Pay Traffic Ticket in Tennessee

Know Your Options

What it Means to Pay Your TN Traffic Ticket

Paying your citation is an admission of guilt.

means:

• You are waiving your right to challenge the ticket in court.
• The Department of Safety (DOS) will assign points to your driving record.
• Depending on your driving record your TN driver's license may be suspended.
• You may see a jump in your car insurance premiums.

Pay the Ticket On Time

You must pay before the compliance date listed on the citation. Failure to act will result in a default judgement, leading the possible suspension of your Tennessee driver's license and even a bench warrant being issued for your arrest.

Pleading Guilty as a Tennessee CDL Driver

In addition to paying the fine, you must also:

• Notify your employer within 30 days of the traffic ticket conviction. This applies to all vehicles―including your home car―regardless of state.
• Notify the DOS within 30 days if convicted of a traffic violation outside of Tennessee.
• Notify, if applicable, your employer within two days of having your CDL suspended, revoked or cancelled.

Pleading Not Guilty

Bear in mind that you also have the option to challenge your ticket before a judge. A strong defense could sway the court to reduce charges or dismiss the ticket outright.

Learn what steps to take in our Fight Traffic Ticket page.

Pay Your Tennessee Traffic Ticket

Unless a mandatory court appearance is indicated on the citation, pay the ticket fine any time before the due date.

Depending on the court, you will have all or some of the following payment options:

• Online
• By mail
• In person

Payment options will be explained on the citation―including the Web address you must use to pay the fine to the court handling your ticket.

Address questions to the court listed on your traffic ticket.

Get TN Traffic Ticket Dismissed

Attending a court-approved defensive driving school will dismiss the traffic ticket, meaning no fine and no points on your driving record.

To learn more about eligibility, check out our Point Reduction page.

Check Your Driving Record

It's always wise to check your driving record for accuracy after paying a traffic ticket. Verify points and listed violations. Alert the DOS of any errors.

Shop for Better Auto Insurance Rates

Increased car insurance rates usually follow traffic ticket convictions. Counter a rate hike by shopping online for a new auto insurance provider.