2023 Tennessee Code › Title 55 - MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES (§§ 55-1-101 — 55-53-105) › Chapter 12 - FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY LAW (§§ 55-12-101 — 55-12-311) › Part 1 - FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY LAWSHORT TITLE (§§ 55-12-101 — 55-12-142) › Section 55-12-114 - Suspension of all registrations upon suspension or revocation of license - Restoration fee - Exception upon filing proof of financial responsibility - Release - Compliance by Tennessee resident moving to or returning from another state

(a)
Whenever the commissioner suspends or revokes the license of a person by reason of a conviction, the commissioner shall request that the commissioner of revenue suspend or revoke all registrations in the person's name, and the commissioner of revenue shall suspend or revoke those registrations immediately; provided, that the registrations in the person's name must not be suspended or revoked, unless otherwise required by law, if the person provides and maintains proof of financial responsibility for the length of the license's revocation or suspension.
(b)
Prior to the issuance of a restricted license as authorized by §
55-10-409
, §
55-50-502
, or §
55-50-505
, the licensee shall provide to the department of safety proof of financial responsibility as required by §
55-12-126
. The licensee shall maintain such proof of financial responsibility for the duration of the license's suspension or revocation, as required by §
55-12-126
.
(c)
When a person's license is restored after suspension or revocation, the person shall pay a one-hundred-dollar restoration fee, unless the person was convicted of driving on a revoked license pursuant to §
55-50-504
and the original suspension or revocation was made for a violation of an offense not requiring mandatory revocation, in which case the person shall pay a sixty-five-dollar restoration fee. If the license has been expired, revoked, or suspended for more than one (1) renewal cycle, as described in §
55-50-337
, then the person must pass the driver license examination. Payment of the appropriate restoration fee and, if applicable, passage of the driver license examination are conditions precedent to the restoration of the license. Upon restoration of a person's license, the commissioner of safety shall request that the commissioner of revenue reinstate the person's registrations and, upon payment to the commissioner of revenue of the appropriate motor vehicle registration fees provided by §
55-4-111
, §
55-4-112
, or §
55-4-113
, the registrations must be reinstated immediately, unless the person has another suspension or revocation under this chapter preventing reinstatement.
(d)
(1)
In order to reinstate a driver license after suspension or revocation, if the person did not have a restricted license issued under subsection (b), or was not eligible for a restricted license, the person shall provide proof of financial responsibility prospectively for a length of time equal to the length of time for which the suspension or revocation was in effect.
(2)
A person who is not eligible for a restricted license may provide proof of financial responsibility during the person's revocation or suspension period to satisfy this proof requirement. A person who provides proof of financial responsibility during the entire suspension or revocation period is not required to provide proof of financial responsibility to reinstate a driver license.
(e)
The department of safety may release a person's requirement to provide proof of financial responsibility after the expiration of the period of suspension or revocation, if the department of safety's records establish that during the suspension or revocation period, the person was not convicted of an additional offense authorizing or requiring the suspension or revocation of the person's license, nor was the person's license suspended, revoked, prohibited, or cancelled due to a separate violation of law. If the department of safety, pursuant to this subsection (e), releases the requirement that a person furnish proof of financial responsibility, and if the person's motor vehicle registration has been suspended or revoked because of the person's failure to furnish that proof, then the commissioner of safety shall request that the commissioner of revenue reinstate the person's registration and, upon payment of the appropriate motor vehicle registration fees to the commissioner of revenue provided by §
55-4-111
, §
55-4-112
, or §
55-4-113
, the registration must be reinstated immediately. Notwithstanding another law to the contrary, this subsection (e) does not apply if there is an unsatisfied judgment based on a motor vehicle accident.
(f)
A Tennessee resident who moves to another state during the period of a cancellation, suspension, or revocation in this state complies with this section upon the department of safety receiving certification that the former resident has satisfied the financial responsibility laws of the new state, as well as upon meeting all other requirements and conditions for reinstatement of driving privileges in Tennessee. If the person returns to Tennessee as a Tennessee resident and reapplies for a Tennessee driver license, the requirements for regaining driving privileges are the same as for other Tennessee residents.
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 336, s 1, eff. 1/1/2024.
Amended by 2013 Tenn. Acts, ch. 154, s 43, eff. 7/1/2013.
Acts 1977, ch. 446, § 14; T.C.A., § 59-1264; Acts 1980, ch. 817, § 6; 1980, ch. 868, § 1; 1986, ch. 842, §§ 27, 28; 1991, ch. 121, § 1; 1998, ch. 682, §§ 2, 3; 2001, ch. 110, § 2; 2007 , ch. 484, § 83.