Tow Truck Operator / Tennessee
2026 data Tennessee board official source

Tennessee Tow Truck Operator License Requirements

State-board requirements, fees, and renewal cycle drawn from official regulator records.

Operates tow trucks for vehicle recovery.

What the Tennessee data shows for Tow Truck Operators

Becoming a licensed tow truck operator in Tennessee means clearing a defined set of hurdles: board-approved training, a passing score on a state-approved exam, plus a background history check. Tennessee regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Training".

The initial price tag is $50 every 4 years. There's no continuing-education mandate tied to this profession in Tennessee, which keeps the long-run cost of staying licensed lighter than in CE-heavy states.

Tennessee handles out-of-state credentials on a case-by-case basis instead of a standing reciprocity list.

Licensing Ease Score

A+
Licensing Ease Score
90/100
Tow Truck Operator · Tennessee

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training A+
None required
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee A+
$50
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden N/A
N/A
Renewal fee annualized over the renewal cycle
Continuing Education N/A
N/A
Continuing-education hours annualized over the renewal cycle
Experience Required N/A
N/A
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Tennessee

Education / Training Hours
Training
Not specified
Exam Requirement
Required
Initial License Fee
$50
Renewal Fee
N/A
Renewal Cycle
Every 4 years
Continuing Education
Not required
Criminal History Check
Required
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Tennessee licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Tow Truck Operator in Tennessee?
Tennessee's requirements cover, a state exam, and an initial fee of $50. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a Tow Truck Operator in Tennessee?
Certification as a tow truck operator in Tennessee means clearing the state's checklist, and a passing exam score. The Tennessee licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Tow Truck Operator license to Tennessee from another state?
Tennessee evaluates out-of-state tow truck operator licenses on a case-by-case basis. Many professions are covered by interstate licensing compacts that facilitate portability. Contact the Tennessee licensing board for specific reciprocity details.
Does Tennessee require a background check for Tow Truck Operator licensing?
Background screening is part of the tow truck operator licensing process in Tennessee. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.

What to do with this tow truck operator license

Tow Truck Operator in Tennessee is one requirement row in a tow truck operator-wide, 50-state comparison.

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Tennessee licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.