Besides the regular Class D, Tennessee issues a few special credentials: a hardship license for some 14- and 15-year-olds, ID-only cards, and temporary licenses for people with temporary legal presence. You also need to know who can drive without a Tennessee license — and the penalties for driving without one.
Class H (hardship)
A license for a minor who is 14, issued only in cases of family hardship and limited to specific needs, to drive a Class D vehicle, a Class M motorcycle, or both.
Handbook p. 17 ↗Hardship license facts
- Proof of hardship is mailed with the application and reviewed case by case
- Less than one percent of licenses issued to minors are hardship licenses
- You must pass vision, knowledge and road tests (plus Class M tests to ride)
- Motorcycle use is limited to 125 cc
- Valid only in daylight and only to places named in the approval letter
- At 15 you get Class PD privileges when riding with the adults allowed for a PD
- It expires at age 16, no matter how old you were when approved
Know the rule
If you're approved for a hardship license with less than 6 months until your 16th birthday, you must get a Class PD when it expires and hold it until you have 180 days of driving experience across the two.
Handbook p. 17 ↗Expiring Identification License
An ID for anyone who doesn't hold a valid driver license. No test, but the same identity and residency proof. At age 65 or older it does not expire.
Handbook p. 18 ↗Permanent identification license
For a person who is mentally challenged or physically disabled, with a doctor's certified statement that they can't drive. It is free and never expires.
Handbook p. 18 ↗Driving without a valid license
| Offense | Class | Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Driving while revoked, suspended or canceled | Class B misdemeanor | Up to $1,000 and/or 6 months in jail |
| Not carrying your license when driving | Class D misdemeanor | Fine of $2 to $50 |
You don't need a Tennessee license if you are:
- In the armed forces (incl. National Guard) driving a military-owned or -leased vehicle
- Moving road machinery, a farm tractor or farm equipment temporarily on a highway
- A nonresident carrying a valid home-state or home-country license of the right class
- A non-U.S. citizen in a managerial or technical job here — for 6 months only
- A student in an approved driver training course, with a certified instructor
You are NOT eligible for a license if you:
- Have a license suspended or revoked in Tennessee or any other state
- Were found unable to drive safely because of a mental or physical disability
- Must show proof of insurance/financial responsibility and haven't
- Are under 18 and dropped out or aren't making satisfactory progress in school
- Can't prove U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residency or temporary legal presence
Temporary Driver License (TDL)
For Tennessee residents with temporary legal presence. The class has an 'X' in front (XD, XM, XPD) and it expires with your legal presence documents.
Handbook p. 19 ↗Longest a Temporary Identification License (Class XID) can be issued
Handbook p. 19 ↗Put it into practice
You're pulled over and realize your license is in another jacket. Not having it with you is a Class D misdemeanor with a fine of $2 to $50 — always carry your license or TDL when you drive.