Car insurance · Tennessee
Car insurance requirements in Tennessee
Liability minimum 25/50/25. Claims system: fault-based claims.
Verified summaryAll Tennessee insurance topics
Requirements
Minimum car insurance requirements in Tennessee
| Coverage | Requirement in Tennessee |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $25,000 for each injury or death / $50,000 for total injuries or deaths per accident |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 per accident |
| Injury protection | Not listed as required |
| Uninsured / underinsured motorist | Not listed as required |
What the law requires you to carry
- Bodily injury or death: at least $25,000 for each injury or death per accident
- Total injuries or deaths: at least $50,000 per accident
- Property damage: at least $25,000 per accident
- Or another accepted proof of financial responsibility with the Department of Revenue
Uninsured drivers
Uninsured motorist coverage in Tennessee
Not listed as required.
Optional coverage
Coverage you can add in Tennessee
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist
- Medical payments
Penalties
Penalties for driving without insurance in Tennessee
According to the Department of Revenue, uninsured drivers in Tennessee pay fines and risk losing their vehicle registration if they cannot demonstrate proof of financial responsibility. A web-based insurance verification program checks Tennessee drivers.
Good to know
Other things to know in Tennessee
- Tennessee's Financial Responsibility Law can also be met with a bond or cash deposit with the Department of Revenue. The Department's help center article lists $65,000 for each. Confirm the current amount with the Department.
- If you have a car loan or lease, your lender may require collision and comprehensive coverage.
- A vehicle with a commercial license plate must be covered under a commercial auto policy. Regular passenger and motorcycle plates need a policy with the minimum limits.
- The verification program (Drive Insured Tennessee) comes from the James Lee Atwood Jr. Law, which began in 2017.
General information only. It is not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm with the official sources listed below.
Contacts
Who to contact in Tennessee
- Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance
- Website: tn.gov/commerce
- NAIC directory of state insurance departments
Sources
Where this summary comes from
Reviewed 2026-10. Check each source for the current rule.
Keep reading
Guides that explain these coverages
- Minimum car insurance requirements by state
- Which States Require Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
- No-Fault vs. At-Fault Car Insurance: Which States Use Which
- States That Raised Minimum Car Insurance Limits Since 2018
- Liability coverage explained
- Collision vs. comprehensive coverage
- What affects your car insurance rate
- After an accident: what to do and what to expect
More about Tennessee.
Home insurance resources and the health marketplace for Tennessee are on its overview page.