Verified Tenn. Code Ann. §55-12-139 · Checked July 2026 · 2 sources
What a no-insurance ticket costs in Tennessee
Citation data · First offense Tenn. Code Ann. §55-12-139
Up to $300 fine
Violating Tennessee’s financial responsibility law is a Class C misdemeanor “punishable only by a fine of not more than three hundred dollars” (Tenn. Code Ann. §55-12-139).
Verified July 2026
By Mario Bailey
What to do now
- 1
Were you actually covered? Gather proof
Submit evidence that financial responsibility was in effect at the time of the violation: for a first violation the charge shall be dismissed, mandatory and without court costs; on later violations dismissal is at the court’s discretion (§55-12-139).
- 2
If you were uninsured, get a policy before court
The charge is a Class C misdemeanor punishable only by a fine of not more than $300 (Tenn. Code Ann. §55-12-139).
- 3
Know what makes it worse
The charge escalates to a Class A misdemeanor for an uninsured crash causing bodily injury or death with criminal negligence, or for knowingly presenting invalid proof of insurance.
Repeat offenses
The charge escalates to a Class A misdemeanor if you were uninsured with criminal negligence in a crash causing bodily injury or death, or if you knowingly present invalid proof of insurance.
Is driving without insurance a misdemeanor in Tennessee?
Yes, Class C, fine-only, capped at $300. It becomes a Class A misdemeanor for uninsured injury/fatality crashes involving criminal negligence or for knowingly fake proof of insurance.
Can it be dismissed?
Yes, if you were actually covered: submit evidence that financial responsibility was in effect at the time of the violation, for a first violation the charge “shall be dismissed” (mandatory), and for later violations it may be dismissed, without court costs either way (§55-12-139).
Frequently asked questions
How much is a no-insurance ticket in Tennessee?
A Class C misdemeanor punishable only by a fine of up to $300 under Tenn. Code Ann. §55-12-139, unless aggravating factors (an at-fault injury crash with criminal negligence, or knowingly fake proof) raise it to a Class A misdemeanor.
Will Tennessee dismiss the charge if I actually had insurance?
Yes, for a first violation, showing the court that coverage was in effect at the time of the violation makes dismissal mandatory, with no court costs. On a second or subsequent violation, dismissal is at the court’s discretion.
Sources
This summary was checked against the following sources on the date shown above. Fines and fees change, verify before relying on specifics.
Other tickets in Tennessee
Expired Registration in Tennessee
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General legal information, not legal advice. Statutes and penalty schedules summarized from the sources above as of July 2026.