Tennessee does not wait for a traffic stop to find uninsured cars. Under the James Lee Atwood Jr. Law, the Department of Revenue runs a web-based program that checks whether registered vehicles carry liability insurance. When it cannot confirm coverage, state law sets a clock: 30 days to respond, then a $25 coverage failure fee, then a $100 continued coverage failure fee on top of the $25 and suspension or revocation of the registration.
| Step under Tenn. Code § 55-12-210 | What happens |
|---|---|
| Request for information (optional) | Revenue may ask the owner for information to help decide whether the vehicle is uninsured |
| First notice | Owner has 30 days from the notice date to respond |
| No response | $25 coverage failure fee and a second notice with 30 days to pay and respond |
| Still no response | $100 continued coverage failure fee, in addition to the $25, plus registration suspension or revocation |
Source: Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-210.
Why the state is checking
The Department of Revenue says Tennessee’s Financial Responsibility Law requires you to be financially responsible in the event of an automobile accident, and that starting in 2017, uninsured drivers would pay fines and risk losing their registration if they cannot show proof. For most drivers, that proof is an auto liability policy meeting the state minimums: $25,000 for each injury or death per accident, $50,000 for total injuries or deaths per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. More on those limits: Tennessee’s auto liability minimum is 25/50/25 — here is what TDCI’s Auto Insurance 101 page says.
How to answer a notice
The statute lists ways to respond. One is proof of financial security in a form the Department of Revenue approves. Another is a sworn statement, under penalty of perjury, that the vehicle is not in use on any public road. The Drive Insured TN page says you can respond or pay through the Tennessee Insurance Verification application. Be accurate: the law bars false or fraudulent statements to the department, and a violation is a Class B misdemeanor.
Check your status before a letter arrives
The Department of Revenue says you can enter your license plate number and VIN in the Tennessee Insurance Verification application to check the status of your vehicle’s liability policy. That is worth doing after you switch insurers, add a newly bought car, or let a policy lapse and reinstate it. Mismatched VINs and coverage gaps are common reasons a record does not line up. For how a lapse differs from cancellation, see TDCI’s glossary explains how cancellation, non-renewal, lapse, and rescission end a policy in different ways. If you are behind on a payment, read TDCI’s glossary explains the usual 31-day insurance premium grace period.
Plates, loans, and the policy you need
- The Department of Revenue says a vehicle with a commercial license plate must be covered under a commercial auto policy, not a personal one.
- If you have a car loan or lease, the department notes your lender may require collision and comprehensive coverage too.
- A state fee and suspension can come in addition to any penalty a law enforcement officer imposes.
- State minimums do not pay for your own injuries when the other driver is uninsured: TDCI’s glossary defines uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.
- Excluding a household driver from a policy has its own risks: TDCI’s glossary explains how a named driver auto policy limits who is covered.
This article is informational only and is not legal advice. It does not promise coverage, eligibility, or any outcome with the Department of Revenue. Your policy, your registration records, and Tennessee law control.
Related reading from All Seasons
- Tennessee’s auto liability minimum is 25/50/25 — here is what TDCI’s Auto Insurance 101 page says.
- TDCI’s glossary defines uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.
- TDCI’s glossary explains how cancellation, non-renewal, lapse, and rescission end a policy in different ways.
- TDCI’s glossary explains the usual 31-day insurance premium grace period.
- TDCI’s glossary explains how a named driver auto policy limits who is covered.
Free policy review
All Seasons Insurance Group offers a free personal policy review. Call 865-263-1400 or visit asigtn.com/get-a-quote/. This article is informational only and does not promise coverage or eligibility; your policy forms control. Seasons change. So should your coverage.
What is the James Lee Atwood Jr. Law?
It is Tennessee’s insurance verification law. The Department of Revenue says a web-based program verifies insurance for Tennessee drivers as part of the law.
How long do I have to respond to an insurance verification notice?
Tenn. Code § 55-12-210 gives the owner 30 days from the date of the notice to respond to the Department of Revenue.
What happens if I ignore the first notice?
The statute imposes a $25 coverage failure fee and sends a second notice giving 30 days to pay and provide proof or a statement.
What happens if I ignore the second notice?
The statute imposes a $100 continued coverage failure fee, in addition to the $25 fee, and suspension or revocation of the vehicle’s registration.
How can I check my vehicle’s insurance status?
The Department of Revenue says to enter your license plate number and VIN in the Tennessee Insurance Verification application.
What if my car is not being driven?
The statute allows a statement, under penalty of perjury, that the vehicle is not in use on any public road. A false statement to the department is a Class B misdemeanor.
Does a commercial plate need a different policy?
Yes. The Department of Revenue says a vehicle with a commercial license plate must be covered under a commercial auto policy.
How can All Seasons help after reading this?
Call 865-263-1400 or visit asigtn.com/get-a-quote/ for a free personal policy review. Informational only; no coverage promises. Seasons change. So should your coverage.
