver’s driving record.”

Because of that gap, this article says up to 6 months. The notice and the hearing officer will give the length for your teen.

We also found that the TDOSHS page calls the teen course a “Defensive Driving Course.” The 8-hour list on the Defensive Driving Schools page is the list for these Driver Improvement referrals.

Common Mistakes Parents Can Avoid

Each item below comes from the TDOSHS rule or the TDOSHS pages:

Ignoring the warning letter. It goes out below 6 points, and one more ticket may reach the threshold.
Sending the teen alone. A parent or guardian must attend the hearing too.
Skipping the hearing. A first offender then faces a 6-month suspension plus a course.
Counting the 90 days from the wrong date. The clock starts at the assigning letter or the hearing.
Picking the wrong course. The program uses the 8-hour list, not the 4-hour list.
Applying adult rules. Teens enter the program at 6 points, not 12.
Forgetting the license delay. 6 or more points can add 90 days before the unrestricted license.

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 does it take for a teen to enter the program?

Six. A driver under 18 who gets 6 or more points in any 12 months is placed in the Driver Improvement Program. Fewer than 6 points leads to a warning letter with a copy to a parent.

Does a parent have to go to the hearing?

Yes. The rule says the driver and the driver’s parent or guardian “shall be required to appear.” The TDOSHS page says the hearing is held with a parent or guardian present.

Will my teen’s license be suspended right away?

Not always. For a first offense with 6 to 9 points, the officer may suspend for 3 to 6 months and/or require a course. A first offense with 10 or more points, or a second offense, does bring a suspension.

How long does my teen have to finish the course?

Ninety days. The clock starts on the date of the letter that assigns the course or on the hearing date. Not finishing leads to a 6- or 12-month suspension.

Can TDOSHS require the course more than once?

Yes. For drivers under 18, Rule 1340-01-04-.04(13)(i) sets no limit on how many times TDOSHS can require the course.

Does a cell phone ticket count toward the 6 points?

Yes. The TDOSHS Schedule of Points Values lists cell phone use while driving under 18 at 6 points. One such conviction can meet the threshold.

Does the program affect my teen’s intermediate license?

It can. Under TCA 55-50-311, 6 or more points after the intermediate license is issued means 90 more days before the teen can apply for an unrestricted license.

Conclusion

The Tennessee teen program starts at 6 points in 12 months, and it brings a parent-attended hearing and a 90-day course deadline. If TDOSHS assigns a course, choose a school from the 8-Hour TDOSHS-Approved Defensive Driving Courses list. For questions about a notice or a hearing, contact TDOSHS Driver Improvement or read the notice your teen received.

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.