Tennessee: Licensing basics — New and Returning Residents Practice Test
Questions in this part include: “You moved to Tennessee from another state. Your valid driver license from your former state can be used to prove what?” · “A 15-year-old new resident has a valid permit from the previous state. What can this teen get in Tennessee?”
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Questions are original and based on the official manual "Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual" (March 2025 printing), Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security.
All 21 questions in this practice test
Take the test above first, then use this list to study. Tap “Show answer” to see the correct answer and explanation.
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A new resident with a valid out-of-state license must apply for a Tennessee license if they live in Tennessee longer than how long?
- 30 days
- 10 days
- 60 days
- 90 days
Show answer
Correct answer: 30 days
A person who moves to Tennessee with a valid license from another state or country must apply for a Tennessee license once they live in the state longer than 30 days.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 2 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 2)
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Which of these, by itself, requires a person who has just moved to Tennessee with a valid out-of-state license to apply for a Tennessee license?
- Owning a home in another state
- Having a vehicle registered in another state
- Working in Tennessee
- Holding the out-of-state license for under a year
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Correct answer: Working in Tennessee
Working in Tennessee is one of the listed reasons that requires a newcomer with a valid license from elsewhere to apply for a Tennessee license.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 2 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 2)
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A person who moves to Tennessee with a valid license must apply for a Tennessee license if they would otherwise qualify as what?
- A Tennessee property taxpayer
- A registered Tennessee voter
- A Tennessee vehicle owner
- A Tennessee full-time student
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Correct answer: A registered Tennessee voter
Qualifying as a registered Tennessee voter is one of the conditions that requires a newcomer to apply for a Tennessee license.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 2 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 2)
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You moved to Tennessee from another state. Your valid driver license from your former state can be used to prove what?
- Your U.S. citizenship
- Your identity
- Your lawful permanent resident status
- Your Tennessee residency
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Correct answer: Your identity
A valid license from your former state can prove your identity, but it cannot prove U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident status.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 8 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 8)
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What must a new resident of Tennessee do with the driver license from the former state?
- Keep it and carry both licenses
- Return it by mail to the former state
- Surrender it
- Have it translated into English
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Correct answer: Surrender it
New residents must surrender their license from the former state.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 9 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 9)
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A new resident's license from another state has been lost. What must the new resident provide?
- A police report about the lost license
- The same two items an original applicant provides
- Only a Social Security card
- A letter from the former state's licensing agency
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Correct answer: The same two items an original applicant provides
With a lost out-of-state license, the new resident gives the same two items of proof an original applicant gives.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 9 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 9)
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An applicant who held a Tennessee license before moving out of state is now returning to Tennessee. What is required for a new license?
- Nothing, because of the earlier Tennessee license
- Proof of residency only after a five-year absence
- Proof of residency only for a motorcycle license
- Proof of Tennessee residency
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Correct answer: Proof of Tennessee residency
Returning residents must give proof of Tennessee residency, even if they once held a Tennessee license.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 10 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 10)
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Holders of a driver license from another state who move to Tennessee must obtain a Tennessee driver license no later than how many days after establishing residency?
- Thirty (30) days
- Ten (10) days
- Sixty (60) days
- Ninety (90) days
Show answer
Correct answer: Thirty (30) days
New and returning residents have thirty days after they establish residency to get a Tennessee license.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 11 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 11)
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A new resident holds a valid learner's permit from another state. What applies?
- The permit stays valid in Tennessee until it expires, with no further steps
- Separate requirements must be met to get a Tennessee learner permit or driver license
- A Class D license can be issued with no further testing at all
- The permit must be mailed back to the former state's licensing agency
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Correct answer: Separate requirements must be met to get a Tennessee learner permit or driver license
A permit from another state does not carry over; the new resident follows separate requirements for a Tennessee permit or license.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 11 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 11)
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Which test must ALL new or returning residents take at the Driver Service Center?
- Knowledge exam
- Road skills test
- Defensive driving class
- Vision screening
Show answer
Correct answer: Vision screening
Every new or returning resident takes the Tennessee vision screening, whatever else is or is not required.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 11 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 11)
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A new resident from another country holds a license issued by that country. What may the resident do with it?
- Exchange it for a Tennessee license with no tests
- Surrender it at the Driver Service Center
- Keep the license issued by that country
- Use it as proof of U.S. citizenship
Show answer
Correct answer: Keep the license issued by that country
New residents from other countries are allowed to keep their foreign license after taking the Tennessee tests.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 11 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 11)
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A 15-year-old new resident has a valid permit from the previous state. What can this teen get in Tennessee?
- A Tennessee learner permit only
- An Intermediate Restricted License
- A regular Class D license
- Nothing until turning 16
Show answer
Correct answer: A Tennessee learner permit only
A 15-year-old with an out-of-state permit qualifies only for a Tennessee learner permit.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 14 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 14)
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How can permit time from a previous state count for a new resident under 18?
- It never counts, so all 180 days must be held in Tennessee itself
- It counts automatically with no record needed
- It can count toward the 180 days if a certified driving record is provided
- It counts only if the permit was held for a full year
Show answer
Correct answer: It can count toward the 180 days if a certified driving record is provided
The time held in the previous state may count toward the 180 days if the teen provides a certified driving record.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 14 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 14)
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How recently must the certified driving record from a previous state have been issued when a new resident under 18 applies?
- Within the 10 days before the application
- Within the 30 days before the application
- Within the 60 days before the application
- Within the 6 months before the application
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Correct answer: Within the 30 days before the application
The certified record must be issued within the thirty days immediately preceding the Tennessee application.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 14 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 14)
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What must a certified driving record from a new resident's previous state show?
- No more than three points
- No violations in the last month only
- Fewer than twelve points
- No violations or accidents
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Correct answer: No violations or accidents
The certified record must show no violations or accidents on the record.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 16 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 16)
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If a new resident's previous state record shows violations, which Department section reviews it?
- The Driver Education Section
- The Highway Safety Section
- The Driver Improvement Section
- The Vehicle Registration Section
Show answer
Correct answer: The Driver Improvement Section
The teen keeps the Tennessee Learner Permit until the Driver Improvement Section reviews the record against the "less than 6 points" requirement.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 16 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 16)
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A 16-year-old new resident holds a valid out-of-state license issued at least 90 days before applying. What will the Tennessee application be for?
- An Intermediate Restricted license
- A learner permit
- An Intermediate Unrestricted license
- A regular Class D license
Show answer
Correct answer: An Intermediate Restricted license
A 16-year-old with a valid license from another state issued at least 90 days earlier applies for an Intermediate Restricted license.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 16 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 16)
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A 16-year-old held an out-of-state license for LESS than 90 days. For an Intermediate Restricted License, the previous record must confirm that the permit and license were held for a combined period of at least how long?
- 120 days
- 90 days
- One year
- 180 days
Show answer
Correct answer: 180 days
The previous state's record must confirm a permit and/or license held for a combined period of at least 180 days, with no violations or accidents.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 16 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 16)
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How long must a new resident hold a Tennessee Intermediate Restricted license before qualifying for the Intermediate Unrestricted license, however long the previous state license was held?
- Six months
- One year
- 90 days
- Whatever time remains of the previous license
Show answer
Correct answer: One year
Regardless of time held in the previous state, the Tennessee Intermediate Restricted license must be held one year.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 16 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 16)
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What must a new resident with a current, valid, unexpired out-of-state license complete?
- A vision screening and a knowledge test
- A knowledge test and a road skills test
- Vision screening, knowledge and road skills tests
- A vision screening only
Show answer
Correct answer: A vision screening only
A new resident whose out-of-state license is valid and not expired takes only the vision screening.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 21 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 21)
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Which tests must a new resident from another country take?
- Vision screening, knowledge, and road skills tests
- Vision screening only
- Vision screening and the knowledge test only
- Knowledge test only
Show answer
Correct answer: Vision screening, knowledge, and road skills tests
New residents from other countries or with no prior license take all three: vision screening, knowledge and road skills.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 21 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 21)