Tennessee § 55-50-301 - License required — Requirements — Exception — Applicability to temporary licenses and permits.

§ 55-50-301. License required — Requirements — Exception — Applicability to temporary licenses and permits.

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: No person, except those expressly exempted in this section, shall drive any motor vehicle upon a highway in this state unless the person has a valid driver license under this chapter for the type or class of vehicle being driven; No person, except those expressly exempted in this section, shall steer or, while within the passenger compartment of the vehicle, exercise any degree of physical control of a vehicle being towed by a motor vehicle upon a highway in this state unless the person has a valid driver license under this chapter for the type or class of vehicle being towed; No person shall receive a driver license unless and until the person surrenders to the department all valid licenses in the person's possession, issued to that person by this or any other jurisdiction. All surrendered licenses issued by another jurisdiction shall be returned, together with information that the person is licensed in this state. No person shall be permitted to have more than one (1) valid driver license at any time; and Any person licensed as a driver may exercise the privilege granted upon all streets and highways in this state and shall not be required to obtain any other license to exercise the privilege by any county, municipal or local board, or body having authority to adopt local police regulations. This section is applicable to the issuance of temporary driver licenses and permits. A Class M license shall not be required for the operation of an autocycle. Acts 1937, ch. 90, § 3; C. Supp. 1950, § 2715.11 (Williams, § 2715.16); Acts 1955, ch. 114, § 2; 1957, ch. 199, §§ 1, 2; 1957, ch. 209, § 1; 1959, ch. 272, § 1; 1967, ch. 238, § 1; impl. am. Acts 1971, ch. 162, § 3; Acts 1972, ch. 467, § 1; 1974, ch. 444, §§ 1, 2; 1975, ch. 82, § 1; 1976, ch. 841, § 1; 1977, ch. 90, § 1; 1977, ch. 189, § 2; 1978, ch. 643, §§ 1, 2; 1979, ch. 247, §§ 5, 8; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 59-704; Acts 1986, ch. 804, § 7; 1987, ch. 446, § 11; 1988, ch. 584, § 4; T.C.A., §§ 55-7-104 , 55-7-301 ; Acts 2000, ch. 606, § 6; 2007, ch. 194, § 5; 2016, ch. 1015, § 10. Compiler's Notes. Former § 55-7-301 was transferred to § 55-7-701 (now 55-50-701 ) in 1988. Cross-References. Applications, § 55-50-321 . Autocycle, §§ 55-1-103 , 55-4-111 , 55-8-101 , 55-9-101 , 55-12-102 . Hardship license, § 55-50-312 . Learner permits, § 55-50-311 . Licensing of minors, § 55-50-312 . Motorcycle rider education and safety, title 55, chapter 51. Violation deemed habitual offender offense, § 55-10-603 . Class M license, § 55-50-102 . Law Reviews. A Critical Survey of Developments in Tennessee Family Law in 1976-77, VII. Protection of Minors (Neil P. Cohen), 45 Tenn. L. Rev. 489. Attorney General Opinions. Senior drivers. OAG 11-80, 2011 Tenn. AG LEXIS 82 (12/5/11). Regulation of electric bicycles. OAG 14-26, 2014 Tenn. AG LEXIS 27 (3/5/14).