Florida’s learner’s permit requirements start at age 15: you must complete an approved driver education course, pass a 50-question knowledge exam along with vision and hearing checks, bring proof of identity, Social Security number, and Florida residency to a DHSMV service center, and pay a $48 fee. If you’re under 18, a parent or guardian also has to sign a consent form. The education rule changed on August 1, 2025, so recent advice from an older sibling may be out of date.
Age and Required Course
You can apply once you turn 15.1Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Licensing Requirements for Teens, Graduated Driver License Laws and Driving Curfews Which course you take first depends on your age.
Applicants under 18 must complete a full driver education course approved by FLHSMV. The course must meet or exceed the Department of Education’s Driver Education/Traffic Safety classroom standards. This replaced the shorter Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course for minors on August 1, 2025.2Justia Law. Florida Statutes 322.1615 – Learner’s Driver License If you finished an FLHSMV-approved driver education course before that date, you’re still covered. If you only completed the TLSAE course and haven’t applied yet, you’ll likely need to take the full driver education course.
Applicants 18 or older still take the 4-hour TLSAE course but don’t need the longer driver education course.1Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Licensing Requirements for Teens, Graduated Driver License Laws and Driving Curfews Course providers usually send the completion certificate to FLHSMV electronically, so a paper certificate isn’t normally needed at the appointment.
School Attendance Rule for Minors
Florida ties a minor’s driving privileges to school attendance. To get and keep a learner’s permit, anyone under 18 must be enrolled in and attending a public school, private school, or home education program. A GED preparation course or a district-approved educational program also qualifies.3Florida Senate. Florida Statutes 322.091 – Attendance Requirements
If a school reports that a minor is no longer meeting attendance requirements, FLHSMV sends a notice of intent to suspend the permit. The minor or a parent has 15 calendar days after receiving the notice to prove compliance or request a hardship waiver hearing. If neither happens, the suspension takes effect 20 days after the notice was issued.3Florida Senate. Florida Statutes 322.091 – Attendance Requirements
Documents to Bring
You’ll need three categories of documents: proof of identity, proof of Social Security number, and proof of Florida residential address.1Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Licensing Requirements for Teens, Graduated Driver License Laws and Driving Curfews Common examples are an original birth certificate or U.S. passport for identity, a Social Security card for SSN, and a utility bill or school record for residency. FLHSMV publishes the full list at flhsmv.gov/WhatToBring. Bring originals or certified copies; photocopies are rejected.
If you’re under 18, a parent or legal guardian must also sign parental consent form HSMV 71142. The signature has to be notarized or witnessed by an FLHSMV examiner at the service center.4Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Parental Consent for a Driver Application of a Minor Having the signing parent come to the appointment is the simplest route; otherwise, get the form notarized in advance.
The Exam and Fee
At the service center, you’ll take a vision exam and a hearing exam to confirm you meet Florida’s minimum physical standards for driving.2Justia Law. Florida Statutes 322.1615 – Learner’s Driver License Then comes the Class E Knowledge Exam: 50 multiple-choice questions split between road rules and road signs, with a passing score of 80 percent (40 correct).5Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. General Information Questions cover speed limits, right-of-way, seat belt laws, headlight use, parking restrictions, and similar topics.
The application fee for an original Class E license, which includes the learner’s permit, is $48.6Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Fees Scheduling an appointment online before your visit avoids unpredictable walk-in waits.
What You Can and Can’t Do With the Permit
A learner’s permit isn’t a solo driving license. Florida sets firm rules on supervision, hours, and practice.
Supervision
Every time you drive, a licensed driver at least 21 years old must sit in the front passenger seat. There are no exceptions. The supervising driver must hold a valid license for the type of vehicle you’re operating.2Justia Law. Florida Statutes 322.1615 – Learner’s Driver License
Nighttime Limits
For the first three months after your permit is issued, driving is allowed only during daylight hours. After three months, you can drive until 10:00 p.m.7Florida Statutes. Florida Code 322.1615 – Learner’s Driver License
50 Hours of Practice
Before advancing to a restricted license, you must complete 50 hours of supervised driving practice, with at least 10 of those hours at night. A parent, guardian, or supervising driver certifies the hours.8Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Traffic Laws for Florida Teens Spreading them across the year produces better practice than cramming them in before your 16th birthday.
Penalties for Breaking Permit Rules
Driving without a qualified supervising passenger or breaking the nighttime curfew is treated as a moving violation, with civil penalties under Chapter 318.2Justia Law. Florida Statutes 322.1615 – Learner’s Driver License There’s a bigger cost too: any moving traffic conviction while you hold a learner’s permit resets your holding period. The 12-month clock extends for a full year from the conviction date, or until you turn 18, whichever comes first.8Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Traffic Laws for Florida Teens A speeding ticket at 15 can push license eligibility back significantly.
Moving to a Restricted License
To advance from the permit to a restricted (intermediate) license, you must hold the permit for at least 12 months with no moving violation convictions, complete the 50 hours of supervised practice, and meet all other licensing requirements. If you turn 18 before the 12 months are up, the holding period ends at your birthday.8Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Traffic Laws for Florida Teens
The restricted license carries its own curfew, which loosens with age:
- At 16, driving is allowed between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m., unless you’re driving to or from work or accompanied by a licensed driver at least 21.
- At 17, driving is allowed between 5:00 a.m. and 1:00 a.m., with the same work and supervision exceptions.
These curfews apply until you turn 18, when the restrictions drop off entirely.8Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Traffic Laws for Florida Teens
Insurance While Holding a Permit
Florida doesn’t require permit holders to carry their own auto insurance. In most cases, a teen with a learner’s permit is covered under a parent or guardian’s existing policy when driving the family car with a supervising adult. Still, call your insurer before your teen starts driving. Some companies want to be notified when a permit holder joins the household, and failing to disclose a new driver can create coverage gaps if an accident happens. Once your teen moves to a restricted or full license, adding them to the policy as a rated driver is typically required, and premiums will rise.