Tennessee motorcycle permit test numbers to know
Distances, speeds, limits, fines and deadlines are the questions people miss most, because they have to be memorized. Here are 24 Tennessee numbers, grouped and cited, with a free quiz and flashcards to lock them in.
Numbers quiz
12 questions a round from the 15 number questions in our Tennessee bank. Questions you miss come back more often in later rounds.
Free and unlimited. Your answers count toward your readiness and mistake review.
Numbers flashcards
15 cards: the question on the front, the number and its source on the back. Swipe right if you knew it.
Each deck starts with 20 free cards. Swipe right if you knew it, left to see it again.
See 3 of the cards
Alcohol & drugs
At what blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is an adult rider in Tennessee legally intoxicated?
0.08%
In Tennessee, a BAC of .08 is the level of intoxication that is always illegal.
Speed limits
When may a motorcyclist in Tennessee legally ride without a helmet?
In a parade at 30 mph or less, if 18 or older
The only helmet exemption in the manual is for riders 18 or older riding in a parade at no more than 30 mph.
Distances & following gaps
How far from home may a Tennessee motorcycle learner permit holder ride?
Within a 20-mile radius of home
A Tennessee motorcycle learner permit holder must stay within a twenty-mile radius of home.
Every Tennessee motorcycle number, by topic
Official Tennessee laws come first in each group, then the numbers from our handbook questions. Tap a source to read the exact words it comes from.
- Alcohol & drugs 12
- Speed limits 1
- Distances & following gaps 5
- Ages, permits & the test 2
- Seat belts, lights & equipment 3
- Other numbers 1
Alcohol & drugs
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 0.08% | Legal BAC limit for adult drivers | tn.govQuoteIndividuals are presumed to be under the influence of alcohol with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .08%. First time offenders are subject to a $350.00 minimum fine and 48 hours in jail. |
| 0.02% | BAC limit for drivers under 21 | tn.govQuoteA person who is at least 16, but is not yet 21 years old, and who is found: (1) driving with a BAC of .02 percent |
| 0.04% | BAC limit in a commercial vehicle | tn.govQuoteIt is illegal to operate a CMV if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is .04% or more. |
| 12 months | Drunk driving (DUI)Implied consent: refusing a requested test after arrest will likely result in a court-ordered suspension of driving privileges for 12 months (handbook) | tn.govQuoteIf you are placed under arrest and a law enforcement officer asks you to take the test and you refuse, it will likely result in the suspension by the court of your driving privileges for twelve (12) months. |
| one year | Drunk driving (DUI)A CDL holder loses the CDL for at least one year | tn.govQuote1st Conviction 48 hours (7 days if BAC is 0.20% or more) $350-$1500 1 year Does not apply |
| 48 hours · $350-$1,500 · one-year | Drunk driving (DUI)A first DUI brings at least 48 hours in jail, a $350-$1,500 fine and a one-year license revocation | tn.govQuote1st Conviction 48 hours (7 days if BAC is 0.20% or more) $350-$1500 1 year Does not apply |
| 0.08% | At what blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is an adult rider in Tennessee legally intoxicated?Answer: 0.08% | Tennessee Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 15QuoteIn most states, including Tennessee, .08 is the level of intoxication which is always illegal. |
| 0.02% | A Tennessee rider aged 16 to 20 can be convicted of underage driving while impaired with a BAC of:Answer: 0.02% | Tennessee Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 22QuoteA person who is at least 16, but is not yet 21 years old, and who is found: (1) driving with a BAC of .02 percent |
| one year · $250 | What is the penalty for an underage driving while impaired conviction in Tennessee?Answer: Losing your license for one year and a $250 fine | Tennessee Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 22QuotePenalties for this conviction are: losing your license for one year, a fine of $250 and sometimes, includes public service work. |
| 12 months | You are arrested for DUI in Tennessee and refuse the officer's request for a blood-alcohol test. What happens to your license?Answer: It is suspended for 12 months | Tennessee Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 19QuoteThe court will send notification of action to the Department of Safety and Homeland Security and your driver license will be suspended for twelve (12) months. |
| 48 hours · 7 days · 0.20% | What is the minimum jail time for a first DUI conviction in Tennessee?Answer: 48 hours, or 7 days if BAC is 0.20% or more | Tennessee Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 19Quote48 hours (7 days if BAC is 0.20% or more) |
| .00 | Can a rider be convicted of DUI in Tennessee with a BAC below 0.08%?Answer: Yes, impairment can bring a DUI even at a BAC of .00 | Tennessee Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 18QuoteA driver can register a BAC of .00 percent and still be convicted of a DUI. The level of BAC does not clear a driver when it is below .08 percent. |
Speed limits
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | When may a motorcyclist in Tennessee legally ride without a helmet?Answer: In a parade at 30 mph or less, if 18 or older | Tennessee Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 24QuoteAny person eighteen (18) years of age or older is exempt from wearing a helmet on a motorcycle if it is being ridden in a parade at a speed not exceeding thirty (30) miles per hour. |
Distances & following gaps
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 20-mile | How far from home may a Tennessee motorcycle learner permit holder ride?Answer: Within a 20-mile radius of home | Tennessee Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 5QuoteMust be limited to a twenty (20) mile radius of the driver’s home. |
| 7 miles | A 15-year-old gets a Tennessee Class M-Limited license for a motor-driven cycle. When and where may they ride?Answer: Between 4 a.m. and 8 p.m., within 7 miles of home | Tennessee Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 4QuoteThe license issued to a person 15 years of age will be valid only between the hours of 4:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. and within a seven (7) mile radius |
| Two seconds | In normal conditions, what is the minimum following distance behind another vehicle?Answer: Two seconds | Tennessee Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 50QuoteNormally, a minimum of two seconds distance should be maintained when following a vehicle. |
| 3 feet | When you pass a bicyclist going your direction, how much clearance does Tennessee law require?Answer: At least 3 feet | Tennessee Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 32Quoteleave at least a distance between you and the bicycle of not less than 3 feet. It’s the law in Tennessee! |
| one second | In a staggered group formation, where does the second rider ride?Answer: In the right side of the lane, at least one second back | Tennessee Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 73QuoteThe group leader rides in the left side of the lane, and the second rider stays at least one second back and rides in the right side of the lane. |
Ages, permits & the test
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | Motorcycle permit1 year from issuance | tn.govQuotePermits are valid for one (1) year from date of issuance. |
| 20-mile | Motorcycle permitWithin a 20-mile radius of home | publications.tnsosfiles.comQuoteShall not carry a passenger(s) (b) Shall be limited to daylight to daylight hours only. (c) Shall be restricted from use of the Interstate systems (d) Shall be limited to a twenty (20) mile radius of driver’s home. |
Seat belts, lights & equipment
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | HelmetsOnly exemption: riders 18+ in a parade at 30 mph or less | tn.govQuoteAny person eighteen (18) years of age or older is exempt from wearing a helmet on a motorcycle if it is being ridden in a parade at a speed not exceeding thirty (30) miles per hour. |
| Three times | Compared with riders without helmets, how much more likely are helmeted riders to survive head injuries in a crash?Answer: Three times more likely | Tennessee Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 40Quotehelmeted riders are three times more likely to survive head injuries than those not wearing helmets at the time of the crash. |
| 100 feet | In Tennessee, from how far away must a motorcycle's red stop light be visible when the brakes are applied?Answer: 100 feet | Tennessee Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 24Quotethe light should be visible and distinguishable from a distance of one-hundred feet (100’). |
Other numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 70% | Why should you use the front brake every time you slow or stop?Answer: It can supply 70% or more of your stopping power | Tennessee Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 47QuoteThe front brake is more powerful and can provide 70% or more of your total stopping power. |
Memory tips
How to study them (our advice, not official rules):
- Learn the number with its unit and its place. “15 feet from a hydrant” sticks; “15” on its own gets mixed up with 15 mph.
- Say the answer before you look. Recalling the number yourself is harder than spotting it among four options, and it is what makes it stick.
- Come back to the ones you miss. The quiz above brings missed questions back more often. Short rounds over several days beat one long session.
Questions about the numbers
What numbers do I need to know for the Tennessee motorcycle permit test?
Mostly distances (how close you may park to a hydrant or crosswalk, when to signal, when to dim your high beams), speed limits, blood-alcohol limits, and the ages, hours and deadlines for your permit and license. This page lists 24 of them for Tennessee, each with its source.
Why focus on numbers?
A California DMV study of its own knowledge test found that many of the hardest questions “are numerical and have correct answers that must be learned by rote memorization.” Numbers are easy to mix up under pressure, so they are worth drilling on their own.
Where do these numbers come from?
Each one is quoted from the Tennessee Motorcycle Operator Manual, Tennessee statutes or TDOSHS pages. Our build checks that every number on this page appears word for word in the quote it cites.
Is the numbers drill free?
Yes. The table and the numbers quiz are free and unlimited, and so are the first 20 flashcards.
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