How Many Points Is a Speeding Ticket in Tennessee?
It depends on how fast you were going. Tennessee assigns 1 point for 1–5 mph over the limit, 3 points for 6–15 over, 4 points for 16–25 over, 5 points for 26–35 over, 6 points for 36–45 over, and 8 points for 46 or more over. Twelve points in any 12-month period triggers a notice of proposed license suspension.
Key takeaways
- How many points depends entirely on speed: 1 point for 1–5 mph over, rising to 8 points for 46 or more over. Construction zones carry a higher tier at every level.
- Twelve points in a rolling 12-month period triggers a notice of proposed suspension — but drivers under 18 reach that point at six, so a single 16–25 mph ticket puts a teenager two-thirds of the way there.
- Getting the ticket dismissed before conviction keeps points off entirely. Removing points afterward under § 55-8-207 protects your license but not your insurance, because the conviction stays on your record either way.
Last updated: October 13, 2026
The Tennessee speeding point schedule
| How far over the limit | Points |
|---|---|
| 1–5 mph | 1 |
| 6–15 mph | 3 |
| 16–25 mph | 4 |
| 26–35 mph | 5 |
| 36–45 mph | 6 |
| 46 mph or more | 8 |
| Speed not indicated on the ticket | 3 |
Source: Tennessee Rule 1340-01-04-.03, Schedule of Points. The state maintains the current version at tn.gov.
Construction zones carry more. Speeding in a work zone is a separate, higher tier: 2 points for 1–5 over, 4 for 6–15, 5 for 16–25, 6 for 26–35, and 8 for 36 or more.
Points for other common violations
| Violation | Points |
|---|---|
| Reckless driving | 6 |
| Leaving the scene of a crash | 5 |
| Failure to yield right-of-way | 4 |
| Improper passing | 4 |
| Failure to obey traffic instructions | 4 |
| Following improperly | 3 |
| Improper lane or location | 3 |
| Texting while driving | 3 |
| Handheld device | 3 |
A note on red lights and stop signs. The schedule has no line item called "running a red light." Those citations are written under T.C.A. § 55-8-109, obedience to traffic-control devices, which appears in the schedule as failure to obey traffic instructions — 4 points. That's the operative number, but it's worth knowing the schedule doesn't phrase it the way drivers do.
Drag racing is not in the point schedule at all. It's handled as a criminal matter under T.C.A. § 55-10-502 — a Class E felony with vehicle seizure — not through the demerit system. Any site quoting a point value for it is making it up.
What happens as points add up
What matters is how many you accumulate in a rolling 12-month window, not your lifetime total.
| Points in 12 months | What the state does |
|---|---|
| 6–11 | Advisory letter |
| 12 or more | Notice of proposed suspension, with a right to a hearing |
| 12–20, first offense | May be allowed to take an 8-hour defensive driving course instead of a 6-month suspension |
Drivers under 18 face a much lower bar. Six points in a 12-month period triggers a notice of proposed suspension — the same action an adult doesn't see until twelve.
That threshold matters more than it sounds. A single 16–25 mph speeding ticket puts a teenager at 4 points, two-thirds of the way to a suspension notice from one mistake.
Two ways to keep points off your record
1. Get the ticket dismissed — before conviction
This is the better option by a wide margin. In most Tennessee courts, completing an approved driver improvement course results in the charge being dismissed. No conviction means no points at all, and nothing for your insurer to see at renewal.
Dismissal is the judge's decision, not an automatic right, so confirm your court offers it.
How to get a traffic ticket dismissed in Tennessee →
2. Remove points — after conviction
If you've already been convicted, T.C.A. § 55-8-207 lets you remove up to five points by completing a state-approved defensive driving course within 90 days of the conviction.
The limits are strict:
- Speeding offenses only
- One offense per course
- Usable once every four years
- The conviction itself stays on your record That last line is the important one. Points removal protects your license from suspension. It does not undo the insurance increase, because the conviction your insurer prices against is still there.
Which is why acting before conviction is worth so much more than acting after.
Do points affect my insurance?
Indirectly — but the effect is large. Insurers don't read the state's point total; they read your driving record and see the conviction. In Tennessee, one speeding ticket raises the average premium by about $633 a year, and the increase typically lasts two to three years.
What a speeding ticket really costs in Tennessee →
Find your county
Whether you can keep points off your record depends on your court. Find your county to see which courts are there and how each one handles driver improvement courses.
También disponible en español: ¿Cuántos puntos tiene una multa de velocidad en Tennessee?
Frequently asked questions
Last updated: October 13, 2026