Tennessee Code Title 55. Motor and Other Vehicles § 55-12-117

(a) Whenever, by reason of a conviction, the commissioner suspends or revokes a nonresident's operating privileges in this state, or requests that the commissioner of revenue suspend or revoke the person's registration privileges, the privileges remain suspended or revoked as permitted under the motor vehicle laws of this state until the person provides proof of financial responsibility and maintains proof, as required by § 55-12-126. The person shall also pay to the commissioner of safety a sixty-five-dollar restoration fee before the suspended or revoked privileges may be reinstated. Upon restoration of the person's operating privileges, the commissioner of safety shall request that the commissioner of revenue reinstate the person's motor 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 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.