# Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-50-301: License required - Requirements - Exception - Applicability to temporary licenses and permits > Tennessee · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T55_C50_S55-50-301 ## Section - **Citation:** Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-50-301 - **Heading:** License required - Requirements - Exception - Applicability to temporary licenses and permits - **Jurisdiction:** Tennessee - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** TN Code / Title 55 / Chapter 50 / Section 55-50-301 ## Text (a) Every person applying for an original or renewal driver license shall be required to comply with and be issued a classified driver license meeting the following requirements: (1) No person, except those expressly exempted in this section, shall drive any motor vehicle upon a highway in this state unless the person has a valid driver license under this chapter for the type or class of vehicle being driven; (2) No person, except those expressly exempted in this section, shall steer or, while within the passenger compartment of the vehicle, exercise any degree of physical control of a vehicle being towed by a motor vehicle upon a highway in this state unless the person has a valid driver license under this chapter for the type or class of vehicle being towed; (3) No person shall receive a driver license unless and until the person surrenders to the department all valid licenses in the person's possession, issued to that person by this or any other jurisdiction. All surrendered licenses issued by another jurisdiction shall be returned, together with information that the person is licensed in this state. No person shall be permitted to have more than one (1) valid driver license at any time; and (4) Any person licensed as a driver may exercise the privilege granted upon all streets and highways in this state and shall not be required to obtain any other license to exercise the privilege by any county, municipal or local board, or body having authority to adopt local police regulations. (b) This section is applicable to the issuance of temporary driver licenses and permits. (c) A Class M license shall not be required for the operation of an autocycle. Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1015,s 10, eff. 7/1/2016. Acts 1937, ch. 90, § 3; C. Supp. 1950, § 2715.11 (Williams, § 2715.16); Acts 1955, ch. 114, § 2; 1957, ch. 199, §§ 1, 2; 1957, ch. 209, § 1; 1959, ch. 272, § 1; 1967, ch. 238, § 1; impl. am. Acts 1971, ch. 162, § 3; Acts 1972, ch. 467, § 1; 1974, ch. 444, §§ 1, 2; 1975, ch. 82, § 1; 1976, ch. 841, § 1; 1977, ch. 90, § 1; 1977, ch. 189, § 2; 1978, ch. 643, §§ 1, 2; 1979, ch. 247, §§ 5, 8; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 59-704; Acts 1986, ch. 804, § 7; 1987, ch. 446, § 11; 1988, ch. 584, § 4; T.C.A., §§ 55-7-104 , 55-7-301; Acts 2000, ch. 606, § 6; 2007, ch. 194, § 5. (a) Every person applying for an original or renewal driver license shall be required to comply with and be issued a classified driver license meeting the following requirements: (1) No person, except those expressly exempted in this section, shall drive any motor vehicle upon a highway in this state unless the person has a valid driver license under this chapter for the type or class of vehicle being driven; (2) No person, except those expressly exempted in this section, shall steer or, while within the passenger compartment of the vehicle, exercise any degree of physical control of a vehicle being towed by a motor vehicle upon a highway in this state unless the person has a valid driver license under this chapter for the type or class of vehicle being towed; (3) No person shall receive a driver license unless and until the person surrenders to the department all valid licenses in the person's possession, issued to that person by this or any other jurisdiction. All surrendered licenses issued by another jurisdiction shall be returned, together with information that the person is licensed in this state. No person shall be permitted to have more than one (1) valid driver license at any time; and (4) Any person licensed as a driver may exercise the privilege granted upon all streets and highways in this state and shall not be required to obtain any other license to exercise the privilege by any county, municipal or local board, or body having authority to adopt local police regulations. this state. No person shall be permitted to have more than one (1) valid driver license at any time; and (4) Any person licensed as a driver may exercise the privilege granted upon all streets and highways in this state and shall not be required to obtain any other license to exercise the privilege by any county, municipal or local board, or body having authority to adopt local police regulations. (1) No person, except those expressly exempted in this section, shall drive any motor vehicle upon a highway in this state unless the person has a valid driver license under this chapter for the type or class of vehicle being driven; (2) No person, except those expressly exempted in this section, shall steer or, while within the passenger compartment of the vehicle, exercise any degree of physical control of a vehicle being towed by a motor vehicle upon a highway in this state unless the person has a valid driver license under this chapter for the type or class of vehicle being towed; (3) No person shall receive a driver license unless and until the person surrenders to the department all valid licenses in the person's possession, issued to that person by this or any other jurisdiction. All surrendered licenses issued by another jurisdiction shall be returned, together with information that the person is licensed in this state. No person shall be permitted to have more than one (1) valid driver license at any time; and (4) Any person licensed as a driver may exercise the privilege granted upon all streets and highways in this state and shall not be required to obtain any other license to exercise the privilege by any county, municipal or local board, or body having authority to adopt local police regulations. (b) This section is applicable to the issuance of temporary driver licenses and permits. (c) A Class M license shall not be required for the operation of an autocycle. Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1015,s 10, eff. 7/1/2016. Acts 1937, ch. 90, § 3; C. Supp. 1950, § 2715.11 (Williams, § 2715.16); Acts 1955, ch. 114, § 2; 1957, ch. 199, §§ 1, 2; 1957, ch. 209, § 1; 1959, ch. 272, § 1; 1967, ch. 238, § 1; impl. am. Acts 1971, ch. 162, § 3; Acts 1972, ch. 467, § 1; 1974, ch. 444, §§ 1, 2; 1975, ch. 82, § 1; 1976, ch. 841, § 1; 1977, ch. 90, § 1; 1977, ch. 189, § 2; 1978, ch. 643, §§ 1, 2; 1979, ch. 247, §§ 5, 8; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 59-704; Acts 1986, ch. 804, § 7; 1987, ch. 446, § 11; 1988, ch. 584, § 4; T.C.A., §§ 55-7-104 , 55-7-301; Acts 2000, ch. 606, § 6; 2007, ch. 194, § 5. ## Nearby sections - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-50-101 Short title](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T55_C50_S55-50-101.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-50-102 Chapter definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T55_C50_S55-50-102.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-50-201 Administration by department](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T55_C50_S55-50-201.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-50-202 Establishment of rules and regulations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T55_C50_S55-50-202.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-50-203 Authority to enter agreements](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T55_C50_S55-50-203.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-50-204 Records to be kept by department - Fee for furnishing copies](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T55_C50_S55-50-204.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-50-205 [Enactment contingent on funding by the federal selective service system. See the Compiler's Notes.] Electronic transmittal of information to federal selective service system](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T55_C50_S55-50-205.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-50-301 License required - Requirements - Exception - Applicability to temporary licenses and permits](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T55_C50_S55-50-301.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-50-302 Classes of licenses - Endorsements - Applicability to temporary licenses and permits](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T55_C50_S55-50-302.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-50-303 Persons not eligible for licensing - Exception for temporary licenses](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T55_C50_S55-50-303.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-50-304 Persons exempt from licensing](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T55_C50_S55-50-304.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-50-305 Validity of current licenses](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T55_C50_S55-50-305.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-50-306 Electronic driver license system](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T55_C50_S55-50-306.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-50-307 Acquired brain injury, intellectual disability, or developmental disability designation for driver's license or photo identification license](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T55_C50_S55-50-307.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T55_C50_S55-50-301. Check the current official text before relying on it. 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