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Tennessee Statutes, Title 55

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Tennessee/Statutes

← All Tennessee coverage

Title 55, Motor and Other Vehicles

35 chapters · 988 sections in this title.

All chapters in Title 55988 Ch 4, Registration and Licensing of Motor …191 Ch 8, Operation of Vehicles — Rules of the…120 Ch 10, Accidents, Crimes and Penalties97 Ch 50, Uniform Classified and Commercial Dr…80 Ch 12, Financial Responsibility69 Ch 17, Vehicle Sales Licenses50 Ch 9, Equipment — Lighting Regulations49 Ch 3, Certificates of Title40 Ch 5, Anti-Theft Provisions36 Ch 7, Size, Weight and Load28 Ch 1, Motor Vehicle Title and Registration Law26 Ch 21, Disabled Drivers and Passengers25 Ch 31, Modernization of Towing, Immobilizat…18 Ch 2, Administration by Department of Revenue15

69 sections·Filtered byTitle 55✕Ch 12✕

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-101 Short title
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This part shall be known and may be cited as the “Tennessee Financial Responsibility Law of 1977.”
Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-102 Part definitions
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(1) As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires:(1) “Autocycle” means an autocycle as defined in § 55-1-103;(2) “Bond” means irrevocable bond executed by a corporate surety company licensed to do business as a corporate surety company in this state, with penalties…
Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-103 Administration — Enforcement — Rules and regulations — Appeals — Judicial review
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(a) Except as otherwise specifically provided, the commissioner shall administer and enforce this chapter, may make rules and regulations necessary for its administration, and shall provide for hearings upon request of persons aggrieved by orders or acts of the commissioner under…
Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-104 Report of accident required — Suspension of registration or operating privileges for failure to report — Restoration — Access to information
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(a) (1) The operator of a motor vehicle that is in any manner involved in an accident within this state in which any person is killed or injured, or in which damage to the property of any one (1) person, including the operator, in excess of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,5…

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Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-105 Security deposit following accident — Acceptable proof of financial security — Revocation of registration or operating privileges for failure to deposit security — Notice — Appeal

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(a) The commissioner shall, upon receiving an accident report of an accident occurring in this state that has resulted in bodily injury, or death, or damage to the property of any one (1) person in excess of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500), and upon determining that th…

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-106 Exceptions to requirement of security and revocation — Additional acceptable proof of financial security

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(1) The requirements of security and revocation contained in this part shall not apply to:(1) An operator or owner, if the owner had in effect at the time of the accident, an automobile liability policy or bond with respect to the vehicle involved in the accident, except that an …

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-107 Minimum requirements of insurance policy or bond for security — Acceptable proof of existence of insurance or bond

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(a) No policy or bond shall be effective under § 55-12-106, unless issued by an insurance company or surety company licensed to do business in this state, except as provided in subsection (b), and unless the policy or bond provides security not less than the amounts specified in …

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-108 Duration of suspension or revocation for failure to report accident or deposit security — Restoration — Determination of fault inadmissible in court of law

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(a) Any license, registration, or nonresident's operating privilege suspended or revoked under authority of this part shall remain suspended or revoked and shall not be renewed, nor shall any license or registration be issued to the person until:(1) The person whose driver licens…

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-109 Report of suspension or revocation of nonresident's operating privileges — Revocation or suspension of resident's registration and operating privileges for accidents in other states — Restoration

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(a) When a nonresident's operating privilege is suspended or revoked pursuant to this part, the commissioner shall transmit a certified copy of the record of this action to the official in charge of the issuance of licenses and registration certificates in the state in which the …

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-110 Proof of damages sustained — Determination of amount of financial security required

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(a) Any party who has suffered damages as a result of an accident may submit to the commissioner an affidavit or an accident report showing thereon the amount of damages suffered. The affidavit or accident report, when properly executed, shall, for the purpose of this chapter, be…

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-111 Self-insurers

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(a) Any person in whose name more than twenty-five (25) vehicles are registered may qualify as a self-insurer by obtaining a certificate of self-insurance from the commissioner as provided in subsection (c). (b) Any recognized religious sect or division having established tenets …

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-112 Custody of security — Payment of judgments — Return of deposit

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(a) Any money deposited with the commissioner in compliance with the requirements of this chapter shall be deposited by the commissioner in the custody of the state treasurer, and shall be applicable only to the payment of a judgment or judgments rendered against the person makin…

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-113 “Conviction” defined

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“Conviction” includes a failure to satisfy a citation, a refusal to submit to a drug or alcohol test, or a forfeiture of bail or other security deposited to secure the defendant's appearance in court, which forfeiture has not been vacated.

Tenn. Code Ann. § 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

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(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 t…

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-115 Suspension of driver license for failure to comply with financial responsibility law

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(a) Upon receipt by the commissioner of a record of conviction of failing to show evidence of financial responsibility pursuant to § 55-12-139, the commissioner shall suspend the driver license of the person convicted of this offense. (b) (1) The person may obtain reinstatement o…

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-116 Duration of suspension or revocation under § 55-12-114 — Restoration

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(a) Where proof of financial responsibility is required by § 55-12-114, the license and registration must remain suspended or revoked and shall not be renewed, a license shall not be issued to the person, and a motor vehicle shall not be registered in the person's name, until per…

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-117 Duration of nonresident's suspension or revocation for failure to file proof of financial responsibility following conviction — Restoration

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(a) Whenever, by reason of a conviction, the commissioner suspends or revokes a nonresident's operating privileges in this state, or requests that the commissioner of revenue suspend or revoke the person's registration privileges, the privileges remain suspended or revoked as per…

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-118 Proof of financial responsibility required on final judgment — Suspension or revocation for failure to file proof — Restoration

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(a) Upon receipt of a certified copy of final judgment, the commissioner of safety shall immediately revoke the operator's license of any resident of this state and any nonresident's operating privileges in this state against whom judgment is rendered, if the judgment is not paid…

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-119 Proof of financial responsibility with respect to a motor vehicle or a person not the owner of the vehicle

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(1) Proof of financial responsibility, when required under this chapter with respect to a motor vehicle or with respect to a person who is not the owner of the motor vehicle, may be given by filing:(1) A certificate of insurance as provided in § 55-12-120;(2) A bond as provided i…

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-120 Certificate of insurance as proof of financial responsibility

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Proof of financial responsibility may be furnished by filing with the commissioner the written certificate of any insurance carrier duly authorized to do business in this state, certifying that there is in effect a motor vehicle liability policy for the benefit of the person requ…

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-121 Certificate of insurance by nonresident as proof of financial responsibility — Agreement to accept service of process on commissioner

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(1) A nonresident may give proof of financial responsibility by filing with the commissioner a written certificate or certificates of an insurance carrier licensed to transact business in the state in which the motor vehicle, or motor vehicles, owned by the nonresident is registe…

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-122 Motor vehicle liability policy — Contents

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(a) An owner's policy of liability insurance shall designate, by explicit description or by appropriate reference, all motor vehicles with respect to which coverage is thereby granted; and shall insure the person named therein, and any other person using the motor vehicle or moto…

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-123 Notice of cancellation or termination of certified policy

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When an insurance carrier has certified a motor vehicle liability policy under § 55-12-120, insurance so certified shall not be cancelled or terminated until at least ten (10) days after notice of cancellation or termination of the insurance so certified shall be filed with the c…

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-124 Other auto liability policies not affected

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(a) This part shall not be held to apply to or affect policies of automobile insurance against liability that may now or hereafter be required by any other law of this state, and such policies, if they contain an agreement or are endorsed to conform with the requirements of this …

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-125 Cancellation of bond or policy — Return of deposit

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(a) Upon request, in any of the following events described in subdivisions (a)(1)-(3), the commissioner shall consent to the immediate cancellation of a bond or certificate of insurance, or the commissioner shall authorize the return of money deposited as proof of financial respo…

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-126 Minimum duration of proof requirement — Suspension of license or registration for premature cancellation or termination of proof — Hearing — Restoration of license or registration

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(a) Except for suspensions under § 55-12-115, and the proof required as provided in § 55-12-114, a person who is required to provide proof of financial responsibility shall maintain that proof for the period of the revocation or suspension. If a person elects to use a policy of i…

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-127 Surrender of license or registration upon revocation, suspension or cancellation — Enforcement officers — Violations — Penalties

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(a) Any person whose license or registration is revoked, suspended or cancelled under any provision of chapter 10 or 50 of this title, or under this part, shall immediately surrender that person's operator's license to the commissioner of safety and surrender that person's motor …

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-128 Matters not to be evidence in civil suits

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Neither the reports required by this part, the action taken by the commissioner pursuant to this part, the findings of the commissioner upon which the action is based, nor the security filed as provided in this part shall be referred to in any way, nor constitute any evidence of …

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-129 Fees for reinstatement of license and registration — Installment payment plans

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(a) Whenever a license or registration is suspended or revoked and the filing of proof of financial responsibility is made a prerequisite to reinstatement of the license or registration, or both, or to the issuance of a new license or registration, or both, no license or registra…

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-130 Approval of reregistration after revocation — Transfer of registration to avoid law prohibited — Violations — Penalties

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(a) It is unlawful for the commissioner of revenue to reregister any vehicle, the registration of which has been revoked under the authority of this part, unless the written approval of the commissioner of safety is obtained prior to the reregistration, and it is unlawful for any…

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-131 Driving while license cancelled, suspended, or revoked — Penalties

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Any person whose license, or driving privilege as a nonresident, has been cancelled, suspended, or revoked as provided in this part, and who drives any motor vehicle upon the highways of the state while the license or privilege is cancelled, suspended, or revoked, commits a Class…

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-132 Employer filing proof of financial responsibility for employee — Limited license — Fee — Examination

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Whenever a person whose license is revoked for failure to give proof of financial responsibility is employed or later becomes employed in a position where the nature of that person's employment requires the operation of a motor vehicle, the commissioner may authorize the issuance…

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-133 Substitution of proof

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The commissioner shall consent to the cancellation of any bond or certificate of insurance or the commissioner may direct and the state treasurer shall return any money to the person entitled thereto upon the substitution and acceptance of other adequate proof of financial respon…

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-134 Additional proof required — Suspension or revocation of license or registration pending filing of additional proof

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Whenever any proof of financial responsibility filed under this part no longer fulfills the purposes for which required, the commissioner shall, for the purpose of this part, require other proof as required by this part and shall suspend the license and the nonresident's operatin…

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-135 False statements — Perjury — Violations of part — Penalties — Suspension of license

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(a) With respect to the requirements of this part, any person who knowingly submits a false statement under oath to the commissioner commits perjury and shall be subject to the penalties therefor. The commissioner may, upon determining from the records that a person has knowingly…

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-136 The Tennessee automobile insurance plan

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(a) For the purposes of this section:(1) “Commissioner” means the commissioner of commerce and insurance;(2) “Department” means the department of commerce and insurance; and (3) “Plan” means the Tennessee automobile insurance plan. (1) “Commissioner” means the commissioner of com…

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-137 Duty of insurance company to file written proof of insurance when required — Civil penalty for violation

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(a) Whenever, under this part, any person is required to file with the commissioner of safety acceptable evidence of security, proof of financial responsibility, and the requirement may be satisfied by written proof of insurance coverage in the amounts required by this part, and …

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-138 Certification of understanding of and compliance with financial responsibility law

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The commissioner of safety, with each application for an operator's or chauffeur's license, shall include a brief summary of the state's financial responsibility law and the summary shall contain the following or similar certification to be signed by the applicant: “I CERTIFY THA…

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-139 Compliance with financial responsibility law required — Evidence of compliance — Issuance of citations by police service technicians

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(a) This part shall apply to every vehicle subject to the registration and certificate of title provisions. (b) (1) (A) At the time a driver of a motor vehicle is charged with any violation under chapters 8 and 10, parts 1-5, and chapter 50 of this title; chapter 9 of this title;…

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-140 Renewal of vehicle registration

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(a) The record of conviction of an offense under § 55-12-139(c) shall be promptly transmitted to the department of safety. For any such conviction occurring after July 1, 2009, upon request by the commissioner of safety, the commissioner of revenue shall not issue a renewal of re…

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-141 Automobile insurance coverage for driver while logged on to transportation network company's digital network or while engaged in prearranged ride

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(a) As used in this section:(1) “Digital network” means any online-enabled application, software, website, or system offered or utilized by a transportation network company that enables the prearrangement of rides with transportation network company drivers;(2) “Personal vehicle”…

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-142 Notification to delivery driver that insurance may not cover commercial uses

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(1) An entity that employs, or contracts with, a driver who uses the driver's personal vehicle for the delivery of the entity's goods or services, and that does not provide automobile insurance coverage to the driver, must, at the time of hire, provide written notification to the…

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-143 Delivery network insurance — Liability requirements. [Effective January 1, 2027.]

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(a) As used in this section:(1) “Delivery availability period” means the period when a DNC driver:(A) Is operating a personal vehicle;(B) Has logged on to a digital network and is eligible to receive requests to provide delivery services from a delivery network company; and(C) Is…

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-201 Short title

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This part shall be known and may be cited as the “James Lee Atwood Jr. Law.”

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-202 Purpose of part

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The purpose of this part is to develop and implement an efficient insurance verification program that utilizes the online verification system and data transfer standards for transmitting a full book of business specifications, model, and guide of the Insurance Industry Committee …

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-203 Part definitions. [Effective until July 1, 2027. See the version effective on July 1, 2027.]

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(1) As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires:(1) “Automobile liability insurer,” “insurer,” or “carrier” means an insurance carrier licensed under title 56 to provide vehicle insurance, as defined in § 56-2-201, in this state;(2) “Commercial automobile coverage…

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-204 Development of insurance verification program — Consultation with certain entities required

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(a) The commissioner of revenue shall develop, implement, and administer an insurance verification program to electronically verify whether the financial responsibility requirements of this chapter have been met with a motor vehicle liability insurance policy; provided, the commi…

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-205 Requirements of program. [Effective until July 1, 2027. See the version effective on July 1, 2027.]

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(1) The program shall:(1) Be an accessible common carrier based system for online electronic verification and data transfers of proof of motor vehicle liability insurance in accordance with IICMVA specifications and standards;(2) Verify, on an on-demand basis minus reasonable dow…

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-206 Duties of department of revenue and designated agent with respect to developing and implementing program

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(1) In developing and implementing the program, the department of revenue and, if applicable, its designated agent shall:(1) Consult and cooperate with automobile liability insurers in establishing and operating the program;(2) Designate and maintain a contact person for automobi…

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-207 Requirements for automobile liability insurer not utilizing the IICMVA model. [Effective until July 1, 2027. See the version effective on July 1, 2027.]

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(a) If an automobile liability insurer chooses not to utilize the IICMVA model, the automobile liability insurer shall provide to the department of revenue, or its designated agent, a full book of business by the seventh day of each calendar month. (b) (1) Subsection (a) does not…