Tennessee Code Title 55. Motor and Other Vehicles § 55-12-116

(a) Where proof of financial responsibility is required by § 55-12-114, the license and registration must remain suspended or revoked and shall not be renewed, a license shall not be issued to the person, and a motor vehicle shall not be registered in the person's name, until permitted by the motor vehicle laws of this state. The licensee shall maintain proof of financial responsibility for the duration of the license's suspension or revocation, as required by § 55-12-126. The licensee shall also pay a sixty-five-dollar restoration fee as a condition precedent to the restoration of the license. Once a person's license is restored, the commissioner of safety shall request that the commissioner of revenue reinstate the person's vehicle registration and, upon payment to the commissioner of revenue of the appropriate motor vehicle registration fees provided by § 55-4-111, § 55-4-112, or § 55-4-113, the registration must be reinstated immediately.

(b) The department of safety may release a person's requirement to provide proof of financial responsibility after the expiration of the period of suspension or revocation if the department of safety's records establish that during the suspension or revocation period, the person was not convicted of an additional offense authorizing or requiring the suspension or revocation of the person's license, nor was the person's license suspended, revoked, prohibited, or cancelled due to a separate violation of law. If the department of safety, pursuant to this subsection (b), releases the requirement that a person furnish proof of financial responsibility, and if the person's motor vehicle registration has been suspended or revoked because of the person's failure to furnish that proof, then the commissioner of safety shall request that the commissioner of revenue reinstate the person's registration and, upon payment to the commissioner of revenue of the appropriate motor vehicle registration fees provided by § 55-4-111, § 55-4-112, or § 55-4-113, the registration must be reinstated immediately. Notwithstanding another law to the contrary, this subsection (b) does not apply if there is an unsatisfied judgment based on a motor vehicle accident.