Driver license reinstatment

Click a violation below to expand information about the suspension or revocation and reinstatement requirements. Drivers convicted of multiple violations will have separate suspensions, revocations, reinstatement requirements, and reinstatement fees for each violation.

A driver who is convicted for Failure to Show Proof of Financial Responsibility may have their driving privileges suspended if they do not show proof of liability insurance in effect on the date of the violation. Upon report of conviction, the Department will notify the driver of the pending suspension. The driver will have 30 days to submit proof of liability insurance in effect on the date of the violation. The insurance should show coverage for the driver or the vehicle they were operating at the time.

If the proof of liability insurance in effect on the date of the violation is received within 30 days of the notice, the suspension will be avoided. If proof of liability insurance in effect on the date of the violation is not received within 30 days of the notice or there was no insurance on the date of the violation , the driving privileges will be suspended until the reinstatement requirements are provided.

A driver may first be suspended for failure to satisfy or appear for a citation and then later suspended once the court reports the conviction for Failure to Show Proof of Insurance. The suspension for Failure to Show Proof of Insurance is separate from the first suspension and has an additional fee.

Claims may be filed by other drivers or vehicle owners involved in the crash, their insurance companies, or their legal representatives. Submit one of the following items within 20 days of the date of notice in order to avoid revocation:. Restricted License?

Yes, if driver satisfies all reinstatement requirements except SR insurance. An employer may provide SR insurance on behalf of the driver and the driver may obtain a restricted license for work purposes only.

A driver or vehicle owner may also submit proof of bankruptcy as compliance for this requirement. A driver or vehicle owner who has had a judgment rendered against them in court as a result of an automobile crash and has not satisfied the judgment, shall have their driving privileges revoked if the party which obtained the judgment requests driver license revocation. Drivers who are required to carry and maintain SR insurance may have their driving privileges suspended if their insurance company reports a cancellation SR prior to completing the requirement.

When the insurance company reports a cancellation SR of the SR insurance to the Department, the driver is sent a notice of proposed suspension. A new SR form prepared after the date of the notice must be submitted to the Department within 20 days in order to avoid suspension.

A driver may request a hearing within 20 days of the date of the notice to show that the SR insurance was not cancelled. Drivers who accumulate twelve or more points on their driving record within any 12 month period are sent a notice of proposed suspension and given an opportunity to attend an administrative hearing. If they fail to request a hearing, their driving privileges are suspended for a period of six to 12 months.

Drivers who fail to appear in court for a traffic citation may have their driving privileges suspended. Upon notice of Failure to Appear, the Department sends a notice to the driver giving 30 days to submit proof that the Failure to Appear has been satisfied in order to avoid suspension. If proof is not received within 30 days, the driving privileges are suspended. Drivers may request a hearing within 30 days of the date of the notice to show that they did not Fail to Appear in court for the citation.

Drivers who are suspended prior to July 1, as a result of failure to satisfy the court after conviction of traffic violation must submit proof that the citation has been satisfied or is on a payment plan. When the court notifies the Department that the driver has defaulted on a payment plan for a traffic citation, the Department will send a notice giving the driver 30 days to re-establish the payment plan with the court or satisfy the court in full to avoid suspension. If the driver does not re-establish the payment plan with the court within 30 days and submit proof to the Department, the driving privileges will be suspended.

The driver will then be required to either satisfy the court in full or re-establish the payment plan and apply for a restricted driver license. Drivers who are suspended for Defaulting on a court Payment Plan for a traffic citation and have applied for a restricted license while making payments may have the restricted license revoked for a period of 6 months for subsequent default on the payment plan.

When the court notifies the Department that the driver has defaulted on a payment plan for a traffic citation, the Department will send a notice giving the driver 30 days to re-establish the payment plan with the court or the Restricted License will be revoked for a period of 6 months.

If the driver does not re-establish the payment plan with the court within 30 days and submit proof to the Department, the Restricted License will be revoked for 6 months.

After 6 months, the driver may re-apply for the Restricted License by re-establishing the payment plan with the court and obtaining a new court order. The 6-month revocation may be ended early by submitting proof that the criminal offense has been satisfied in full. When the court notifies the Department that the driver has defaulted on a payment plan for a non-driving criminal offense, the Department will send a notice giving the driver 30 days to re-establish the payment plan with the court or satisfy the court in full to avoid suspension.

When the court notifies the Department that the driver has defaulted on a payment plan for a non-driving criminal offense, the Department will send a notice giving the driver 30 days to re-establish the payment plan with the court or the Restricted License will be revoked for a period of 6 months.

The 6 month revocation may be ended early by submitting proof that the criminal offense has been satisfied in full. Drivers whose driving privileges are revoked, suspended, or cancelled in another state may have their driving privileges in Tennessee cancelled.

When the Department is notified of a revocation, suspension, or cancellation in another state, the driver is sent a notice to clear the issue in another state within 30 days or the Tennessee Driver License will be cancelled. A driver may request a hearing within 30 days of the date of the notice to show that the driving privileges in the other state are not revoked, suspended, or cancelled.

A driver who is convicted of DUI will have their driving privileges revoked for a period of 1 — 8 years dependent upon the level of DUI convicted. A driver who is convicted of Implied Consent will have their driving privileges suspended for a period of years depending on the determination of the court. A driver who is convicted of Underage Driving While Impaired will have their driving privileges suspended for a period of 1 year.

First offense — Serve a one-year suspension from conviction or reach age 17, whichever is greater. Suspension may be withdrawn early by the court after 90 days. Second or subsequent offense — Serve a two-year suspension from conviction or reach age of Suspension may be withdrawn early by the court after 1 year.

Suspension Length: years or until age of 18, whichever is longer. May be withdrawn earlier by the court. Drivers under the age of 18 who are convicted of violations of the Drug Free Youth Act shall have their driving privileges and ability to obtain a license suspended. Drivers under the age of 18 who are convicted of Presenting a Fake ID to Purchase Alcohol shall have their driving privileges and ability to obtain a license suspended.

Drivers under the age of 18 who are convicted of Possession of a Weapon shall have their driving privileges and ability to obtain a license suspended. Mandatory Suspension? Second offenses have a mandatory suspension until the age of 18, the driver submits a diploma or GED, or the driver submits proof of emancipation. When notice of failure to comply is submitted to the Department by the school, the driver is sent a notice of proposed suspension.

The driver must submit proof of compliance within 30 days in order to avoid suspension. Suspension Length: Until reinstatement requirements are submitted or driver reaches the age of A driver who is convicted of Driving while Suspended and the violation occurred prior to January 1 st , will have their driving privileges suspended.

The driver may reinstate this suspension at any time by providing reinstatement requirements. A driver who is convicted of Driving while Revoked and the violation occurred prior to January 1 st , will have their driving privileges revoked for a period of 1 year beginning on the date of conviction or added to the end of any mandatory revocation period for another offense, whichever is later.

Driving while Suspended and Driving while Revoked violations occurring January 1 st , or later are not subject to license suspension or revocation upon conviction.

Reinstatement Requirements, if violation occurred prior to January 1, :. If proof of liability insurance in effect on the date of the violation is not received within 30 days of the notice or there was no insurance on the date of the violation, the driving privileges will be suspended for a period of 1 year from the date of the notice.

A driver who is convicted of Fleeing and Evading a Police Roadblock will have their driving privileges revoked for one year. A driver who is convicted of felony Reckless Endangerment Vehicle will have their driving privileges revoked for one year. A driver who is convicted of Vehicular Assault or Aggravated Vehicular Assault will have their driving privileges revoked for a period of one year.

If the court does not indicate the length of revocation, the revocation length will default to ten years. A driver who is convicted of Human Trafficking may have their non-commercial driving privileges revoked for a period of 1 year and shall have their commercial driver license and privilege to obtain a commercial driver license revoked for life.

Revocation Length: 1 year for non-commercial driver license; lifetime for commercial driver license and privilege to obtain a commercial driver license. A driver who is convicted of Using a Motor Vehicle in a Felony will have their driving privileges revoked for a period of one year. A driver who is convicted of Theft of a Vehicle or Part of a Vehicle will have their driving privileges revoked for a period of one year.

Drivers who have an order of revocation for habitual offender status prior to July 1, shall have their driving privileges revoked for a period of 3 years. Drivers with revocations effective prior to July 1 st , who have not yet ended the 3 year revocation period, may submit a court order for reinstatement prior to the expiration of the 3 year period.

Reinstatement Requirements, if revocation effective prior to July 1 st , :. A driver who is convicted of Driving after Convicted as Habitual Offender will have their driving privileges revoked for 1 year if the violation occurred prior to July 1 st , Reinstatement Requirements, if violation occurred prior to July 1 st , :. A driver who is convicted of Two Reckless Driving Violations which occurred in a 12 month period will have their driving privileges revoked for a period of one year.

A driver who is convicted of Driving off without Paying for Fuel will have their driving privileges suspended for a period of years depending on the number of convictions. Restricted license? A driver who is convicted of Driving While Possessing Methamphetamine will have their driving privileges revoked for a period of 5 years.

Drivers who entered into a payment plan with the Department for re-payment of reinstatement fees and subsequently default on the payment plan, may have their driving privileges suspended.

When a payment plan payment is missed, the driver is sent a notice of proposed suspension and given 30 days to remit the payment and avoid suspension. This does not change the payment plan due date of any subsequent payments due.

Drivers who have defaulted on a payment plan for reinstatement fees are not eligible to enter into another payment plan until the defaulted fees are satisfied in full. See promulgated rules governing payment plans. Return to the top. Drivers are asked to submit a variety of compliance documents depending on the reason for suspension or revocation.

The list below provides guidance on what documents are compliant for reinstatement purposes. For how to submit compliance documents, visit the Pay Fees and Submit Documents section.

Drivers who held a valid Tennessee driver license or permit at the time of a suspension or revocation are required to surrender the license within 20 days. Drivers may be required to submit proof of liability insurance in effect at the time of a violation or submit proof of liability insurance currently in effect. At the time of the violation — The proof of insurance effective date range must include the date of the violation and must clearly show that the driver was the policy holder, was a covered driver on the policy, or show coverage for the vehicle operated at the time of the violation.

Current liability insurance — The proof of insurance must clearly show the driver as the policy holder or a covered driver. The effective date range of the insurance must include the current date. A DUI suspension, for instance, may require completing a class on substance abuse. Or a license suspension for reckless driving may mandate enrolling in a defensive driving course. Reinstate License You can pursue license reinstatement once you're suspension period has ended.

Again, each state DMV governs suspended license reinstatements differently, but in general you will need to fulfill all or some of the following requirements: Pay a license reinstatement fee. Present proof of car insurance if applicable. Provide proof of outfitting your car with an ignition interlock device if applicable. Furnish evidence of completing a required course, such as traffic school or an alcohol and substance abuse course.

Passing your state's driver license tests if applicable. Resolve all criminal charges if your license suspension resulted from an active court case i. To properly identify your driver record provide your complete name, date of birth and driver license number on each document submitted and include a copy of your suspension notice, if available.

Please allow 21 business days for processing. Box Austin, TX If you cannot pay your reinstatement fee online, you must mail your payment along with your compliance documents to the address below. For more information on suspensions and reinstatement fees, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions webpage or download the Driver License Enforcement Actions chart for a complete list of driver license suspensions and revocations.