What You Need to Do to Reinstate Your License in Memphis
To reinstate your driver's license in Memphis, you must contact the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDHS) to find out why your license was suspended or revoked, pay any required fees, and complete whatever conditions led to the suspension. The process differs depending on whether your license was suspended for unpaid traffic tickets, DUI conviction, failure to pay child support, or other reasons — and each reason has its own reinstatement path and cost.
You cannot straightforward walk into a local office and renew. You must first resolve the underlying issue that caused the suspension, then request reinstatement through TDHS. In Memphis, the closest TDHS Driver Services office is in Nashville, but you can handle much of the process by phone, mail, or online.
Key Takeaways
- Contact TDHS at 615-251-8590 or visit the online license status checker to learn exactly why your license was suspended before you take any other step.
- Reinstatement fees in Tennessee range from $50 to $275 depending on the reason for suspension, and you must pay this fee even after resolving the underlying issue.
- If your suspension is due to unpaid traffic fines, you must pay the court directly; if it is due to a DUI conviction, you may need to complete a substance abuse program first.
- After you resolve the cause and pay the reinstatement fee, TDHS will mail you a new license or a temporary driving permit within one to two weeks.
- You can request a temporary driving permit by mail or in person while your permanent license is being processed, which allows you to drive legally during the wait.
Common Reasons Your License Was Suspended in Tennessee
Tennessee suspends licenses for several reasons, and the reinstatement process depends on which one applies to you. The most common causes are unpaid traffic fines or court costs, DUI or DWI conviction, failure to pay child support, failure to appear in court, or accumulation of too many points on your driving record.
Some suspensions are automatic — for example, a DUI conviction triggers a mandatory suspension that begins when ready. Others happen gradually, like point accumulation, where your license is suspended after you reach a certain threshold. A few are tied to non-driving matters, like child support arrears, which can suspend your license even if you have never had a traffic violation.
The reason matters because it determines what you must do before TDHS will reinstate you. Paying a reinstatement fee alone is not enough if the underlying cause is still unresolved.
How to Find Out Why Your License Was Suspended
Call TDHS at 615-251-8590 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central Time) and have your driver's license number or Social Security number ready. A representative will tell you the specific reason for suspension and what you must do to resolve it. Write down the exact reason, any case or ticket numbers, and the name of the court or agency involved.
You can also check your license status online through the TDHS website without calling. Go to the Tennessee Driver Services page, select "Check License Status," and enter your information. The online system will show you whether your license is suspended and sometimes the reason, though it may not provide as much detail as a phone call.
If your suspension is tied to unpaid fines, the system or representative will tell you which court has the case. If it is tied to child support, the Department of Human Services will be involved. If it is a DUI, you will need information about the conviction and any court-ordered programs.
Resolving Unpaid Traffic Fines and Court Costs
If your license was suspended because of unpaid traffic fines or court costs, you must pay the court directly — not TDHS. Contact the court listed in your suspension notice. In Shelby County (where Memphis is located), that is usually the Shelby County General Sessions Court or Municipal Court, depending on where the ticket was issued.
You can pay by phone, mail, or in person at the courthouse. Ask the court clerk for the exact amount owed, including any late fees or collection costs that may have been added. Some courts accept payment plans if you cannot pay in full at once, though this varies by court.
Once you have paid the court, ask for written confirmation of payment. Keep this receipt. Then contact TDHS, provide proof of payment, and pay the reinstatement fee (usually $50 for suspension due to unpaid fines). TDHS will then process your reinstatement.
DUI Suspension and Reinstatement Requirements
A DUI or DWI conviction in Tennessee triggers both an administrative suspension (handled by TDHS) and a criminal suspension (ordered by the court). You must satisfy both before your license is reinstated. The administrative suspension begins when ready after arrest, while the criminal suspension begins after conviction.
Before TDHS will reinstate your license, you typically must complete a substance abuse program approved by the state. The court may have already ordered this as part of your sentence, or TDHS may require it as a condition of reinstatement. Contact TDHS to find out which programs are available in the Memphis area and whether the court has already assigned you to one.
You will also need to pay the reinstatement fee, which is $275 for a DUI-related suspension — higher than other suspension types. After you complete the required program and pay the fee, TDHS will reinstate your license, though the court may impose additional restrictions like an ignition interlock device or limited driving privileges.
Child Support and Other Non-Traffic Suspensions
If your license was suspended because of unpaid child support, you must contact the Department of Human Services or the court handling your child support case. The suspension will not be lifted until you bring your account current or enter into a payment agreement. TDHS cannot lift this suspension on its own — the agency that reported the arrears must notify TDHS that the issue is resolved.
Once the Department of Human Services or court confirms that you have resolved the child support issue, TDHS will lift the suspension automatically or upon your request. You do not need to pay a separate reinstatement fee for child support-related suspensions, but you should confirm this with TDHS before assuming your license is active again.
Other suspensions, such as those for failure to appear in court or for accumulating too many points, require you to resolve the underlying issue first. Failure to appear requires you to appear in court or resolve the case. Point accumulation requires you to wait out a suspension period (which varies) and then pay a reinstatement fee of $50 to $100.
Paying the Reinstatement Fee and Getting Your License Back
Once you have resolved the cause of your suspension, you must pay the reinstatement fee to TDHS. The fee ranges from $50 to $275 depending on the reason. You can pay by mail, phone, or in person at a TDHS office. Mail payments should be sent to the address listed on the TDHS website with a copy of your suspension notice or case number.
After TDHS receives your payment and confirms that the underlying issue is resolved, they will process your reinstatement. Your new license will be mailed to you within one to two weeks. If you need to drive before your permanent license arrives, you can request a temporary driving permit, which is usually issued when ready by mail or in person.
To request a temporary permit, contact TDHS and ask for an "Interim License" or "Temporary Driving Permit." You will need to provide proof that you have resolved the suspension cause and paid the reinstatement fee. The temporary permit is valid for 30 days and allows you to drive legally while you wait for your permanent license.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive with a temporary permit while waiting for my permanent license?
Yes. After you pay the reinstatement fee and TDHS approves your reinstatement, you can request a temporary driving permit that is valid for 30 days. This allows you to drive legally while your permanent license is being mailed to you, which usually takes one to two weeks.
What if I cannot afford to pay the reinstatement fee all at once?
TDHS does not offer payment plans for reinstatement fees. However, if your suspension is due to unpaid traffic fines, the court that issued the fine may allow you to set up a payment plan. Contact the court directly to ask about this option. For other suspension types, you will need to pay the full fee before reinstatement.
How long does reinstatement take after I pay the fee?
After TDHS receives your reinstatement fee and confirms that the underlying issue is resolved, processing usually takes five to ten business days. Your new license will be mailed within one to two weeks after that. If you need to drive sooner, request a temporary permit.
Do I need to take a new written or driving test to get my license back?
No. Reinstatement does not require a new test. You will receive a new license card with an updated expiration date, but you do not need to pass the written or road test again unless your license has been expired for more than a certain period (usually several years).
What if my suspension was due to points on my driving record?
Point-based suspensions have a mandatory waiting period that varies depending on how many points you accumulated. After the waiting period ends, you must pay a reinstatement fee of $50 to $100 to TDHS. Contact TDHS to find out when your waiting period ends and what fee applies to your situation.