Florida's learner license exam has 50 questions, and you need 40 correct, which is 80 percent. You can start at 15. Rules and fees change, so as of 2026 treat this guide as a starting point and confirm everything on the official site. The official source is the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV). One note: the handbook copy we reviewed was the 2018 edition, so confirm current details.
Age and the exam
The minimum age for a learner license is 15. The exam has 50 questions. You need 40 right to pass. Applicants under 18 can take it online, according to the handbook we reviewed.
The required course
First-time applicants must complete a traffic law and substance abuse education course before the test. Check FLHSMV for approved providers, since only approved ones count.
Supervised driving and limits
- 50 supervised hours, including 10 at night.
- The learner license is daylight-only for the first 3 months, then allows driving until 10 pm.
- After licensing, 16-year-olds have a curfew from 11 pm to 6 am, and 17-year-olds from 1 am to 5 am. Exceptions exist for work and for riding with a driver 21 or older.
Safe driving rules that appear in the handbook
- Follow at least 4 seconds behind the vehicle ahead in normal conditions.
- Park at least 15 feet from a hydrant, 20 feet from an intersection, 30 feet from a stop sign and 50 feet from a railroad crossing.
- Leave at least 3 feet when passing a bicyclist.
To check a 4-second gap, pick a fixed object like a sign. When the car ahead passes it, count one-thousand-one up to one-thousand-four. If you reach the sign before you finish, back off.
Where students lose points
Many people memorize signs but mix up rules with numbers. Make a short list of the key numbers and review it every day: 50 questions, 40 correct, 50 hours, 10 at night, 4 seconds, 3 feet. Repeat until they feel automatic.
A simple study plan
- Read the Florida Driver's Handbook in short sessions, one chapter at a time.
- Learn road signs by shape and color, then by meaning.
- Take practice tests and explain every wrong answer out loud.
- Repeat your weak topics, such as right of way or parking distances.
- Sleep well the night before and bring your documents.
Confirm current requirements, fees and documents with FLHSMV at flhsmv.gov before your appointment.
Tips for parents and guardians
Parents can make a big difference without taking over. Sit down with your teen once a week and ask them to explain a rule in their own words. If they can teach it back to you, they probably know it.
Look at the practice driving log together, plan a mix of daytime, night and bad weather drives, and keep the first drives in quiet places such as empty parking lots or calm neighborhood streets. Stay patient. Everyone is nervous at the start.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Studying only signs and skipping the numbers and rules.
- Using a manual from a different state.
- Waiting until the night before to study.
- Rushing through questions without reading every answer.
- Forgetting to check the document list for your FL visit.
On test day
Arrive early, bring everything on the official list, and take a few slow breaths before you begin. Read each question twice. If a question is confusing, move on to the next one if the test allows it and come back later. Staying calm is part of passing.
DMVZone practice questions are for study only. They are not the real test questions, but they help you practice the kinds of topics the test covers.