Updated for 2026 testing — 530+ questions based on the official Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (Revised May 2025). Realistic exam simulator with instant scoring. No signup required.
30 random questions, 30-minute timer. Based on the official Tennessee TDOS exam format. Need 24/30 to pass.
Practice road signs exclusively — shapes, colors, and meanings. Perfect for targeting the sign section before your exam.
Test only the critical numbers — speed limits, distances, BAC limits, suspension periods. The most memorized facts on the real exam.
Fast 15-question session — perfect for a daily warm-up or quick review before bed.
Every question, random order, no timer. Best for deep study before your test date.
Key chapters from the official handbook — organized, summarized, and exam-focused. Read before your test!
Everything important from the Tennessee Driver's Manual handbook — organized for the exam
Memorize these numbers first. Tennessee test questions are frequently built around specific distances, speeds, BAC levels, and time periods. These come up constantly.
Road signs are tested heavily. Know each sign's shape, color, and meaning. The real test often shows a sign description and asks what it means.
| Shape | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Octagon (8-sided) | STOP — always and only | Stop sign |
| Triangle (pointing down) | YIELD — give right of way | Yield sign |
| Diamond | WARNING — hazard ahead | Curve, pedestrian, deer |
| Pentagon (5-sided) | SCHOOL ZONE | School crossing |
| Pennant (triangle right) | NO PASSING ZONE | No-passing pennant |
| Round (circle) | RAILROAD CROSSING advance warning | RR crossing sign |
| Rectangle (vertical) | REGULATORY — rules you must follow | Speed limit, turn restrictions |
| Rectangle (horizontal) | GUIDE or INFORMATION | Street name, mile marker |
| X-shaped crossbuck | RAILROAD CROSSING — treat like yield | Railroad crossbuck |
| Color | Category | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Red | Regulatory — STOP / PROHIBIT | Stop, yield, do not enter, wrong way, no-turn circles |
| Yellow | WARNING | General hazard warnings — curves, hills, intersections, animals |
| Orange | WORK ZONE / CONSTRUCTION | Construction ahead, road crew, $250–$500 mandatory speeding fine |
| Green | GUIDE / DIRECTIONAL | Highway exits, distances, direction, mile markers |
| Blue | SERVICES | Gas, food, lodging, hospital, rest area |
| Brown | RECREATION / CULTURAL | Parks, campgrounds, historical sites, scenic areas |
| White | REGULATORY | Speed limits, lane rules, turn restrictions |
| Fluorescent Yellow-Green | WARNING — pedestrian / school / bike | School zones, crosswalks, bike lanes |
Right of way is the #1 failure topic on the Tennessee TDOS test. Master every scenario below — these questions will be on your exam.
| Signal | What You Must Do |
|---|---|
| Solid GREEN | Proceed — but yield to traffic already in intersection |
| Solid YELLOW | Prepare to stop if safe; proceed only if stopping would be dangerous |
| Solid RED | Stop completely; may turn right on red after stop and yield (unless posted) |
| GREEN ARROW | Protected turn — cross traffic is stopped. You may turn without yielding. |
| YELLOW ARROW | Protected turn is ending — prepare to yield or stop |
| Flashing YELLOW ARROW | Unprotected turn — you MAY turn but MUST yield to oncoming and pedestrians |
| Flashing RED | Treat exactly like a STOP sign — stop, yield, proceed when safe |
| Flashing YELLOW | Caution — slow down and proceed carefully. Do not need to stop. |
| RED + GREEN ARROW | Stop for through traffic; turn in direction of arrow only |
| Signal NOT working | Treat as ALL-WAY STOP — all traffic stops |
DUI questions appear on virtually every Tennessee TDOS test. Know the BAC levels, implied consent law, and penalties. Tennessee uses "DUI" (Driving Under the Influence) — not "OWI," "DWI," or "OVI."
| Situation | Consequence |
|---|---|
| BAC of .08%+ (driver 21+) | DUI — criminal charge (TCA.010) |
| BAC of .20%+ | Aggravated 1st offense — minimum jail increases from 48 hours to 7 days |
| BAC of .02%+ (under 21) | Underage DUI (underage driving while impaired) — 1-year license loss + $250 fine |
| Refusing chemical test | 12-month court-imposed license suspension (implied consent law) |
| First DUI | $350–$1,500 fine; 48 hrs jail minimum (7 days if BAC ≥ 0.20%); 1-year license revocation |
| No Refusal Law (2012) | Officers can obtain search warrant for blood sample if you refuse chemical test |
| DUI + passenger under 18 | Drunk Driving Child Protection Act — mandatory +30 days jail + $1,000 fine (added to DUI penalties) |
| DUI causing death | Vehicular homicide — separate felony charge with fine and prison |
| DUI causing injury | Aggravated assault — separate felony charge with fine and prison |
| DUI lookback period | 10 years — penalties increase for repeat offenses |
School bus rules are heavily tested — especially the divided highway exception. Many people fail this question. Learn the exact rule.
| Rule | Requirement |
|---|---|
| General parking rule | Always park in a designated area, as far from traffic as possible |
| Curb parking | Park as close to the curb as possible when along a roadway |
| Handicapped space (without placard) | Unlawful — punishable by a fine. Must display official permit AND transport a disabled person |
| Leaving your vehicle | Turn off engine, remove key, lock doors — required by law |
| Inside an intersection or on a crosswalk | Never — always illegal |
| No-Parking zones | Check for signs or painted curbs that prohibit or limit parking |
| Exiting vehicle | Safest to exit on curb side. If using street side, check traffic first |
The rule: always turn wheels so that if the car rolls, it rolls away from traffic or is caught by the curb.
| Situation | Turn Wheels | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Facing DOWNHILL, WITH curb | RIGHT (into curb) | Car rolls into curb and stops |
| Facing DOWNHILL, NO curb | RIGHT (away from road) | Car rolls away from traffic |
| Facing UPHILL, WITH curb | LEFT (away from curb) | Car rolls back, caught by curb |
| Facing UPHILL, NO curb | RIGHT (away from road) | Car rolls away from traffic |
GDL questions appear on many tests, especially for younger test-takers. Know the three phases, the restrictions in each, and the specific numbers.
| Equipment | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Headlights (on) | ½ hour after sunset to ½ hour before sunrise |
| High beams (dim) | Within 500 ft of oncoming vehicle; within 500 ft when following another vehicle |
| Tail lights | Two red tail lights required; visible to other drivers (TCA requirement) |
| Tinted windows | No tinting on windshield. Passenger cars: all windows must transmit at least 35% light. MPVs: rear windows behind driver exempt |
| TVs / video screens visible to driver | Prohibited while vehicle is in motion (navigation is excepted) |
| Muffler | Must prevent excessive or unusual noise |
| Brakes | Two separate braking methods required: regular foot brake AND parking/emergency brake |
| Wipers | Must adequately clean the windshield when used |
| Tail lights / rear reflector | Two red tail lights + rear license plate light required |
| Tires | Must have adequate tread depth and be in safe condition |
| Hazard lights | For use when parked/stopped in an emergency — not while driving normally |
| Seat belts | ALL front-seat occupants required; back seat required if passenger under 17, or if driver holds learner/intermediate license — primary enforcement |
A proven 4-phase approach that builds real understanding — not just memorization. Work through each phase at your own pace, and you'll walk into the TDOS ready to pass on your first try.
| Your Score | Status | What to Do Next |
|---|---|---|
| Under 75% | Needs more work | Go back to Phase 3 — run Weak Spots mode on your wrong answers. Re-read the Study Guide for those topics. Then try the simulator again. |
| 75% – 89% | Almost there | Run Weak Spots on what you missed, then take the simulator again. You're close — one more round should get you there. |
| 90%+ | Ready! 🎉 | Run the simulator one more time to confirm. Score 90%+ twice → you are ready for the real test. |
Before you walk into the Tennessee Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security office:
30 questions · need 24 correct (80%) · you can miss up to 6 and still pass
March 2025 edition · Published by TDOS
Download Official Manual →Source: Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security · Free download
We've distilled the official manual into 12 focused study sections. Every number, rule, and fact verified against the handbook. Click any topic to start studying.
The Tennessee Department of Safety written knowledge test has 30 multiple-choice questions with a single combined score. You must answer at least 24 correctly (80%) to pass. The test has no time limit.
DUI stands for Driving Under the Influence. Tennessee uses DUI, and the legal BAC limit is 0.08% for drivers 21 and over and 0.02% for drivers under 21 (Zero Tolerance).
You can apply for a Tennessee learner permit at age 15 after passing the vision, road sign, and written knowledge tests at a Driver Services Center.
Yes, this practice test is completely free. Every question is verified against the Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (TDOS, March 2025 edition) published by the Tennessee Department of Safety.
Tennessee requires drivers to signal at least 50 feet before making a turn. This is shorter than most other states, which typically require 100 feet.
No, Tennessee requires the knowledge test to be taken in person at a Driver Services Center. You can practice unlimited times on this site, but the actual test must be taken at a TDOS location.
Tennessee is one of the few states where the written permit test has no time limit. You can take as long as you need to read each question carefully, think through the scenario, and choose your answer. For test-takers with anxiety, ADHD, language barriers, or simply a preference for moving slowly, this is a significant advantage — and it's one of several reasons Tennessee's passing rates are higher than the national average. Our simulator includes an untimed mode that matches this real-world format exactly.
The Tennessee written test is 30 questions scored as a single combined result, with an 80% passing score (24 correct out of 30). No sections, no sub-scores. The exam is administered by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOS) at Driver Services Centers across the state. Tennessee uses DUI (Driving Under the Influence) with a 0.08% BAC limit for drivers 21 and over and 0.02% for those under 21.
Tennessee has two unique rules that appear on the written test and catch drivers from other states off guard. First, the signal distance before turning is 50 feet, not the 100-foot standard used almost everywhere else. Second, Tennessee has a specific 3-foot bicycle passing law — drivers must leave at least three feet of clearance when passing a cyclist. Both of these show up regularly on the real test, and the wrong answers in those questions are often the 100-foot figure and "safe distance" phrasing that would be correct in other states.
This Tennessee practice test is built for residents studying at Driver Services Centers in Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Clarksville, Murfreesboro, Franklin, Jackson, Johnson City, Kingsport, and every smaller Tennessee town with a testing location. Free, no signup, no paywall — just the real TDOS March 2025 manual, the real 30-question untimed format, and the real 50-foot signal rule as it appears on the actual exam.
Permit rules vary between states. If you or someone you're helping is testing in a different state, we have free practice tests verified against each state's current manual:
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