Tennessee Minor Driver License Points: Under-18 Rules

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte

Tennessee minor driver license points follow stricter rules: for drivers under 18, the Driver Improvement Program starts at 6 or more points in any 12 months, half the adult level of 12. The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS) then sends a notice and holds a hearing that a parent or guardian attends. Points can also delay the move from an intermediate license to an unrestricted one.

Key Facts

The level: 6 or more points in any 12 months for drivers under 18. See how the under-18 rules work.
One ticket can do it: cell phone use under 18 is 6 points. See how fast a teen reaches 6.
What happens next: a warning letter under 6, then a hearing with a parent at 6 or more. See what happens at each level.
Intermediate license: 6 or more points adds 90 days before an unrestricted license. See the intermediate license rules.
No course limit: TDOSHS can require the course any number of times. See the course rules.

How Tennessee Minor Driver License Points Work

Tennessee law lets TDOSHS run a Driver Improvement Program and set point values (TCA 55-50-505). Rule 1340-01-04-.04(13) has a separate set of rules for drivers under 18. Adult rules do not apply to them.

The TDOSHS Points Accumulation page gives the level. Drivers under 18 who build up 6 or more points in any 12-month period get a notice of proposed suspension and enter the Driver Improvement Program.

That is half the adult level. Adults get a notice at 12 or more points in 12 months. Our guide to the Tennessee points system covers the adult side.

The time rule works like the adult one. Each time a violation posts, TDOSHS scans back 24 months from the posted date (Rule 1340-01-04-.04(13)(a)).

Adult Rules vs Under-18 Rules

This table compares the two sets of rules. Each line comes from the TDOSHS Points Accumulation page or Rule 1340-01-04.

Rule	Adults (18 and older)	Drivers under 18
Points for a notice	12 or more in any 12 months	6 or more in any 12 months
Below that level	Advisory letter at 6 to 11 points	Warning letter, copy to a parent
Who attends the hearing	The driver	The driver with a parent or guardian
Course limit	Credit once every 5 years	No limit on how many times TDOSHS can require it
Missed hearing	6 months, or 12 after a program suspension in the last 5 years	A mandatory 6-month suspension for a first offense

How Fast a Teen Reaches 6 Points

Point values come from the TDOSHS Schedule of Points Values. Several single violations in a car are worth 6 points or more:

Operating a vehicle while using a cell phone (under 18): 6 points.
Reckless driving: 6 points.
Speeding 36 to 45 mph over: 6 points.
Failing to yield to emergency vehicles: 6 points.
Passing a stopped school bus: 8 points.

So one ticket from this list reaches the under-18 level alone. Two smaller tickets can too.

A 6 to 15 mph speeding ticket (3) plus an improper turn (3) makes 6 points. A 16 to 25 mph ticket (4) plus following improperly (3) makes 7 points, which falls in the 6 to 9 point range.

Texting while driving and using a handheld device are 3 points each for any driver. For a driver under 18, cell phone use is listed at 6. Our Tennessee points chart lists every value.

Five steps in the Tennessee under-18 points process, from the warning letter to the hearing with a parent, the course and reinstatement

What Happens at Each Level

The TDOSHS page and Rule 1340-01-04-.04(13) set out the steps by point total and by offense.

Fewer Than 6 Points

The driver gets a warning letter from TDOSHS. A copy goes to the driver’s parent or guardian. There is no hearing at this stage.

6 to 9 Points, First Offense

TDOSHS sends a notice of proposed suspension. Then these rules apply:

The driver must attend an administrative hearing with a parent or guardian present.
Driving privileges may be suspended for 3 to 6 months.
The driver must finish a defensive driving course within 90 days.
If the driver and parent do not attend the hearing, the result is a mandatory 6-month suspension.

10 or More Points, First Offense

The suspension can last up to 6 months, and the driver must also take a defensive driving course. Missing the hearing means a mandatory 6-month suspension and the course.

Second or Later Offense

TDOSHS says driving privileges “will be suspended for 6 or 12 months depending on the record.”

For a parent’s step-by-step view of the letters and the hearing, read our guide to the Tennessee minor Driver Improvement Program.

The Course Rules for Drivers Under 18

The course in this program is the defensive driving class TDOSHS assigns through its Driver Improvement program. Use the course named in the TDOSHS letter.

Two rules stand out for minors:

The deadline: the course must be finished within 90 days.
No limit: “There shall be no limit to the number of times that the Department may require a driver to attend a defensive driving course” (Rule 1340-01-04-.04(13)(i)).

Adults earn credit for the class only once every 5 years. For drivers under 18, TDOSHS can send the driver to the course again.

Getting the License Back

After a suspension, TDOSHS lists what must be done before driving again. The requirements include proof of liability insurance, completion of a Defensive Driving Course and payment of reinstatement fees.

The TDOSHS Reinstatements page has a link to get your own reinstatement requirements. Our guide to license suspension for points covers what happens after a suspension.

Intermediate License Rules

Points also matter for Tennessee’s graduated licenses. TCA 55-50-311 sets these stages:

Learner permit: at 15 years of age or older.
Intermediate license: at 16 years of age or older.
Unrestricted license: a driver may apply one year after getting the intermediate license.

Points and tickets can slow that last step. Under TCA 55-50-311:

6 or more points after the intermediate license is issued make the driver wait 90 more days to apply for an unrestricted license.
A second moving violation means the driver must finish a certified driver education course before getting an unrestricted license.
The court must notify the designated parent or guardian of a conviction.

The law exempts people who are 18 or older and high school graduates from these rules (TCA 55-50-311(i)).

Summary card of Tennessee under-18 point rules: a warning letter below 6 points, 6 points for a cell phone ticket, a parent at the hearing and a 90-day intermediate license delay

Other Reasons a Teen Can Lose a License

Points are not the only path to a suspension for drivers under 18. TCA 55-50-502(a)(1)(J) lets TDOSHS suspend the license of a person under 18 who has withdrawn from secondary school.

Unpaid fines and failure to appear on a traffic citation are also grounds for suspension at any age (TCA 55-50-502(a)(1)(H)-(I)). For your own case, talk with a Tennessee attorney or contact TDOSHS.

When a Court Orders a Course

A court can also order a course after a ticket. A court may require a driver to attend a driver education course “in addition to or in lieu of any portion of other penalty imposed” (TCA 55-10-301(b)(1)). TDOSHS says courts may order “a 4-hour or 8-hour Driver Education Course,” and the court order says which one.

The court clerk must give a list of approved entities in the county (TCA 55-10-301(b)(4)). For a court-required course, the fee may be between $50 and $175, and “no one shall be refused admittance for inability to pay” (TCA 55-10-301(b)(2)). This court course is separate from the course TDOSHS assigns after a points notice.

Removing Speeding Points

One state rule takes points off a record, and it covers speeding only. Under TCA 55-8-207, a person convicted of speeding who finishes a department-approved course within 90 days of the conviction has those points removed, up to 5. It works for one speeding offense per course and only once in a four-year period.

The TDOSHS Remove Speeding Points page adds, “Only the points will be removed, the conviction will remain.” The law speaks of “a person” convicted of speeding and lists no age limit.

What We Found on the Official Pages

On the TDOSHS pages we checked on October 27, 2026, the under-18 level was 6 points in 12 months. The Points Accumulation page was last updated July 20, 2026.

The Schedule of Points Values (updated August 12, 2025) lists cell phone use under 18 at 6 points. It lists texting and handheld device use at 3 points each.

Common Mistakes

Each point below is checked against a TDOSHS page, Rule 1340-01-04 or TCA 55-50-311:

Using the adult 12-point level. For drivers under 18, the level is 6 points.
Skipping the hearing. For a first offense, if the driver and a parent do not attend, the suspension is a mandatory 6 months.
Treating a phone ticket as minor. Cell phone use under 18 is 6 points by itself.
Missing the 90 days. The assigned course must be finished within 90 days.
Thinking the course can only be required once. TDOSHS has no limit for drivers under 18.
Forgetting the intermediate license. Six or more points add 90 days before an 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 can a minor get in Tennessee?

TDOSHS acts at 6 or more points in any 12 months for drivers under 18. Below 6 points, the driver gets a warning letter with a copy to a parent.

Does a parent have to go to the hearing?

Yes. TDOSHS says the hearing is held with a parent or guardian present. For a first offense, if they do not attend, the suspension is a mandatory 6 months.

How long is a minor’s license suspended for points?

For a first offense with 6 to 9 points, it may be 3 to 6 months. With 10 or more points, it can be up to 6 months plus a course. A second or later offense brings 6 or 12 months.

How many points is a cell phone ticket for a driver under 18?

The TDOSHS Schedule lists 6 points for operating a vehicle while using a cell phone under 18. That one ticket reaches the under-18 level.

How do points affect an intermediate license?

Six or more points after the intermediate license is issued add 90 days before the driver can apply for an unrestricted license. A second moving violation means a certified driver education course first (TCA 55-50-311).

Can TDOSHS require a teen to take the course more than once?

Yes. Rule 1340-01-04-.04(13)(i) says there is no limit to the number of times TDOSHS may require a driver to attend a defensive driving course.

What does a minor need to get a suspended license back?

TDOSHS lists proof of liability insurance, completion of a Defensive Driving Course and payment of reinstatement fees. The TDOSHS reinstatement requirements list shows the details for each driver.

Does paying a teen’s ticket keep the points off?

No. Under TCA 55-50-102(16), paying a fine or court cost counts as a conviction. The points for that violation then count toward the 6-point level.

Conclusion

Tennessee minor driver license points start the Driver Improvement Program at 6 points in 12 months, with a hearing that a parent attends. If TDOSHS assigns a course, use the one named in the TDOSHS letter.

When a court ordered a 4-hour course, ask that court first whether it will accept an online course; if it will, you can take the Tennessee Driver Education Course online. For a speeding conviction, check the TDOSHS 4-hour list first: TCA 55-8-207 removes up to 5 points only when a department-approved course is done within 90 days of the conviction, once in four years, and the conviction stays.

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.