1. As part of the REAL ID Act, there are documentation requirements for residents renewing or obtaining a new driver license or ID card. For the first in-office issuance after January 1, 2010, customers must bring original documents that validate their identity, Social Security Number (SSN) and residential address. Customers must visit an office with the required documents if: They are applying for their first driver license or ID card.
2. To transfer your out-of-state license to Florida, you'll need the driver's license from your previous state; a secondary form of identification, which could include a certified proof of birth, a Social Security card, an insurance policy, or a marriage certificate; proof of address; and proof of your Social Security number.

• How To Obtain Florida Driver S License
• How To Get Florida Driver License

Tips for Getting a Florida Driver's License Most locations are open from 8 a.m. Monday through Friday, but some offices have slightly different hours. Call ahead or look online to check the times of your local office.

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How to apply for a FL driver's license:

• Visit a Florida DHSMV office.
• Provide proof of passing a Traffic Law & Substance Abuse Education Course if you've never held a driver's license.
• Provide the required identity and residency documents.
• Pass the written knowledge test and the driving test.
• Pay the $48 Florida driver's license fee.

For more details, keep reading!

Ready to obtain your driver's license from the Florida Division of Driver Licenses? Then we're ready to help you along with the process! We'll guide you through the steps to take and documents to bring.

NOTE: If you're a teenager, you will need to meet the requirements of the graduated driver licensing (GDL) program before you will be eligible for a Florida driver's license. Please visit our Applying for a New License (Teen Drivers) for more information.

FL REAL ID Driver's Licenses

Florida issues REAL ID driver's licenses and IDs, which means Florida identifications may be used to board domestic flights and enter federal facilities.

New to Florida?

If you're new to Florida and have a valid driver's license from your previous state, you must have it converted to a FL license as soon as you become a resident. If you are a non-resident you must have a FL driver's license within 30 days of accepting employment or enrolling your children in public school.

Follow the instructions listed below to apply for your FL driver's license. In addition to submitting the required documents and fees, you will need to surrender your out-of-state driver's license.

Your hearing, written, and driving tests may be waived if you have a valid driver's license from another U.S. state, U.S. Territories, and other countries. Testing is done at the discretion of the Division of Driver Licenses.

NOTE: If you are younger than 18 years old, your parent or guardian will need to sign your application (unless you are married).

Types of FL Driver's Licenses

The Florida DHSMV offers various types of driver's licenses depending on your age and type of vehicle you wish to drive.

• Non-commercial (Class E): Allows the operation of non-commercial motor vehicles without restrictions.
• Non-commercial (Class E) learner's permit: Allows teenagers to learn to drive under certain restrictions.
• Motorcycle endorsement.
• Commercial driver's license (CDL) (Class A, B, or C): Allows the operation of commercial motor vehicles.

License Eligibility Requirements in FL

If you're younger than 18 years old, you'll need to complete the graduated driver's licensing (GDL) program before you will be eligible for a driver's license.

This requires obtaining a learner's license first and practicing supervised driving for the required amount of time. More information can be found on our Applying for a New License (Teen Drivers) in Florida page.

If you're 18 years old or older, you will be able to apply for your FL driver's license.

Apply for a FL Driver's License

Florida is compliant with the federal REAL ID Act. This means you will automatically receive a REAL ID when you apply for your Florida driver's license. These IDs allow you to board domestic flights and enter federal facilities.

REAL ID Compliance in Florida

How To Obtain Florida Driver S License

Florida is compliant with the federal REAL ID Act. This means you will automatically receive a REAL ID when you apply for your Florida driver's license.

REAL IDs are federally approved identity documents that allow you to use your license for domestic travel and entry into federal and military buildings.

When you are ready to apply for your driver's license, you will need to visit your local Division of Driver Licenses office and:

• Present documents* proving your:
  • Identity.
  • Social Security number.
  • FL residential address (2 documents).
  • Name change (if applicable.)
  • Completed Traffic Law & Substance Abuse Education Course.
    • Only required if you've never held a driver's license.
• Pass the DMV tests:
  • Vision.
  • Hearing.
  • Knowledge.
  • Driving.
• Pay the $48 fee.

Once you've passed the exams, you will be issued your new FL driver's license.

*NOTE:The Florida HSMV website has lists of acceptable documents to bring in for each requirement based on your citizenship status:

• U.S. Citizen.

DHSMV Driver's License Tests

Before you will be issued your Florida driver's license, you will need to pass both written and driving tests.

Details for each are outlined below!

Written Exam

Your written exam will consist of 50 questions (multiple choice) about road signs and local traffic rules.

Questions will be based on information found in the Florida Driver Manual, which is available for download.

If you fail the exam, you will need to pay a $10 fee to re-take it. Contact a Division of Driver Licenses office for more information about re-testing.

Prepare to Pass the Written Test

To help you prepare for the written exam, the DHSMV suggests that you study the Florida Driver Handbook. In addition, we recommend studying with an online practice test to give you a feel for how the actual test format will be on the day of your exam. These study helpers are designed to help you pass the exam on your first attempt.

Driving Test

You will need to provide your own vehicle for your road test. It will need to:

• Have valid registration.
• Be covered by the minimum insurance required (you will need to show proof of coverage).
• Pass a vehicle inspection.

Your driving exam will test your ability to safely operate your vehicle and obey traffic laws. You will need to perform various maneuvers, including:

• 3-point turn.
• Parking.
• Passing a vehicle.
• Backing.
• Giving right-of-way.

If you fail your driving test, you will need to return to the DHSMV office another day to retake the exam and pay a $20 fee.

FL License Status Check

Your Florida driver's license should generally take a couple weeks to be delivered. To check drivers license status, please go to the Florida Online Drivers License Status Check.

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Enroll in a Florida-approved online Driver's Ed

Getting Your Florida Learner's Permit

The number of accidents each year involving teen drivers is astonishing. To combat this, and to improve the quality of teen drivers statewide; Florida became the first state to enact a Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program.

One of the first milestones on your journey to your Florida driver's license is to obtain your driver's permit, called a learner license in FL. Below you will find everything you need to know—from what you need to bring to the Division of Driver Licenses to taking an online Driver's Ed course. You'll even learn about passing the written exam on your first try with the help of an online practice test.

Florida REAL ID Permits

The Florida DHSMV began issuing federally-compliant REAL ID driver’s licenses in 2010. REAL IDs allow you to use your license for domestic travel and entry into federal and military buildings. For details on FL REAL IDs, see the DHSMV's guide and FAQs.

New to Florida?

If you're new to the state you can transfer a learner's permit from your previous state to Florida. Just bring the documents mentioned below along with your existing permit with you to your local Division of Driver Licenses.

Apply for Your FL Learner's Permit

To get your learner's permit in the state of Florida, you must:

• Be at least 15 years old.
• Complete a Traffic Laws and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course.
  • This course is also referred to as Driver's Ed. You can complete the course in a classroom, or you can do it online from a certified provider. For more about online driver's education courses, please visit our page on Driver's Ed in Florida.

Bring the following to your local Division of Driver Licenses office:

• Proof that you completed a TLSAE course.
• Payment for the $48 for the Class E driver's license fee, which also includes a learner license.
• A completed Parental Consent For a Driver Application of a Minor (Form HSMV 71142) that is EITHER:
  • Signed in front of a driver license examiner
    OR
  • Notarized, if your parent or guardian cannot be present.
    • If you are under 18 years old and not married, a parent or legal guardian must sign your driver's license application. Step-parents may not sign unless they have legally adopted you.
• Proof of:
  • Identity.
  • Social Security number.
  • Residency (2 documents).
    • If you don’t have proof of residency in your own name (many minors don’t), you must show 2 documents proving your address that show the name of a parent, step-parent, legal guardian, or another person with whom you live AND a completed Certification of Address (Form HSMV 71120).

For more information regarding these required proofs, the Florida DHSMV has lists of acceptable documents depending on your citizenship status:

• U.S. citizen.
• Immigrant.
• Non-immigrant.
• Canadian.

At the Division of Driver Licenses office, you'll have to pass a vision and hearing test.

Taking the FL Written Permit Test

Ace Your Exam on the First Try!

Don't leave your permit test to chance—take our free permit practice test with questions directly from the FL driver handbook. It's the fastest, easiest way to set yourself up for success!

When you're ready to take your written Florida permit test, you have a couple options.

Take the Exam Online

If you complete an approved online Driver's Ed course, you can take the written exam online as well. Upon successful completion of the course and passing the exam, your Driver's Ed provider will electronically notify the DHSMV. (See below for details on the exam itself.)

Make sure to bring the above documents to your nearest Division of Driver Licenses office once you pass your exam to earn your permit.

NOTE: You MAY be required to take the written exam in-person after passing the online exam. The state will randomly select online test-takers for re-tests, so keep that knowledge in your head.

Take the Florida Permit Test in Person

If you're taking your exam in person, bring the above documents and be prepared to take the written permit test at your local Division of Driver Licenses office.

About Your FL Written Permit Test

The two multiple choice tests are comprised of 50 questions covering road signs and traffic laws. To pass you will need to answer 40 questions correctly. You'll find helpful information for the tests in the Florida Driver Handbook. You'll also need to pass a vision test and a hearing test to get your learner license.

Florida Learner's Permit Driving Restrictions

With your learner's permit in your possession, you're allowed to drive only:

• For the first 3 months, during daylight hours.
• After the first 3 months, until 10 p.m.
  • You must remain accident- and infraction-free during this time, or your curfew privileges will be rescinded.
• With a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old who occupies the front passenger seat.

Behind-the-Wheel Driving Requirements

In order to get to the next phase of the GDL, which is getting your driver's license, your parent or guardian must certify that you have completed 50 hours of supervised practice driving during your learner's permit phase, with 10 hours being driven at night.

Replacing Your Florida Learner's Permit

If you lose your learner's permit, you can replace it online or at a Division of Driver Licenses office. The fee to replace it is $25. You must bring the same identification documents as listed above.

For more information, please check out our Florida Replacing a Lost License/Permit page.

Your Next Step: Get Your Florida Driver's License

Once you have your learner's permit in your possession, it's time to work on being a safe and responsible driver. Being on the open road is a very liberating experience, but it does not come without risk. Please use extreme caution at all times behind the wheel.

The next step in the Florida GDL process is to get your driver's license. For more information, please refer to our FL Teen Apply for License page.

Forms

HSMV 71142

HSMV 71120

How To Get Florida Driver License

This form is provided by your state's agency/department.

Please select one of the below to continue:

Email the link to this form

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