What are the DUI insurance laws in Tennessee?
Drunk driving in TN is punishable by up to a year in jail, confiscation of your license and vehicle, and up to $15,000 in fines. You will also be required to carry SR-22 insurance for three years.
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Justin Wright
Licensed Insurance Agent
Justin Wright has been a licensed insurance broker for over 9 years. After graduating from Southeastern Seminary with a Masters in Philosophy, Justin started his career as a professor, teaching Philosophy and Ethics. Later, Justin obtained both his Property & Casualty license and his Life and Health license and began working for State Farm and Allstate. In 2020, Justin began working as an i...
Licensed Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Oct 12, 2024
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Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Oct 12, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
Driving with a blood alcohol concentration level over the legal limit can not only come with a license suspension, fines, and jail time, it is also a danger to you and anyone else on the road.
States all across the nation have stiffened their drunk driving laws and with good reason.
Compare state car insurance by entering your ZIP code at the top of this page and see how your insurance provider stacks up against the other car insurance companies in your area.
Table of Contents
- The victims of drunk drivers can suffer property losses, injuries, and even death
- Drunk drivers face jail time, higher costs of car insurance, and the possible loss of driving privileges
- Tennessee has specific laws concerning driving under the influence
Drunk Driving Defined
Drunk driving is determined by the blood alcohol content (BAC) of the driver at the time of an incident.
The BAC represents the percentage indicating what actual proportion of a person’s blood is alcohol.
Research has shown that a BAC as low as .04 can seriously affect eye-hand coordination and decision-making processes in the brain.
In recent years, many states have lowered the BAC limit a driver must have to be considered legally impaired.
In Tennessee, if someone has a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher while operating a motor vehicle, they will be charged with driving under the influence (DUI).
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Implied Consent
In Tennessee, if a driver is driving a vehicle on a public road, the law states that he has given his implied consent to be tested for impairment.
Therefore, if a law enforcement officer observes driving behavior that he suspects is caused by alcohol impairment, he can pull the driver over and administer tests to determine the driver’s BAC.
Police officers may choose to administer a breath test for blood alcohol levels, a blood test, or a urine test.
Refusal to submit to this testing is sufficient grounds for being charged with a crime and could be grounds for the suspense or revocation of a person’s driver’s license.
Types of Offenses
Tennessee recognizes different levels of culpability when driving under the influence. A first-offense DUI can carry some strict penalties. Those penalties become harsher with each subsequent offense, eventually leading to a felony charge.
The severity of the crime is judged by the number of repeat offenses, the blood-alcohol level of the offender, and whether there were injuries, deaths, or property loss caused by the incident.
Offenders are divided into four categories.
Each category has its own definition and penalties:
- First-Time DUI Offenses – Jail time from 48 hours to 11 months, 29 days, license revocation, mandatory participation in DUI school, and a $350 to $1,500 fine
- Second-Time DUI Offenses – 45 days to 11 months, 29 days in jail, a mandatory fine of $600 to $3,500, driver’s vehicle may also be subject to seizure, and he will be ordered to attend DUI school
- Third-Time DUI Offenses – 120 days to 11 months, 29 days of jail time, $1,100 to $10,000 in mandatory fines, and a three to 10-year loss of license, with no restricted license available
- Fourth and Subsequent Offenses – Class E Felony punishable by a year in jail with a minimum of 150 of those days served consecutively, a $3,000 to $15,000 mandatory fine, as well as the permanent loss of his vehicle and the loss of his driver’s license for five years
Special Circumstances
Crimes involving certain special circumstances are treated differently than other DUI convictions.
These include:
- Vehicular Assault – Class D Felony and can lead to license revocation of up to 5 years; face jail time ranging from two to 12 years, as well as fines and court costs
- Child Endangerment – Class D Felony and carries the possible penalty of two to four years jail time. If a child involved dies, this offense becomes a Class C Felony and jail time increases to three to six years
- Vehicular Homicide –Class B Felony and includes a fatality. The drunk driver’s license will be revoked for three to 10 years. No restricted license is available for those convicted of vehicular homicide
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Special Circumstances
Crimes involving certain special circumstances are treated differently than other DUI convictions.
These include:
- Vehicular Assault – Class D Felony and can lead to license revocation of up to 5 years; face jail time ranging from two to 12 years, as well as fines and court costs
- Child Endangerment – Class D Felony and carries the possible penalty of two to four years jail time. If a child involved dies, this offense becomes a Class C Felony and jail time increases to three to six years
- Vehicular Homicide –Class B Felony and includes a fatality. The drunk driver’s license will be revoked for three to 10 years. No restricted license is available for those convicted of vehicular homicide
New Laws
Tennessee passed a new law requiring people convicted of driving under the influence to have vehicle ignition interlock devices installed in their cars.
An ignition interlock is a device that is connected to a car’s ignition system that will not allow the car to start unless the driver’s blood alcohol levels are in the safe range.
The BAC level is measured by a breath-alcohol analyzer. If it detects unsafe levels of alcohol, it will prevent the car from starting.
Even first-time offenders may be ordered to have an ignition interlock device installed and all drivers must pay the costs themselves.
The cost of having an ignition interlock device in a car for a single year can exceed $800.
Car Insurance Requirements in Tennessee
Special insurance is required by the state of Tennessee after a DUI conviction.
Called SR-22 insurance, this is a high-risk insurance filing and is required for the three years following a drunk driving conviction.
An insurance policy with an SR-22 can be very expensive. Car insurance companies know that drivers needing this coverage are a high-risk group and will charge more to cover their financial risk.
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Shopping for Car Insurance in Tennessee
Drivers with a past record of DUI would be well advised to comparison shop when looking for insurance.
The increase in premiums that insurance companies levy for DUI convictions vary wildly.
Comparison shopping is the only way to find the best car insurance deal.
While a drunk driving arrest can be financially painful as well as embarrassing, it is not the end of the world.
Compare auto rates by entering your ZIP code into the FREE tool at the bottom of this page!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the DUI insurance laws in Tennessee?
In Tennessee, DUI (driving under the influence) is a serious offense. The penalties for drunk driving can include up to a year in jail, confiscation of your license and vehicle, and fines of up to $15,000. Additionally, individuals convicted of DUI in Tennessee are required to carry SR-22 insurance for three years.
What is SR-22 insurance?
SR-22 insurance is a special type of high-risk insurance that is required for individuals who have been convicted of certain offenses, such as DUI, in order to reinstate their driver’s license. It serves as proof of financial responsibility and must be maintained for a specified period of time.
What happens if I refuse to take a BAC test in Tennessee?
In Tennessee, if you refuse to submit to a blood alcohol content (BAC) test when requested by a law enforcement officer, it can result in criminal charges and may lead to the suspension or revocation of your driver’s license.
Are there different levels of DUI offenses in Tennessee?
Yes, Tennessee recognizes different levels of DUI offenses based on factors such as the number of repeat offenses, the blood-alcohol level of the offender, and whether there were injuries, deaths, or property loss caused by the incident. The penalties for DUI become increasingly severe with each subsequent offense.
Does Tennessee require ignition interlock devices for DUI offenders?
Yes, Tennessee has passed a new law that requires individuals convicted of driving under the influence to have vehicle ignition interlock devices installed in their cars. These devices prevent the car from starting if the driver’s blood alcohol levels are above a certain limit. The costs of installing and maintaining an ignition interlock device are typically the responsibility of the driver.
Free Car Insurance Comparison
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.
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Justin Wright
Licensed Insurance Agent
Justin Wright has been a licensed insurance broker for over 9 years. After graduating from Southeastern Seminary with a Masters in Philosophy, Justin started his career as a professor, teaching Philosophy and Ethics. Later, Justin obtained both his Property & Casualty license and his Life and Health license and began working for State Farm and Allstate. In 2020, Justin began working as an i...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.