has issued a statewide ban on the use of handheld devices while driving. This includes using cell phones to text, read emails, make calls, and so on. First and second offenses will result in a $50 ticket plus court fees, while subsequent offenses will result in $100 tickets.

Make safe driving pay

Get rewarded for safe driving. Earn points and unlock benefits. Totally free.

Start earning now

What are the texting and driving laws in Tennessee?

Texting while driving is a primary offense in Tennessee for all drivers as long as their vehicle is in motion. This means you can be pulled over and cited for using your phone while driving, even if you’re not committing any other driving offenses.

Using your phone or any handheld device means the following:

Reading or typing texts

Checking emails

Posting on social media

Making phone calls

Using any part of your body to support your cell phone or other handheld device

Recording or broadcasting video

There are also harsher penalties for school bus drivers who use their phones while driving a bus when it has passengers. The first offense will incur a $100 ticket and the driver may be charged with a Class A misdemeanor. It may also result in jail time and a lifetime ban from operating a bus.

According to

Tennessee's Department of Safety and Homeland Security

, distracted driving caused 9,404 crashes in 2020. Although the number has been reducing thanks to Tennessee’s ban on handheld devices while driving, the state was once considered the worst in regards to fatalities caused by distracted driving, with an average of 460 per year.

MORE:

Why you should care about distracted driving

What are the penalties for texting and driving in Tennessee?

The penalties for texting and driving in Tennessee are fines and points on your license. The first offense is considered a non-moving violation and only carries a $30 fine. However, if you’re pulled over for distracted driving again within five years, you’ll be cited for a moving violation.

Here’s how it all breaks down:

First and second offense:

$50 ticket

$10 court fees

Third offense onward:

$100 ticket

$10 court fees

Offense resulting in a traffic accident:

$100 fine, regardless of any prior offenses

Offense committed in a school, construction, or work zone:

$200 fine

Offense committed by a bus driver:

$100 ticket

Up to 30 days jail time

Lifetime ban from operating buses

All offenses will result in demerit points added to your

Tennessee driving record

Are there exceptions to Tennessee’s texting and driving law?

Yes. As long as you’re not using your phone in a way that you have to use your hands, or compromise your driving position, you won’t be cited. For example, using GPS or voice-to-text technology—as long as it’s hands-free—is fine.

The law also only affects cars that are in motion. This means you’re free to use your handheld devices to text or make calls when you’re stopped at a light. However, considering that as many as 36% of car crashes nationwide happen at intersections, according to a study by the

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

, this isn’t always advisable.

Are there special rules about texting and driving for young drivers?

No. The ban is universal for drivers in every age group, as is the primary enforcement.

Can texting and driving raise my insurance premium?

distracted driving ticket

isn’t the only way texting and driving can cost you money. Once the ticket, and its subsequent demerit points, hit your driving record, you may see your insurance premium rise as a result.

On average, Tennessee drivers with a clean record typically pay around $1,410 for their insurance premiums per year. But a ticket for texting and driving can increase that average to around $1,648, which is an increase of $238, or 14%.

Safe drivers, on the other hand, not only keep their rates from climbing, but they also earn

car insurance discounts

. Financial incentives aside, however, staying hands-free and waiting to text until you’re at a stop can help keep other drivers safe on the road—which is priceless.

MORE:

How do driver violation points affect your insurance rates?

How to save money on car insurance in Tennessee

If you’ve found yourself on the wrong end of a distracted driving ticket, there’s still hope for your

car insurance rates

. And it comes in the form of

Jerry

, the car insurance comparison app!

Once you’re off the road, just download Jerry and answer a few basic questions. Then Jerry takes care of the rest. Before you know it, you’ll be taking your pick of over 50 tailored quotes from top car insurance companies, with rates that can save you money.

And it doesn’t stop there. Even after Jerry’s handled your paperwork and canceled your old policy, it continues to help you save by bringing you new quotes whenever it’s time to renew!

“I recently started looking for insurance. With my past ticket, I got rejected from several companies while others charged me extreme prices. My friend referred me to
Jerry
and their amazing customer service helped me get the lowest insurance rate.” —Christina H.

"I’m earning

awesome rewards

every week, just for driving safe!”

FAQs

Can you go to jail for texting and driving in Tennessee?

Yes, you can go to jail if you’re a bus driver who is caught texting while driving with passengers on board. For all other offenders, you typically would not go to jail unless your texting while driving resulted in bodily harm or death.

How serious is texting and driving?

Texting while driving is one of the primary forms of distracted driving, which typically causes around 3,000 deaths a year in traffic-related fatalities. The seriousness of the matter is precisely why states are adopting stricter laws when it comes to texting while driving.

Are you overpaying for car insurance?

Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.

Try Jerry