Reinstatements
How do I reinstate my driving privileges?
Suspension
A driver's license suspension is the temporary withdrawal of legal driving privileges for a specific period and is generally less severe than a revocation.
Revocation
Revocation means the driver’s license permission has officially been taken away. It usually happens due to serious traffic offense, and you often MUST wait a set period of time and meet certain reisntatement steps before you can get it back.
Steps to Clear a Revocation or Suspension
If your license is revoked you may be eligible to apply for a restricted license. It is recommended to start doing the steps below before the end of your revocation as you MUST wait until the revocation period has been completed before you can regain your full driving privileges.
Please select the type of resident category you belong in:
Step 1: Get your Tennessee Reinstatement Requirements here.
Step 2: Get cleared with the Department of Human Services or the local court where the conviction was received.
Once the arrears are paid in full or an establishment of a payment plan (often 25% of the current obligation) you can obtain a release. Once compliance is verified, the suspension is released within 2 days.
Step 3: Get cleared with all State requirements listed on your reinstatement requirements these steps must be completed before reinstatement.
Guidance for SR22 high liability insurance
Ways to Pay Reinstatement Fees and Submit Documentation:
Pay your reinstatement fees electronically here.
Submit reinstatement documents online here.
The Financial Responsibility Office will review the documents once submitted. Please allow up to 5 business days for review and do not submit the same document more than one time via any method. Duplicate submissions will delay the review of your documents.
All locations are reinstatement centers this does not include third party partner "county clerk, library, etc." Visit one of our Driver Services Centers to process your reinstatement in person. Find a location here. Learn about setting up a payment plan here.
NOTE: Days and hours of operation for reinstatements vary by location. Before proceeding to a Reinstatement Center, be sure to check the Closure Advisories.
NOTE: Reinstatement Centers may stop taking applicants before the listed closing time to be able to assist all the applicants in line before the end of the business day. For example: Closing time for reinstatements may be listed as 4:30 p.m. but we may stop taking applicants at 2:45 p.m.
To reinstate by mail, please include the driver's full name, date of birth, social security number (if one has been issued), mailing address and phone number. Please also include the Tennessee driver license number and reason for cancellation, suspension, or revocation, if known.
By USPS:
Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security
Financial Responsibility
PO BOX 945
Nashville, TN 37202By
Courier Delivery (UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc.):
Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security
Financial Responsibility
1150 Foster Ave. *
Nashville, TN 37210
* Reinstatements are not be processed in person at this location
Step 4:
Suspended License: After clearing all requirements you may be eligible to reinstate your license online here or you would need to visit in person at a Driver Service Center locations.
Revoked License: After clearing all requirements and waiting out the revocation period you may be eligible to reinstate your license online here or if not avaiblable visit in person at a Driver Service Center.
Step 1: If you have never had a Tennessee ID or license upon being suspended or revoked a Tennessee driver license number has been created for you. You can find this number in the notificaiton letter you received. Use that number to look up what you need to do next on the reuirements page.
Step 2: Get cleared with the local court where the conviction was received.
Step 3: Get cleared with all Tennessee State requirements listed in the document received from Step 1. These steps must be completed before reinstatement of the license.
Guidance for SR-22 high liability insurance
Ways to Pay Reinstatement Fees and Submit Documentation:
Pay your reinstatement fees electronically here.
Submit reinstatement documents online here.
The Financial Responsibility Office will review the documents once submitted. Please allow up to 5 business days for review and do not submit the same document more than one time via any method. Duplicate submissions will delay the review of your documents.
All locations are reinstatement centers this does not include third party partner "county clerk, library, etc." Visit one of our Driver Services Centers to process your reinstatement in person. Find a location here. Learn about setting up a payment plan here.
NOTE: Days and hours of operation for reinstatements vary by location. Before proceeding to a Reinstatement Center, be sure to check the Closure Advisories.
NOTE: Reinstatement Centers may stop taking applicants before the listed closing time to be able to assist all the applicants in line before the end of the business day. For example: Closing time for reinstatements may be listed as 4:30 p.m. but we may stop taking applicants at 2:45 p.m.
To reinstate by mail, please include the driver's full name, date of birth, social security number (if one has been issued), mailing address and phone number. Please also include the Tennessee driver license number and reason for cancellation, suspension, or revocation, if known.
By USPS:
Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security
Financial Responsibility
PO BOX 945
Nashville, TN 37202By
Courier Delivery (UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc.):
Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security
Financial Responsibility
1150 Foster Ave. *
Nashville, TN 37210
* Reinstatements are not be processed in person at this location
Step 4: How to clear your state?
Contact your home state to determine what is required to be cleared. Most states require a driving record also known as a Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) showing clearance. Ways to purchase an MVR.
Step 1: Get cleared with all Tennessee state requirements these steps must be completed before reinstatement. It is best to start with Tennessee as not doing so could lead to other complications or fees.
Get your reinstatement requirements here!
Guidance for SR22 high liability insurance
Ways to Pay Reinstatement Fees and Submit Documentation:
Pay your reinstatement fees electronically here.
Submit reinstatement documents online here.
The Financial Responsibility Office will review the documents once submitted. Please allow up to 5 business days for review and do not submit the same document more than one time via any method. Duplicate submissions will delay the review of your documents.
All locations are reinstatement centers this does not include third party partner "county clerk, library, etc." Visit one of our Driver Services Centers to process your reinstatement in person. Find a location here. Learn about setting up a payment plan here.
NOTE: Days and hours of operation for reinstatements vary by location. Before proceeding to a Reinstatement Center, be sure to check the Closure Advisories.
NOTE: Reinstatement Centers may stop taking applicants before the listed closing time to be able to assist all the applicants in line before the end of the business day. For example: Closing time for reinstatements may be listed as 4:30 p.m. but we may stop taking applicants at 2:45 p.m.
To reinstate by mail, please include the driver's full name, date of birth, social security number (if one has been issued), mailing address and phone number. Please also include the Tennessee driver license number and reason for cancellation, suspension, or revocation, if known.
By USPS:
Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security
Financial Responsibility
PO BOX 945
Nashville, TN 37202By
Courier Delivery (UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc.):
Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security
Financial Responsibility
1150 Foster Ave. *
Nashville, TN 37210
* Reinstatements are not be processed in person at this location
Step 2: Determine requirements and clear the court or administrative action against you in that state. Once cleared, request a Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) from that state and submit any court clearence paperwork togerther this will help ensure you get cleared in Tennessee.
NOTE: The MVR MUST say that you are cleared on the report or it will not be accepted.
Use the same ways to pay Reinstatement Fees and Submit Documentation listed in Step 1 to submit any required out-of-state clearance documentation.
Step 3:
Suspended License: After clearing all requirements you may be eligible to reinstate your license online here or you would need to visit in person at a Driver Service Center locations.
Revoked License: After clearing all requirements and waiting out the revocation period you may be eligible to reinstate your license online here or if not avaiblable visit in person at a Driver Service Center.
How to get SR-22: The insurance policy MUST be filed by an insurance company electronically to the department and be licensed through the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance to issue motor vehicle liability insurance coverage in Tennessee.
Length: The insurance MUST be maintained for the length of the suspension or revocation period.
Example: One (1) year revocation is a one (1) year SR-22 requirement
When you can get it: The insurance can be maintained with a restricted license or upon reinstatement.
Canceled or Terminated Policy : If this occurs prior to completing the requirement this can result in the driving privileges being suspended for Failure to Maintain Future Proof of Financial Responsibility. If suspended, upon reapplying for an operator's license the driver must refile and maintain the SR-22 insurance, pay associated reinstatement fees, and reapply for their license.
Cost: The insurance company determines the cost.
How to identify if you still need SR-22 insurance
Go to requirements page on e-services located here. If the SR22 requirement is not listed you are no longer required to carry SR-22 insurance.
Out of State Resident SR-22 Waiver
Out of state residents may be eligible to have their SR-22 requirement waived. Submit a request to receive the required waiver that MUST be filled out and signed by your home state driver service office. If you are unable to get the waiver signed you will be required to carry SR-22 insurance.