There are two types of people getting their first drivers license in Florida — Teens Getting Their Learners Permit and Adults Getting their first Drivers License. Below you will find step by step instructions with the specific courses you need to take to get your drivers license.
Teens Getting a Learners Permit and Drivers License
As a teenager in Florida you can get your learners Permit at 15 years old and a year later you can get your Drivers License. Here are the steps to getting your Learners Permit and your Drivers License.
Driving with your Learners Permit
The first rule of driving with a learners permit in Florida is that you can never drive alone — you must always have a licensed driver 21 or older in the seat closest to you. You must also follow these rules:
- You are required to have your learners permit for 12 months or until your 18th Birthday to get your Class E Drivers License
- You can only drive during day light hours for the first 3 months
- After 3 months you can drive until 10pm
- You are required to have 50 hours of driving experience before you can get your Class E Drivers License
- At least 10 hours of night driving experience is required
More details on Getting Your Learners Permit
Adults Getting Their First Drivers License
If you are 18 or older getting your first drivers license in Florida you are not required to hold a learners permit — you can go straight to a Class E unrestricted drivers License. Here are the steps to follow.
Florida has many drivers that get their first drivers license as an adult. The process of getting your first license when you are 18 or older is different in that you are required to take the Permit Test in person at a local DMV Office and you are not required to hold a learners permit — you can skip that step and get your drivers license.
Step 1. Take the DATA Course Online
The DATA course must be taken before anyone — regardless of age — can get their first drivers license in Florida. And adults can take this course online.
Step 2. Study for the Permit Test
The Permit Test (also known as the DMV Test) is the 50 question test that all new drivers must pass. As an Adult you are required to take this test in person — you cannot take it online. We highly recommend studying the Florida Drivers Handbook or taking an online study guide. The permit test has 40 questions on the rules and regulations of driving in Florida and 10 questions about Florida Road Signs.
Step 3. Pass the Permit Test
Go to a DMV Office and take the Permit Test.
After you pass the permit test you have the option of getting a learners Permit to practice driving or you can take the Road Test (Behind the Wheel Driving Test) and get your Class E drivers license.
You may renew your driver license in person at an DHSMV Driver License Service Center. However, if you are not eligible to renew online or by mail, you must renew in person.
Bring the documentation to verify your identity. Use these ideas how to select documentation:
- If you are a US citizen, check here
- If you are an immigrant, check here
- If you are Canadian, check here
- If you are non-immigrant from a country other than Canada, check here
Renewal fee: $48.00 + $15 late fee (if applicable).
If you have legally changed your name so that it no longer matches that on your documentation, you must also have the Social Security Administration update your name before you provide that documentation to the Driver License Service Center. Submit either the original or a certified copy of documentation verifying your change of name, such as a state-issued marriage certificate, divorce decree, etc. Photocopies are not acceptable. If you are not a US citizen you should also have your name changed on your US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) documents.
Even if your license expired as long as one year ago, you should still be able to renew it. However, you will have to pay a late fee of $15.00, and the DHSMV may require you to retake the knowledge test. If your license expired more than one year ago, you cannot renew it; you must apply for a new license!
To Comply with the REAL ID Act of 2005, Florida began issuing REAL ID compliant driver's licenses and ID cards on January 1, 2010. The new licenses and IDs have a gold star in the upper left hand corner as shown in the example below: After the 2014 and 2017 dates, Federal agencies will no longer accept a driver license or ID card unless it is Real ID compliant. This means you will not be allowed to board commercial flights or enter federal facilities unless you have a REAL ID compliant document.
In order to comply with the requirements of the REAL ID Act, anyone who applies for a license in person must bring documents to show proof of identity, social security number, legal residence, place and date of birth. Note: You must provide at least two documents to show proof of residence.