Free Tennessee TDOSHS Permit Practice Test 2026
Get ready to pass your Tennessee TDOSHS written test on the first try. Our free Tennessee permit practice tests are based directly on the official Tennessee Driver's Handbook and contain the same types of questions you will see on test day. Each test covers traffic laws, road signs, right-of-way rules, safe driving techniques, and Tennessee-specific regulations. With 24 correct answers required out of 30 questions (80% passing score), preparation is essential. Start practicing today - unlimited attempts, instant feedback, detailed explanations.
Take the Tennessee TDOSHS Permit Practice Test Now
25 questions drawn from the Tennessee driver handbook, 80% to pass, with an explanation after every answer. Free, no sign-up - press Start when you are ready. More Tennessee tests are listed below.
Tennessee TDOSHS Practice Test 1
Questions are shuffled every time and drawn from the Tennessee driver handbook. Nothing starts - and no clock runs - until you press the button.
- 25 questions
- 80% to pass (20 correct)
- About 15 minutes
- Explanation after every answer
Ways to practice
Learn with practice tests and flashcards, then take the mock test when you think you are ready.
Also try: the Tennessee cheat sheet of rules and numbers, the hardest questions people miss most, or make your own test on the topics you find hard.
Tennessee Permit Practice Tests
200 unique questions in the Tennessee bank (38 Tennessee-specific) - practice until you are confident
More Tennessee Practice Tests
Official Tennessee Driver's Handbook
The TDOSHS writes every real exam question from this manual - read it alongside your practice tests.
Tennessee Permit Practice Test PDF (2026)
Free printable version: 100+ Tennessee questions with an answer key and explanations, plus the TDOSHS test facts on the cover. Or print a 30-question test, the length of the real test. How to study with the Tennessee PDF · All state PDFs →
Tennessee Learner Permit (Class PD) Test: Quick Facts
Verified against Department of Safety and Homeland Security (Driver Services Division) publications - last reviewed September 2026.
| Official permit name | Learner Permit (Class PD) |
|---|---|
| Questions on the test | 30 |
| Passing score | 24 of 30 correct (80%) |
| Wrong answers allowed | 6 |
| Minimum age | 15 years old |
| Under-21 alcohol limit | 0.02% BAC or higher |
| If you fail | 24 hours (online test); online test limited to 2 attempts |
| Online testing | Partially - online testing is available only in some cases (see the official site). |
| Driver's education | No - driver education is not required for the learner permit. |
| Supervised practice | 50 hours (including 10 hours at night), verified by a parent, legal guardian or driving instructor |
| Permit holding period | 180 days before moving to the Intermediate Restricted License (minimum age 16) |
| Testing agency | Department of Safety and Homeland Security (Driver Services Division) (TDOSHS) |
Sample Tennessee Permit Test Questions
Three of the Tennessee-specific questions from our bank, with the answer and the rule behind it. The Tennessee bank behind the tests above holds 200 unique questions.
1. Under Tennessee's Hands-Free Law, a driver may not:
- A. Hold a phone with any part of their body (correct)
- B. Talk through a Bluetooth headset
- C. Keep a phone in a dashboard mount
- D. Talk with a passenger in the car
Why: Tennessee's Hands-Free Law makes it illegal to hold a cell phone or mobile device with any part of your body while driving.
2. What is the maximum speed limit on Tennessee interstate highways?
- A. 70 mph (correct)
- B. 65 mph
- C. 75 mph
- D. 80 mph
Why: Tennessee law sets a maximum of 70 mph on interstate highways, posted on most rural sections. Urban interstates may be as low as 55 mph. Always obey the posted limit.
3. In Tennessee, a driver under 21 can be charged with underage driving while impaired at a BAC of:
- A. 0.02 (correct)
- B. 0.05
- C. 0.08
- D. 0.10
Why: Tennessee's limit is 0.08 for adults, but a driver under 21 can be charged at a BAC of just 0.02.
Tennessee Permit Test Study Guide (2026)
A free Tennessee TDOSHS written test study guide - updated for 2026, verified against the official Department of Safety and Homeland Security (Driver Services Division) handbook.
Reviewed by Chad HenryAfter 25 years of teaching driver educationLast reviewed September 2026
The Great Smoky Mountains, the I-40 corridor, and the music-fueled traffic of Nashville and Memphis give Tennessee's written test its focus on mountain and curve driving, road signs, and the seat-belt, school-bus, and DUI laws. Our Tennessee practice permit test follows the official Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual so you prepare with confidence.
What to Expect on the Tennessee Permit Test
The Department of Safety and Homeland Security (Driver Services Division) (TDOSHS) requires every new driver to pass a written knowledge test before being issued a learner's permit. In Tennessee the exam has 30 multiple-choice questions; to pass you need 24 of 30 correct (80%). You must be at least 15 years old to apply. Every question is drawn from the official Tennessee driver's handbook, so the topics on our practice tests match exactly what the TDOSHS asks.
Topics Covered on the TN Written Test
- Traffic Laws (Rules of the Road): State-specific rules of the road, including right-of-way, lane changing, and intersection rules
- Road Signs: Recognition and meaning of all standard road signs - warning, regulatory, and informational
- Speed Limits: Default speed limits, school zones, work zones, and highway speeds
- Safe Driving: Following distance, blind spots, defensive driving, and weather conditions
- Alcohol & Drugs: DUI laws, BAC limits, and consequences of impaired driving
- Parking Rules: Legal and illegal parking situations, curb colors, and distances
How to Prepare for the Tennessee Permit Test
The strongest preparation pairs a read-through of the official Tennessee Driver's Handbook with repeated practice tests that surface your weak spots. The TDOSHS writes its test from that handbook, so the rules you practise here are the rules you will be asked about. A sensible target: score at least 80% on several fresh practice tests in a row - and read the explanation on every miss - before you book your appointment.
Official Tennessee TDOSHS Information
For official test requirements, locations, and fees, visit the Department of Safety and Homeland Security (Driver Services Division) website. You can also read the official Tennessee driver's handbook free of charge - every question on our practice tests traces back to it.
Tennessee Permit Test - Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are on the Tennessee TDOSHS written test?
The Tennessee TDOSHS written knowledge test has 30 questions. To pass you need 24 of 30 correct (80%).
What is the phone rule for new drivers in Tennessee?
Tennessee: drivers may not hold a phone with any part of their body. Tennessee's Hands-Free Law makes it illegal to hold a cell phone or mobile device with any part of your body while driving. (PDF p.6, Distracted driving - hands-free law)
When are new drivers in Tennessee not allowed to drive?
Tennessee Intermediate Restricted: no driving 11 p.m.-6 a.m. without a parent or 21+. Tennessee Intermediate Restricted license holders may not drive between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent or guardian, or by a licensed driver 21 or older designated in writing by the parent or guardian. (PDF p.33, Restrictions for an Intermediate Restricted License)
How many passengers can a new driver in Tennessee carry?
Tennessee Intermediate Restricted: only one passenger, with limited exceptions. A Tennessee Intermediate Restricted license holder may have only one other passenger, unless a passenger is 21 or older with a valid unrestricted license, or the passengers are siblings going to or from school with a parent's written authorization. (PDF p.33, Restrictions for an Intermediate Restricted License)
What is the blood alcohol limit for drivers under 21 in Tennessee?
A driver under 21 in Tennessee violates the zero-tolerance law at a BAC of 0.02% or higher - far below the 0.08% adult limit.
How many questions can you miss on the Tennessee permit test?
You can miss up to 6 of the 30 questions and still pass. The minimum is 24 correct answers (80%).
Is the Tennessee permit test timed?
The TDOSHS's online knowledge test allows 60 minutes. The Tennessee mock test on this site can time you to the online limit if you want to practice under that pressure.
What is the Tennessee learner's permit officially called?
Tennessee issues the Learner Permit (Class PD). It is the first stage of the state's licensing process for new drivers.
What happens if I fail the Tennessee permit test?
If you fail, Tennessee lets you retake the knowledge test. 24 hours (online test); online test limited to 2 attempts. Use the practice tests above to find the topics you missed before you try again.
Can I take the Tennessee permit test online?
Partially - online testing is available only in some cases (see the official site).
Is driver's education required for a Tennessee permit?
No - driver education is not required for the learner permit.
How long do I have to hold my Tennessee permit?
Minimum holding period: 180 days before moving to the Intermediate Restricted License (minimum age 16). Required supervised practice: 50 hours (including 10 hours at night), verified by a parent, legal guardian or driving instructor.
Sources & Methodology
Every Tennessee question on this page is written from the official Tennessee driver handbook, and the facts in the table above are checked against Department of Safety and Homeland Security (Driver Services Division) publications. Last reviewed: September 2026. Every question shows its own source under the explanation; all corrections are listed in our corrections log.
Chad Henry – Reviewer
After 25 years of teaching driver education
Chad Henry has taught driver education for 25 years and reviews every state's practice questions, quick facts and study guides against the official driver handbook and agency publications before they are published.
Last reviewed: September 2026
- https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/safety/documents/DL_Manual.pdf
- https://www.tn.gov/safety/
- https://www.tn.gov/safety/driver-services/classd/teengdl.html
- https://www.tn.gov/safety/driver-services/classd/teengdl/knowledge-test-online.html
- https://www.tn.gov/safety/driver-services/helpful-information/fees.html
- https://comptroller.tn.gov/content/dam/cot/orea/advanced-search/2022/DriverEd.pdf
Study Guides to Help You Pass
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What the motorcycle knowledge test covers, where its questions come from, the gear and SEE rules it asks about, and how states give or waive it.
Practice Permit Tests in Other States
Studying in more than one state, or planning a move from Tennessee? Jump straight to another state's free TDOSHS-style practice tests below, or browse all 50 states.
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