Learner Permit. A driver education course is required to obtain your Utah driver license for anyone 18 years of age and younger. 18 years old the learner permit entitles you to operate a regular motor vehicle only if: A person 21 years of age or older, who must be a licensed driver, is occupying the seat beside the applicant. Class M permit holders cannot carry any passengers other than an instructor properly licensed to operate a motorcycle. The permit is valid for 1 year. The cost of the permit is $10.00. If you are under 18, you must have your permit for at least 6 months and have 65 hours of supervised riding before taking your skills test.
1. Get Started Online With New Drivers License Assistance
New drivers licenses cannot be obtained online or by mail. Instead, you must apply for a new license in person at a local DMV. While there, you must pass a vision screening, a written exam and a skills test. To make sure that you are prepared, download our informative online drivers license guide. Our guide contains everything you need to know to complete this application easily and quickly. In it, you will get in-depth details on how to complete other important licensing transactions, such as updating personal information on your license, renewing your license and replacing a lost one.
2. In Person at the DMV
To obtain a new drivers license at the DMV, you must submit identification documents and pass mandatory tests. A birth certificate or passport can verify your name and age, and a utility bill can prove your state residency. Generally, you must pass a written knowledge exam and a road skills test. You must also fill out a drivers license application form and pay the applicable fees. However, you may not know which forms to complete or if you are already eligible to take your exams. Arriving at the DMV unprepared may result in long wait times and potential mistakes, which could mean having to redo the process.
Before you get your first Florida drivers license, it is important to be aware of certain information about the process of getting the Class E license including knowing where to get a drivers license. If you are unaware of the steps that must be taken to obtain your license, you may find the process confusing. Therefore, it is crucial that you understand what is required of you when completing the driving license application process so that you can expect a more efficient and less stressful experience at the DMV.
It is also good to understand that the steps for getting a DMV license in Florida vary depending on the age of the driver when he or she applies. This is because Florida has graduated driver licensing laws that are put into place to help teens gain driving experience under lower-risk conditions before they are able to obtain full driving privileges. Because of these laws, there are slightly different procedures for getting a drivers license as a teenager than there are for an adult 18 years of age or older.
How to Apply for a Drivers License in Florida as an Adult (18 or Older)
If you are wondering, “What do you need to get your license?” you need to understand that those requirements vary depending on your age. The requirements if you are an adult applying for a license for the first time include participating in a driver education course, passing the required tests and providing the documents needed for a Florida driver license to the FLHSMV.
Furthermore, you must follow the necessary steps in this order to be issued a Florida license. These steps include the following:
Complete a Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education Course (TLSAE).
Visit your local FLHSMV office. Getting a drivers license online is not an option.
Present valid documentation:
Primary document for proof of identification:
U.S. birth certificate
U.S. passport
Proof of Social Security number:
Social Security card
W-2 form
SSA 1099 form
Proof of residency for the Florida DMV:
Florida voter registration card
Utility bill
Mortgage statement
Health card with address listed
Proof of name change documents, if applicable
Pass a vision test.
Pass a Class E Driving Skills Test.
Pay the applicable fees.
Note: You can schedule a Florida drivers license appointment ahead of time to reduce your wait time.
Getting a Florida Drivers License as a New Resident
Florida drivers license requirements for out of state citizens indicate that you must get a new FL driving license as soon as possible after you have moved to the state and obtained residency. To convert an out of state license to Florida, you must surrender your current license and pay the applicable fees for a new license. You will likely not need to take any written or driving exams when moving to the Florida DMV license, unless specific circumstances warrant it.
How to Get a Florida Drivers License as a Teen (Younger Than 18)
Teenagers can get a new drivers license in Florida as long as they meet the requirements set in place by the graduated licensing laws. This essentially means that drivers younger than 18 may obtain a license as long as they hold a learners permit for a certain period of time first, pass any required tests, participate in drivers ed, and provide any necessary documentation.
You must meet certain drivers license eligibility requirements to get a license in Florida. These requirements include the following:
You must be at least 16 years old.
You must have held a valid learner’s license for at least 12 months (or until you reach age 18, whichever comes first).
A parent, legal guardian or another responsible adult older than 21 years of age must complete a Certification of Minor Driving Experience Form that certifies you have completed 50 hours of driving, with 10 hours being at night.
You must pass a driving test for your Class E License.
To lessen your wait at the DMV, schedule a Florida driving test appointment ahead of time.
Drivers Ed Requirements to Get a Drivers Permit in Florida
Before you can get your Florida DMV license, you must complete the Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education course or participate in high school driver education classes. This drivers education is a mandatory requirement if you are a new driver, regardless of your age.
The course provider will electronically submit course completion information that will be available to all driver license issuing offices. Therefore, a physical copy of the course completion certificate is not required when obtaining a license.
FAQ: Can you get your license at 18 without a permit in Florida? If you are an adult aged 18 years or older you can expect a slightly faster process when getting your license because you are not required to obtain a learners permit first.
For more answers to common questions, visit our FL FAQs page.
Steps to Applying for a New Drivers License in Florida (Younger Than 18)
Before you can apply for a drivers license in Florida, you must obtain and hold a learners license for 12 months. To get a Florida learners license you must be at least 15 years old and do the following:
Visit your local DMV office.
Present a signed/notarized Parental Consent Form.
Complete a Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education Course (TLSAE).
Pass a vision and hearing test.
Pass a Class E Knowledge Exam.
Provide documents to establish proof of identity, proof of Social Security number and proof of residential address.
Pay the applicable fees.
You can apply for a DMV license only after obtaining and holding the learners license for a full 12 months with no moving violation convictions. To apply for a Florida drivers license, you must do the following:
Visit your local DMV office.
Present a signed and completed Certification of Minor Driving Experience Form, which certifies that you have completed 50 hours of driving, with 10 hours being at night.
Pass a Class E Driving Skills Test.
Provide documents to establish proof of identity, proof of Social Security number and proof of residential address.
Pay the applicable fees.
Florida Drivers License Costs
Other drivers license information that you should be aware of involves the drivers license cost that you must pay. The fee includes the following:
Original Class E (includes Learners license): $48
Note: The base cost for a Florida drivers license renewal through the FLHSMV online system is the same as the cost for a brand new license. However, if you have lost a drivers license in FL, the price for a drivers license replacement is almost half the cost.
Florida Drivers License Forms
Note: DMV forms change regularly. The forms provided above are current based on the date of writing.
Sources
Licensing Requirements for Teens from FLHSMV.gov
Just Moved to Florida from FLHSMV.gov
Class E Knowledge Exam & Driving Skills Test from FLHSMV.gov
Whether you must obtain a learner's permit before applying for a standard license largely depends on where you live and whether you have any driving experience. If you have never held a license before, some states require that you first obtain a learner's permit. If you're under 18 or 19, you may even have to pass a driver's education course as well. In other states, a learner's permit is not required, but you may have to complete more steps than a driver with a current or past license.
Learner's Permit Required
Learner's permits -- sometimes called provisional, temporary or instructional licenses -- are routinely issued to minors between ages 15 and 18. However, some states require first-time drivers, regardless of age, to possess a learner's permit for a certain amount of time before they can apply for a standard license. For example, first-time drivers over 18 in Delaware must hold a learner's permit for at least 10 days before they can take the road test for a standard license. In Virginia, first-time drivers 19 or older must either hold a learner's permit for at least 60 days or successfully pass a driver's education course before they are allowed to take the road skills test for a standard license. Virginia drivers under 19 must possess a learner's permit for at least nine months and pass a driver's education course before they can apply for one.
Additional Requirements
Many states don't require first-time drivers to first obtain a learner's permit. Instead, they must satisfy additional requirements. For example, all applicants in New Hampshire are required to submit an application, two forms of identification and proof of state residency, pay a fee and pass a vision test. Those who have never held a driver's license must also successfully complete a knowledge and road test. First-time drivers under 18 must successfully complete a driver's education course and log 40 hours of supervised driving time before they can apply for a standard license.
Experienced Drivers
If a person already has a license and relocates to another state, he is usually not required to first obtain a learner's permit in the new state. Instead, he submits a license application at the local department of motor vehicles. Typically, he surrenders his previous license, provides his Social Security number and a fingerprint, poses for a photo, submits proof of identity, age, local address and citizenship status, and pays a fee. Depending on the state, additional requirements may include successfully completing a vision test, knowledge exam and road skills test.
Non-Citizen Drivers
Foreign citizens with a valid out-of-country driver's license are usually also not required to obtain a learner's permit before being granted a license in their U.S. state or territory of residence. For example, in the District of Columbia, foreign citizens are eligible for a D.C. license if they will be in the states for at least six months. They must submit an application, provide proof of residency and Social Security number, owe no debts to D.C. or unpaid traffic tickets to other jurisdictions, pay a fee and pass any required vision, knowledge and road tests. The Social Security Administration says non-citizens typically don't need a Social Security number to get a driver’s license, however.