The Tennessee permit test is a 30-question knowledge test, and you need at least 80% to pass, which is 24 correct. Tennessee is also one of the few states where teens 15 to 17 can take it online at home, with a parent or guardian acting as proctor.
Driver licensing in Tennessee is run by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division (tn.gov/safety). The test covers the Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, so that book is your study guide.
Tennessee permit test at a glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Agency | Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services (tn.gov/safety) |
| Minimum age | 15 for the learner permit (Class PD) |
| Questions | 30 (stated for the online test) |
| Pass mark | 80%, so 24 of 30 correct |
| Time limit | 60 minutes for the online test |
| Where | At a Driver Services Center, or online at home for ages 15 to 17 |
| Online test | Yes, ages 15 to 17, with a parent or legal guardian as proctor |
| Permit fee | $10.50 under 18, $5.50 for 18 and over. No separate test fee is listed |
| Languages | English and Spanish for the online test |
How many questions are on the Tennessee permit test?
The Tennessee permit test has 30 questions and you must score at least 80%. That means you can miss 6 questions and still pass. The department lists these numbers on its online knowledge test page. If you test in person and want to be sure your test matches, ask at the counter before you start.
Is the Tennessee permit test hard?
It is fair, but it is not a guess-your-way-through test. Students who struggle usually knew the general idea but missed an exact number or skipped road signs. If you read the manual and can score 90% or better on practice tests a few times in a row, you are ready.
What's on the test
The questions come from the Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual. Expect a mix of road signs and signals, rules of the road, safe driving, and alcohol and drug laws.
- Road signs and signals: shape, color and meaning.
- Hands Free law: you may not hold a phone or mobile device while driving.
- Parking: stay 15 feet from a fire hydrant and 20 feet from a crosswalk.
- School buses: stop for a bus with flashing red lights. Passing one is a serious offense with points and a fine.
- Move Over: change lanes or slow down for stopped emergency, utility and tow vehicles with flashing lights.
- Leave at least 3 feet when passing a bicycle.
The home test with a parent proctor
Tennessee lets teens 15 to 17 take the knowledge test online at home. The proctor must be your parent or legal guardian, and they install the Tennessee Proctor ID app on their own phone or tablet, not yours. The proctor scans a QR code to start, and again at the 30-minute mark if you are still testing.
- Use a computer, laptop or tablet with a current browser. Cell phones are not allowed for the test.
- Stay on the test screen. Leaving it is an automatic fail.
- No help, no notes and no other devices.
- You get two online attempts. After a fail, wait 24 hours before trying again.
- The department may still ask you to retake the test at a Driver Services Center.
Do a quick tech check the day before: charge the laptop, update the browser and install the proctor app on the parent's phone. Many online-test problems are just setup problems.
How to study for the Tennessee permit test
- Read the Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual one chapter at a time.
- Learn road signs by shape and color, then by meaning.
- Write every number (distances, fines, hours, ages) on one page and review it daily.
- Take Tennessee permit practice tests and explain every wrong answer out loud.
- When you score 90% or better several times in a row, book your test.
What to bring and how to book
Whether you test online or in person, you go to a Driver Services Center to finish the permit, pass a vision screening and have your photo taken. Bring originals or certified copies. Photocopies are not accepted. For a teen, the department lists:
- One proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence, such as a U.S. birth certificate or passport.
- Your Social Security number. For a standard license you may give it verbally. For a REAL ID you need a document showing the full number.
- Two proofs of Tennessee residency dated within the last four months, such as a utility bill, bank statement or pay stub (in a parent's name is common for teens).
- Proof of school attendance from your current Tennessee school.
- A parent or legal guardian, who signs the minor affidavit and the financial responsibility form (bring the insurance card).
- The permit fee: $10.50 under 18.
Appointments are optional and walk-ins are welcome. You can also start your application and have documents pre-approved through e-Services on tn.gov/safety, which can take up to five business days.
Can you take the Tennessee permit test online?
Yes, if you are 15 to 17. The online test has the same 30 questions and 80% pass mark, a 60-minute limit, and a parent or legal guardian must proctor it through the Tennessee Proctor ID app. Adults 18 and over take the test at a Driver Services Center. After you pass online, you still visit a center to get the permit.
What happens if you fail the Tennessee permit test?
For the online test, you get two attempts and must wait 24 hours after a failed try. If you test in person, ask the examiner when you can come back, since the department's teen page does not list a separate waiting period. Either way, go back to the chapters you missed before you try again.
Our general guide on what happens if you fail your permit test covers what to do next in any state.
Tennessee permit test FAQ
How many questions are on the Tennessee permit test?
30 questions. You need 80% to pass.
How many questions can you miss on the Tennessee permit test?
You can miss 6. Getting 24 of 30 right is 80%, the minimum passing score.
Is the Tennessee permit test hard?
Not if you study the manual. Most people who fail skipped road signs or did not learn the exact numbers. Practice until you score 90% or better.
Can I take the Tennessee permit test at home?
Yes, if you are 15 to 17 and a parent or legal guardian proctors it using the Tennessee Proctor ID app.
How much is a Tennessee learner permit?
$10.50 if you are under 18 and $5.50 if you are 18 or older. County clerk partners add a $4 fee for services they handle.
