Tennessee Code Title 20. Civil Procedure § 20-2-204

(a) The owner, chauffeur or operator of any motor vehicle that is not licensed under the laws of this state or any nonresident of this state who hires or procures the use of a motor vehicle licensed under the laws of this state for temporary use in this state, and who makes use of the privilege extended to nonresidents of the state, to operate such vehicle on the highway or highways within the state, shall be deemed to have consented that the appointment of the secretary of state as the owner's, chauffeur's, operator's or nonresident's agent for the purposes set forth in § 20-2-203 shall be irrevocable and binding upon such owner's, chauffeur's, operator's or nonresident's executor or administrator.

(b) Where the person has died prior to the commencement of an action brought pursuant to § 20-2-203, this section and §§ 20-2-205 -- 20-2-207, service of process shall be made on the executor, executrix, administrator or administratrix of the decedent in the same manner as is provided for action commenced while the person is living.

(c) Where an action has been duly commenced under § 20-2-203, this section and §§ 20-2-205 -- 20-2-207 by service upon a defendant who dies thereafter, the court shall allow the action to be continued against the person's executor or administrator upon motion with such notice as the court deems proper.