Florida makes every first-time driver start with a Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education course, called TLSAE, before the knowledge exam. Teens then hold a learner's license for 12 months with a time-of-day curfew that loosens by age. The pages below cover the sequence for each starting point.
Pick the situation that matches yours
You can get a learner's license at 15 and the Class E license at 16. The practice requirement is 50 hours, 10 of them at night, certified by a parent or other responsible adult.
Your steps
- Complete the TLSAE course online or in a classroom, or take it through an approved DELAP high school driver education class.
- Pass the Class E knowledge exam at a service center, at a DELAP school, or with a third-party administrator that offers online or classroom testing to applicants under 18.
- Visit a service center with your identity, Social Security number and address proofs, the $48 fee and a signed, notarized Parental Consent Form; a stepparent can sign only if they have legally adopted you.
- Drive only with a licensed driver aged 21 or older in the seat closest to you, in daylight for the first 3 months and until 10 p.m. after that.
- Log 50 hours of practice with at least 10 at night, and keep clear of moving-violation convictions.
What to bring
- Signed and notarized Parental Consent Form
- Proof of identity, Social Security number and residential address if not already on file
- Notarized Parent Proctoring Form if you test online
- $48 fee, plus a $6.25 service fee if the office is a tax collector
Adults still take TLSAE first. At 18 you are eligible for the driving skills test without waiting a year, and the curfew rules no longer apply.
Your steps
- Complete a TLSAE course; the page confirms every first-time applicant has to show proof of it.
- Gather two forms of identification plus proof of date of birth, residential address and Social Security number, and legal presence if you are not a US citizen.
- Pass vision and hearing tests, the road rules and road signs knowledge exam, and the driving skills test.
- Book the skills test in an office, with a third-party administrator, and bring a registered, insured car that passes the examiner's safety inspection.
- Take the test alone with the examiner, as no passengers are allowed except a language interpreter.
- Walk away with a Class E license; at 18 you may drive at all hours without an adult.
What to bring
- Two forms of identification
- Proof of date of birth, residential address and Social Security number
- Proof of legal presence for non-citizens
- TLSAE completion
- Vehicle registration and proof of insurance for the skills test
Florida asks for time, a clean record and a parent certification before the teen Class E license.
Your steps
- Hold the learner's license for 12 months or until you turn 18, whichever comes first.
- Keep a record with no moving violation convictions for one year from the issue date; a single conviction is allowed if adjudication was withheld.
- Have a parent, guardian or responsible adult over 21 complete the notarized Certification of Minor Driving Experience showing 50 hours, 10 at night.
- Take the Class E driving skills test at the office, with a third-party administrator or through DELAP, in a car with valid registration, insurance and a clean safety inspection.
- Surrender your learner's license for the Class E license; there is no fee if nothing changed, otherwise a $25 replacement fee applies.
- At 16 you may drive alone only from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., and at 17 from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m., except when going to or from work or with a licensed driver 21 or older.
What to bring
- Your learner's license
- Notarized Certification of Minor Driving Experience
- Vehicle registration and proof of insurance for the test car
- Identity, Social Security number and address proofs if not already provided
New Florida residents have 30 days, and the visit is in person with a vision test.
Your steps
- Get a Florida license within 30 days of establishing residency; starting a job, enrolling children in school, registering to vote, claiming a homestead exemption or living here more than 6 consecutive months can all make you a resident.
- Arrange Florida vehicle insurance within 10 days if you want to title and register vehicles.
- Apply in person at an office that offers driver license services.
- Take the vision test, and ask whether you qualify to skip the written and road tests, which the FLHSMV page says is possible for some people.
- Pay the $48 initial Class E fee, plus the $6.25 service fee at most tax collector offices.
What to bring
- Your out-of-state license
- The documents FLHSMV lists for your residency status
- Proof of Florida insurance for vehicle registration
Documents, costs and tips
Identity and residency documents
- Two forms of identification are required for a first-time original license.
- You must show proof of date of birth, residential address and Social Security number.
- Non-US citizens must present proof of legal presence.
- Applicants under 18 need a signed, notarized Parental Consent Form.
- Online testing for applicants under 18 requires a Parent Proctoring Form that is notarized or signed before a driver license examiner.
Fees we could confirm
- Initial Class E license (includes learner's license): $48.00
- Service fee at most tax collector offices: $6.25
- Replacement fee when changing from learner to Class E with a name or address change: $25
- Knowledge exam retest: $10
- Driving skills test retest: $20
Florida tips
- Taking the skills test through a third-party administrator can lead to a random no-fee retest at an office, so be ready to repeat it without notice.
- Check the car before test day: a cracked windshield that blocks view, an expired tag, broken signals or a doors-that-do-not-open problem will end the test before it begins.
- Parents can withdraw responsibility for a minor's driving privilege, which cancels the license.
- School attendance matters: a minor who does not comply can lose eligibility for a license until 30 consecutive days of attendance are shown.
Common questions
How old do you have to be to get a Florida learner's license?
You must be at least 15, and a parental consent form is required for minors.
Does the skills test have a minimum waiting period?
You are eligible once you have held the learner's license for 12 months, or you are 18. The page does not state a waiting period before you retake a failed test.
Are there night-time limits at 16 and 17?
Yes. At 16 you may drive alone between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m.; at 17 between 5 a.m. and 1 a.m. You can go outside those times when driving to or from work or with a licensed driver aged 21 or older.
What happens if a new teen driver gets a moving violation?
A conviction during the learner period extends it by one year from the conviction date or until age 18, whichever comes first. Six or more points within 12 months restricts the license to business purposes only for 12 months or until 18.
Check the official Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) pages (https://www.flhsmv.gov/) before you go, since fees, forms and rules change.