Re-instating a revoked DL

The Department of Safety probably sent you a letter outlining what you need to do to get your DL back. If you have lost it, try these avenues:

Call 866-903-7357. This number is for a state reinstatement center. It’s their job to help you determine if you’re eligible to have your driver’s license reinstated, and if you are, help you get it back. Someone should answer calls to that number Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CST. The number will be busy, so keep calling if you can’t get through to someone immediately. [THIS PROBABLY WILL NOT WORK–THEY SEEM TO HAVE STOPPED ANSWERING THE PHONE]
Visit this website: dl.safety.tn.gov. You’ll need to fill out a short form, so have your Social Security number and driver’s license number (if you know it) handy. The website will help you determine if you’re eligible for reinstatement. [THIS WILL WORK]
Go to an in-person reinstatement center. A full list is available online at the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s website.

After you have determined what you need to do to be eligible to have your DL reinstated (usually paying court costs), contact the clerk’s office and find out how much you owe.

a. If you ARE NOT indigent, start paying the court costs.

b. If you ARE indigent (receiving only social security or disability, food stamps, were appointed the public defender or other attorney, you can file a motion with the Court to waive your court costs, fees and fines.

c. If your license was suspended because of a car wreck, CALL ME.

Once you have everything cleared by the Department, pay your instatement fee. You can make installments. To qualify for the installment plan, a driver must owe more than $200 in reinstatement fees and satisfy all other requirements needed for reinstatement. The driver is required to make a down payment of $200 plus pay a $25 administrative fee at the time he enters the payment plan. He must then make a payment each quarter (every 3 months) of $300 until the remaining balance is paid with a maximum of two years to pay. Failure to make any payment as required will result in the driver again being revoked or suspended and the remaining balance must be paid in full in order to reinstate.

There are specific forms the driver must complete when entering the payment plan. Effective January 1, 2012, the installment plan can be processed through our Driver License Reinstatement Centers.

When all this is done, go to the DL testing station and get a new license.