Tennessee drivers license points stay on an adult drivers record for twenty-four (24) months for the purposes of license revocation or suspension action. Each time a crash or violation is posted to the driver’s record, the Tennessee Department of Safety (DOS) will review the driver's record for the twenty-four (24) months preceding the latest violation to determine whether the driver has accumulated twelve (12) or more points within a twelve (12) month period.
Suspension Notice
If a driver has accumulated twelve (12) or more points, a proposed suspension notice will be sent to the driver and he or she will be given the opportunity to attend an administrative hearing. If the driver fails to request a hearing or fails to appear at a hearing, then their driving privileges will be suspended for six (6) to twelve (12) months. In most cases, if a driver requests a hearing, then they are given the opportunity to attend a defensive driving class in lieu of suspension and/or will receive a reduction of suspension time.
Underage Drivers
Special rules apply to drivers less than eighteen (18) years of age. If a teenage driver accumulates six (6) or more points on their driving record within any twelve (12) month period, they are sent a notice of proposed suspension from the DOS and and must complete the Driver Improvement Program. The teen driver will also be required to attend an administrative hearing, with their parent or guardian present, to discuss the points assigned to their driving record and determine what action will be taken. If a teen driver has accumulated six (6) to nine (9) points, driving privileges may be suspended for 3 to 6 months. If a teen has accumulated ten (10) or more points, driving privileges will be suspended for 6 months.
Insurance Issues
It is also worth noting that the Tennessee DOS does not specifically state how long points will show up on a driver's record merely for informational purposes. Remember, insurance companies usually look back three (3), five (5), or sometimes even seven (7) years depending on the severity of the violation(s) when determining rates, with the more severe violations being considered for longer time periods. Therefore Tennessee drivers license points may have an adverse effect on you for longer than the twenty-four (24) months following a violation.
