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Tennessee Car Insurance Laws: Minimum Coverage, Penalties and SR-22

Tennessee car insurance law: minimum liability limits, fault or no-fault, uninsured motorist coverage, proof of insurance, penalties for driving uninsured, SR-22, title and registration.

Quick answers for Tennessee

Minimum coverage required
Tennessee's Financial Responsibility Law requires minimum liability limits of 25/50/25: $25,000 for each injury or death per accident, $50,000 for total injuries or deaths per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Tennessee Department of Revenue, Financial Responsibility Law (Drive Insured Tennessee)
At-fault or no-fault
Tennessee uses the at-fault (tort) system: the driver who causes a crash is responsible for the resulting injuries and damage, paid through liability insurance. Alabama Department of Insurance, State Auto Insurance Laws (national table)
Driving without insurance
Through the EIVS program, owners who fail to show coverage after a notice owe a coverage failure fee of $25, rising to $100 if they do not comply with the first notice, and risk losing their registration. Tennessee Department of Revenue, Notice #26-16 (June 2026)
SR-22 filing
Tennessee requires SR-22 insurance for violations such as DUI, accident claims, unsatisfied judgments, accumulation of points, implied consent refusal, hit and run, vehicular assault or homicide, racing, and two reckless driving violations in 12 months. Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Do I need SR-22 Insurance? (citing Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-126)

Last verified: 2026-10-27

Required coverage

Minimum coverage requiredTennessee's Financial Responsibility Law requires minimum liability limits of 25/50/25: $25,000 for each injury or death per accident, $50,000 for total injuries or deaths per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Vehicles with commercial plates must be covered by a commercial auto policy. Owners may instead qualify for an exemption, such as approved self-insurance.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-102(12) also allows a single-limit policy, cash deposit or bond.
Source: Tennessee Department of Revenue, Financial Responsibility Law (Drive Insured Tennessee)
At-fault or no-faultTennessee uses the at-fault (tort) system: the driver who causes a crash is responsible for the resulting injuries and damage, paid through liability insurance. The Alabama Department of Insurance's national table of state auto insurance laws lists Tennessee among the "Tort States."
Source: Alabama Department of Insurance, State Auto Insurance Laws (national table)
Proof of insuranceTennessee verifies insurance through the Department of Revenue's Electronic Insurance Verification System (EIVS), to which insurers report policy information (monthly now; weekly starting July 1, 2027). Owners who get a noncompliance notice verify coverage or pay fees through the Tennessee Insurance Verification application. A STOP can be placed on a vehicle's registration for failure to provide evidence of financial responsibility after a traffic stop, and must be cleared before renewal. Starting July 1, 2027 (until June 30, 2029), proof of financial responsibility will be required for an initial vehicle registration.
STOP details: https://www.tn.gov/safety/driver-services/reinstatements-and-moving-violations/reinstatements/fr-services.html.
Source: Tennessee Department of Revenue, Notice #26-16 (June 2026); Drive Insured Tennessee; Department of Safety, Financial Responsibility Services and Forms

Driving without insurance and SR-22

Driving without insuranceThrough the EIVS program, owners who fail to show coverage after a notice owe a coverage failure fee of $25, rising to $100 if they do not comply with the first notice, and risk losing their registration. Effective July 1, 2027, Public Chapter 1077 (2026) raises these fees to $500 and $1,000, adds a $1,500 fee (with registration suspension or revocation) for lapsing into unconfirmed status for the same vehicle more than once within three years, blocks renewals after a second notice until proof and fees are provided, and limits noneconomic damages for plaintiffs whose vehicles were not in compliance.
Source: Tennessee Department of Revenue, Notice #26-16 (June 2026)
SR-22 filingTennessee requires SR-22 insurance for violations such as DUI, accident claims, unsatisfied judgments, accumulation of points, implied consent refusal, hit and run, vehicular assault or homicide, racing, and two reckless driving violations in 12 months. The SR-22 must be maintained for the length of the suspension or revocation period, either with a restricted license or after reinstatement. If the SR-22 policy or bond is canceled before the requirement ends, driving privileges can be suspended for failure to maintain future proof of financial responsibility, and the driver must refile, pay reinstatement fees and reapply.
Source: Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Do I need SR-22 Insurance? (citing Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-126)

Your rights with insurers

Total loss rulesIf an insurer deems a vehicle a total loss, the original title and registration are void. Owners of vehicles less than 10 years old can apply by mail to the Department of Revenue for a Salvage Certificate (the vehicle cannot be driven on Tennessee roads), and owners of non-repairable vehicles can apply for a Non-repairable Certificate (the vehicle can never be titled or registered in Tennessee). A rebuilt salvage vehicle must pass an anti-theft inspection before it can be titled with the brand "Rebuilt Vehicle Anti-Theft Inspected."
Source: Tennessee Department of Revenue, Salvage, Non-repairable, and Rebuilt Vehicles
Complaints about an insurerComplaints about insurance companies and agents go to the Department of Commerce and Insurance's Consumer Insurance Services Section through its Online Complaint Form. Phone (615) 741-2218 or 1-800-342-4029.
Source: Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, File a Complaint

Title and registration

Transferring a car titleTitles are issued by the county clerk's office. For a used vehicle, bring proof of identification and residency, a valid certificate of title, an odometer disclosure statement if applicable, and a copy of current registration if transferring your plate; gifts, low-price sales and transfers between lineal relatives use an Affidavit of Non-Dealer Transfers.
Source: Tennessee Department of Revenue, Titling a Vehicle (Current Residents)
Registering after you moveNew or returning residents with a driver license from another state must get a Tennessee driver license no later than 30 days after establishing residency, at a full-service Driver Services Center, and must surrender the out-of-state license. To title a vehicle, bring proof of identification and residency, the most current out-of-state registration, and either the out-of-state title or the lienholder's name and address to the county clerk.
Vehicle title page: https://www.tn.gov/revenue/title-and-registration/vehicle-titling/titling-a-vehicle-new.html.
Source: Tennessee Department of Safety, New Residents; Department of Revenue, Titling a Vehicle (New Residents)

Car Insurance & Vehicle Laws FAQ

What is the minimum car insurance required in Tennessee?
Tennessee's Financial Responsibility Law requires minimum liability limits of 25/50/25: $25,000 for each injury or death per accident, $50,000 for total injuries or deaths per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Vehicles with commercial plates must be covered by a commercial auto policy. Owners may instead qualify for an exemption, such as approved self-insurance.
Is Tennessee a no-fault car insurance state?
Tennessee uses the at-fault (tort) system: the driver who causes a crash is responsible for the resulting injuries and damage, paid through liability insurance. The Alabama Department of Insurance's national table of state auto insurance laws lists Tennessee among the "Tort States."
Can you show proof of car insurance on your phone in Tennessee?
Tennessee verifies insurance through the Department of Revenue's Electronic Insurance Verification System (EIVS), to which insurers report policy information (monthly now; weekly starting July 1, 2027). Owners who get a noncompliance notice verify coverage or pay fees through the Tennessee Insurance Verification application. A STOP can be placed on a vehicle's registration for failure to provide evidence of financial responsibility after a traffic stop, and must be cleared before renewal. Starting July 1, 2027 (until June 30, 2029), proof of financial responsibility will be required for an initial vehicle registration.
What is the penalty for driving without insurance in Tennessee?
Through the EIVS program, owners who fail to show coverage after a notice owe a coverage failure fee of $25, rising to $100 if they do not comply with the first notice, and risk losing their registration. Effective July 1, 2027, Public Chapter 1077 (2026) raises these fees to $500 and $1,000, adds a $1,500 fee (with registration suspension or revocation) for lapsing into unconfirmed status for the same vehicle more than once within three years, blocks renewals after a second notice until proof and fees are provided, and limits noneconomic damages for plaintiffs whose vehicles were not in compliance.
When do you need an SR-22 in Tennessee, and for how long?
Tennessee requires SR-22 insurance for violations such as DUI, accident claims, unsatisfied judgments, accumulation of points, implied consent refusal, hit and run, vehicular assault or homicide, racing, and two reckless driving violations in 12 months. The SR-22 must be maintained for the length of the suspension or revocation period, either with a restricted license or after reinstatement. If the SR-22 policy or bond is canceled before the requirement ends, driving privileges can be suspended for failure to maintain future proof of financial responsibility, and the driver must refile, pay reinstatement fees and reapply.
When is a car a total loss in Tennessee?
If an insurer deems a vehicle a total loss, the original title and registration are void. Owners of vehicles less than 10 years old can apply by mail to the Department of Revenue for a Salvage Certificate (the vehicle cannot be driven on Tennessee roads), and owners of non-repairable vehicles can apply for a Non-repairable Certificate (the vehicle can never be titled or registered in Tennessee). A rebuilt salvage vehicle must pass an anti-theft inspection before it can be titled with the brand "Rebuilt Vehicle Anti-Theft Inspected."
How do you transfer a car title in Tennessee?
Titles are issued by the county clerk's office. For a used vehicle, bring proof of identification and residency, a valid certificate of title, an odometer disclosure statement if applicable, and a copy of current registration if transferring your plate; gifts, low-price sales and transfers between lineal relatives use an Affidavit of Non-Dealer Transfers.
How long do you have to register your car after moving to Tennessee?
New or returning residents with a driver license from another state must get a Tennessee driver license no later than 30 days after establishing residency, at a full-service Driver Services Center, and must surrender the out-of-state license. To title a vehicle, bring proof of identification and residency, the most current out-of-state registration, and either the out-of-state title or the lienholder's name and address to the county clerk.
How do you file a complaint against a car insurance company in Tennessee?
Complaints about insurance companies and agents go to the Department of Commerce and Insurance's Consumer Insurance Services Section through its Online Complaint Form. Phone (615) 741-2218 or 1-800-342-4029.

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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.