Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee
Title 1340 - Safety and Homeland Security
Subtitle 1340-01 - Driver Control Division
Chapter 1340-01-13 - Rules of Classified and Commercial Driver Licenses and Certificates for Driving
Section 1340-01-13-.03 - DRIVER LICENSE AND TEMPORARY DRIVER LICENSE CLASSIFICATIONS
Universal Citation: TN Comp Rules and Regs 1340-01-13-.03
Current through September 24, 2024
(1) An original classified/commercial driver license shall be issued to any qualified applicant for the purpose of legally operating a commercial and/or non-commercial motor vehicle. No person shall have more than one (1) driver license.
(2) Requirements for determining the driver license classification are as follows:
(a)
Class A (Commercial Driver License) - Required for any person who operates a
combination vehicle with a G.C.W.R. in excess of twenty-six thousand (26,000)
pounds; provided the vehicle being towed is in excess of ten thousand (10,000)
pounds G.V.W.R.
1. Persons holding a valid
Class A license may operate Class B, and Class C vehicles as long as any
required endorsements appear on the license, and Class D vehicles, but not
Class M vehicles unless this class is also issued in conjunction with the Class
A license.
(b) Class B
(Commercial Driver License) - Required for any person who operates a single
vehicle with a G.V.W.R. in excess of twenty-six thousand (26,000) pounds, or
any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds G.V.W.R.
1. Persons holding a valid Class B license
may also operate any vehicle for which a Class C license is required if the
required endorsements appear on the license, or any Class D vehicle but not
Class M vehicles unless this class is also issued in conjunction with the Class
B license. Class B license holders arc not entitled to operate Class A
vehicles.
(c) Class C
(Commercial Driver License) - Required for any person who operates a single
vehicle with a G.V.W.R. not in excess of twenty-six thousand (26,000) pounds,
when the vehicle is required to be placarded for transportation of hazardous
materials, designed to transport more than fifteen (15) passengers, including
the driver, or used as a school bus.
1.
Persons holding a valid Class C license may also operate Class D vehicles, but
not Class M vehicles unless this class is also issued in conjunction with the
Class C license. Class C license holders are not entitled to operate Class A or
Class B vehicles.
(d)
Class D (Non-Commercial Driver License) - Required for any person who operates
a single vehicle with a G.V.W.R. not in excess of twenty-six thousand (26,000)
pounds, or a combination vehicle with a G.C.W.R. not in excess of twenty-six
thousand (26,000) pounds, except vehicles in Classes A, B, C or M or vehicles
which require a special endorsement unless the proper endorsement appears on
the license.
(e) Class H
(Non-Commercial) - A special class license which may be issued to a minor at
least fourteen (14) years of age but not yet sixteen (16) years of age, only in
cases where review of required documentation substantiates a family hardship
and that is limited to a specific need.
1. A
person holding a valid Class H license may operate Class D (passenger) or Class
M (motor-driven cycle) vehicles only. However, to drive a Class M vehicle, the
applicant shall be required to take the Class M driving test in addition to the
Class D test.
2. Valid only for
daylight hours, but no earlier than 5:00 a.m. and no later than 7:00 p.m. No
exceptions.
3. Valid only for
travel to pre-authorized locations that are specified on the authorization
letter.
4. Passengers are limited
to immediate family members only.
5. A person holding a valid Class H license
is not allowed to tow other vehicles or trailers.
6. Approved for the most direct routes only
with a mileage limitation of 25 miles, one way.
7. Destinations that will be considered for
approval with appropriate justification include:
(i) School - only if no bus transportation is
provided;
(ii) Extracurricular
School Activities - only if no bus transportation is provided and these
activities are school sponsored or are accredited courses and extreme privation
exists;
(iii) Work - only if income
is required to help financially support the family (proof of combined gross
income in the form of a copy of previous year's income tax record may be
required); and
(iv) Medical - only
for serious illnesses of immediate family members. Family members may include
parents, grandparents, stepparents or legal guardians if living in the same
household as applicant. Documentation required from physician.
(v) Hardship destinations as determined by
the Commissioner.
8. If
the holder of the Class H license is at least fifteen (15) years of age, the
Class H license may be used as a learner permit for Class D vehicles, as long
as all other requirements pertaining to the appropriate Class P license are
met.
(f) Class M
(Non-Commercial Driver License) - Required for any person who operates
motorcycles as defined in Chapter 1340-12-1. May be issued in conjunction with
another class of license i.e., Class AM.
(g) Class P (Commercial/Non-Commercial Driver
License) - Required for any person who is learning to operate a particular
class of vehicle on an instructional basis only.
1. Issued only in conjunction with another
license class, and must indicate the other class of vehicle(s) the applicant is
legally entitled to operate.
(3) Requirements for determining the temporary driver license classification are as follows:
(a) Class XD (Non-Commercial Temporary Driver
License). Required for any person whose presence in the United States has been
authorized by the federal government for a specific purpose and for a specified
period of authorized stay or who does not satisfy the requirements of T.C.A.
§§
55-50-331(g) or
55-50-321(c)(1)(C)
who operates a single vehicle with a G.V.W.R. not in excess of twenty-six
thousand (26,000) pounds, or a combination vehicle with a G.C.W.R. not in
excess of twenty-six thousand (26,000) pounds, except Classes A, B, C or M or
vehicles which require a special endorsement unless the proper endorsement
appears on the license.
(b) Class
XH (Non-Commercial Temporary Driver License). A special class temporary driver
license which may be issued to a minor at least fourteen (14) years of age but
not yet sixteen (16) years of age, only in cases where review of required
documentation substantiates a family hardship and that is limited to a specific
need.
1. A person holding a valid Class XH
temporary driver license may operate Class D (passenger) or Class M
(motor-driven cycle) vehicles only. However, to drive a Class M vehicle, the
applicant shall be required to take the Class M driving test in addition to the
Class D test.
2. Valid only for
daylight hours, but no earlier than 5:00 a.m. and no later than 7:00 p.m. No
exceptions.
3. Valid only for
travel to pre-authorized locations that are specified on the authorization
letter.
4. Passengers are limited
to immediate family members only.
5. A person holding a valid Class XH
temporary driver license is not allowed to tow other vehicles or
trailers.
6. Approved for the most
direct routes only with a mileage limitation of 25 miles, one way.
7. Destinations that will be considered for
approval with appropriate justification include:
(i) School - only if no bus transportation is
provided;
(ii) Extracurricular
School Activities - only if no bus transportation is provided and these
activities are school sponsored or are accredited courses and extreme privation
exists;
(iii) Work - only if income
is required to help financially support the family (proof of combined gross
income in the form of a copy of previous year's income tax record may be
required); and
(iv) Medical - only
for serious illnesses of immediate family members. Family members may include
parents, grandparents, stepparents or legal guardians if living in the same
household as applicant. Documentation required from physician.
(v) Hardship destinations as determined by
the Commissioner.
8. If
the holder of the Class XH temporary driver license is at least fifteen (15)
years of age, the Class XH temporary driver license may be used as a learner
permit for Class D vehicles, as long as all other requirements pertaining to
the appropriate Class XP temporary driver license are met.
(c) Class XM (Non-Commercial Temporary Driver
License). The temporary driver license that must be issued and valid for the
operation of a motor driven cycle, or a motorized bicycle as defined in Chapter
1340-1-12.
(d) Class XP
(Non-Commercial Temporary Driver License). An instructional permit to allow the
operator to drive a particular class of vehicle on an instructional basis only.
Issued only in conjunction with a temporary driver license indicating the class
of vehicle(s) that the operator is legally entitled to operate.
(4) An original photo identification license or temporary photo identification license shall be issued to any qualified applicant for identification purposes only with no authorization to operate any motor vehicle.
Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-202, 55-50-102, 55-50-102(20), 55-50-202, 55-50-311, 55-50-321, 55-50-331, 55-50-336, 55-50-312, 55-50-401, 55-50-404, 55-50-410, Public Acts of 2004; Chapter 778, 49 C.F.R. §383(1992), and Public Chapter No. 194, 2007, Title MI, Public Law 99-570, §§12005, 12009, and 12019.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Tennessee may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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