Title 55, Motor and Other Vehicles

(a) A manufacturer or distributor shall not coerce or attempt to coerce a dealer to:(1) Purchase a product that the dealer did not order;(2) Enter into an agreement with the manufacturer or distributor; or(3) Enter into an agreement that requires the dealer to submit its disputes…

(a) A dealer, manufacturer, or warrantor injured by another party's violation of this chapter may bring a civil action in circuit court to recover actual damages. The court shall award attorney's fees and costs to the prevailing party in such an action. Venue for any civil action…

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as “The Motor Vehicle Recall and Disclosure Law.”

(1) For purposes of this chapter:(1) “Do-not-drive recall” means a recall notice provided to owners of affected vehicles, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 30119, when the vehicle manufacturer, in its consumer precautionary advice section governed by 49 CFR 577.5, unconditionally instructs…

(a) A motor vehicle dealer shall not sell at retail a used motor vehicle until the motor vehicle dealer has obtained a recall database report for the used motor vehicle. The recall database report shall not be older than forty-eight (48) hours prior to the sale of the used motor …

(a) A manufacturer shall compensate its franchised motor vehicle dealers for all labor and parts required by the manufacturer to perform recall repairs. Compensation for recall repairs shall be reasonable. If parts or a remedy are not reasonably available to perform a recall serv…

This chapter does not apply to the sale of any vehicle that has been issued a nonrepairable vehicle certificate or salvage title, as defined in [former] § 55-3-211 [now § 55-3-201], or any other similar certificate or title issued by another state or jurisdiction.

Noncompliance with this chapter shall constitute a violation of chapter 17, part 1 of this title.

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Automated Vehicles Act.”

(1) As used in this chapter:(1) “Automated driving system” or “ADS” means technology installed on a motor vehicle that has the capability to drive the vehicle on which the technology is installed in high or full automation mode, without any supervision by a human operator, with s…

(1) An ADS-operated vehicle may drive or operate on streets and highways in this state with the ADS engaged without a human driver physically present in the vehicle if the vehicle meets the following conditions:(1) Unless an exemption has been granted under applicable federal or …

Notwithstanding § 55-9-105, a person who is physically inside an ADS-operated vehicle, when the ADS is engaged, may use an integrated electronic display for communication, information, and other uses enabled by the display if the display is integrated with the vehicle such that i…

(1) A political subdivision shall not, by ordinance, resolution, or another means, prohibit or regulate within the jurisdictional boundaries of the political subdivision the use of:(1) An ADS-operated vehicle that is operating in compliance with this chapter and otherwise complie…

(a) Liability for accidents involving an ADS-operated vehicle shall be determined in accordance with product liability law, common law, or other applicable federal or state law. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to affect, alter, or amend any right, obligation, or liabil…

(a) It is an offense for any person to knowingly operate a motor vehicle on the public roads or highways of this state without a human driver in the driver's seat of the vehicle unless satisfying the requirements of this chapter. (b) A violation of subsection (a) is a Class A mis…

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, this chapter exclusively governs the authorization of the operation and use of an ADS-operated vehicle when the ADS is engaged and in high or full automation mode, including, but not limited to, commercial use of ADS-operated vehicles…

This chapter is known and may be cited as the “Modernization of Towing, Immobilization, and Oversight Normalization (MOTION) Act of 2025.”

(1) As used in this chapter:(1) “Abandoned motor vehicle” means a motor vehicle physically located in this state that:(A) Is left unattended on public property for more than ten (10) days;(B) Is in an obvious state of disrepair and is left unattended on public property for more t…

(a) (1) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (a)(2):(A) A violation of this chapter constitutes a violation of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977, compiled in title 47, chapter 18, part 1, is an unfair or deceptive act or practice affecting trade or commerce, an…

(a) (1) The department of revenue shall create and implement an electronic database or online platform that allows a law enforcement agency or garagekeeper to input abandoned or immobile vehicle information for public notice to be made through a motor vehicle portal as required b…

A garagekeeper may remove and secure a firearm left in a stored motor vehicle if the firearm can be removed without causing damage to the motor vehicle. If removed, the firearm must be tagged or logged in a manner to tie it to the vehicle from which it was removed, and the firear…

(a) It is an offense for any person to boot a motor vehicle, including, but not limited to, a tractor or trailer, as those terms are defined in § 55-8-101, in this state, if the motor vehicle is clearly identifiable by:(1) A United States department of transportation (USDOT) numb…

(1) A commercial parking lot owner shall not utilize an automatic license plate reader to enforce the commercial parking lot owner's parking requirements without first posting signage that:(1) Is designed and placed in a manner that ensures clear visibility and readability by con…

(a) A commercial parking lot owner shall not charge a penalty for nonpayment of parking fees unless:(1) The commercial parking lot owner posts signage that:(A) Is designed and placed in a manner that ensures clear visibility and readability by consumers parking in the commercial …

(a) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a person shall not tow a motor vehicle without express written authorization by the owner or authorized agent of the owner of the motor vehicle unless:(1) (A) An owner or authorized agent of the owner of a commercial parking lot …

(a) Notwithstanding this part or title 66, chapter 19, part 1, a garagekeeper shall not store a motor vehicle unless the garagekeeper first obtains the express written authorization for storage of the motor vehicle from a law enforcement officer with appropriate jurisdiction, the…

(a) Notwithstanding this chapter to the contrary, a towing company shall not make, confer, or offer any payment or other pecuniary benefit to an owner or manager of property from which the company has towed a motor vehicle with the intent of rewarding the owner or manager for ref…

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a garagekeeper shall not charge the owner or lienholder of a stored motor vehicle a storage fee for a period exceeding twenty-one (21) days without the consent of the owner or lienholder, unless the owner or lienholder has been no…

(a) A law enforcement agency may take into custody, or utilize a garagekeeper to take into custody, a motor vehicle found abandoned, immobile, or used in curbstoning, or the agency may provide notice that the motor vehicle is abandoned, immobile, or being used in curbstoning prio…

(a) (1) Prior to ninety (90) days after the motor vehicle portal created pursuant to § 55-31-104 is operational and available for use, when any person other than a law enforcement agency or other public agency takes possession of a motor vehicle found abandoned or immobile, the a…

(a) If an abandoned or immobile motor vehicle has not been reclaimed as provided for in § 55-31-301 or § 55-31-302, then the law enforcement agency or garagekeeper must sell the abandoned or immobile motor vehicle at a public auction. (b) The purchaser of the motor vehicle takes …

(a) Notwithstanding this chapter to the contrary, the law enforcement agency through its chief officer, after complying with § 55-31-301, may execute a written waiver of its right to sell a vehicle taken into custody under this chapter in favor of a garagekeeper in whose possessi…

(a) A person upon whose property or in whose possession is found an abandoned or immobile motor vehicle, or a person being the owner of a motor vehicle whose title certificate is faulty, lost, or destroyed, may apply to the law enforcement agency of the jurisdiction in which the …

(a) A demolisher who purchases or otherwise acquires a motor vehicle for purposes of wrecking, dismantling, or demolition is not required to obtain a certificate of title for the motor vehicle in the demolisher's name. After the motor vehicle has been demolished, processed, or ch…

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Uniform Classified and Commercial Driver License Act of 1988.”

(1) As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:(1) “Administrator” means the federal motor carrier safety administrator, the chief executive of the federal motor carrier safety administration, an agency within the United States department of transportation;(2)…

This chapter shall be administered by the department of safety.

(a) The commissioner is authorized to establish administrative rules and regulations concerning the licensing of persons to operate motor vehicles, in this state, for the purpose of ensuring the safety and welfare of the traveling public. The commissioner is also authorized to ad…

The department of safety may execute or make agreements, arrangements, or declarations to carry out this chapter with the licensing authorities of other states and the provinces or territories of Canada, and with third parties permitted in 49 CFR Part 383.

(a) The department of safety shall file every application for a license received by it and shall maintain suitable indicies containing in alphabetical order:(1) All applications denied, and on each thereof note the reasons for the denial;(2) All applications granted; and(3) The n…

The department shall transmit, in an electronic format, necessary information contained on applications for an intermediate driver license, driver license, renewal of driver license or photo identification license to the federal selective service system for any male United States…

(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 h…

(a) The department, upon issuing a driver license, shall indicate thereon the class of vehicles the licensee may drive. Licenses shall be issued with the classifications and endorsements as defined in § 55-50-102. (b) The department shall establish qualifications it believes reas…

(a) The department shall not issue any license under this chapter:(1) (A) To any person, as a Class A, B, or C driver, who is under twenty-one (21) years of age;(B) (i) Notwithstanding subdivision (a)(1)(A), persons nineteen (19) years of age shall be permitted to apply for a Cla…

(1) The following persons are exempt from licensing under this chapter:(1) (A) Any member of the armed forces while operating a motor vehicle owned or leased by any branch of the armed services of the United States;(B) Any individual who is operating a CMV for military purposes, …

For any person holding a currently valid operator, regular chauffeur, or special chauffeur license on July 1, 1989, the license shall remain valid until expiration, suspension, revocation, or cancellation.