The Arkansas driver’s manual, officially the Arkansas Driver License Study Guide, is the Arkansas Department of Public Safety’s guide to the traffic laws, road signs, and licensing steps every driver in the state is expected to know.1Arkansas Department of Public Safety. Driver Examination The current English edition was revised in January 2026, and the knowledge test at the Revenue Office draws directly from its contents.
Where to Get the Manual
The quickest route is the free PDF on the Department of Public Safety’s driver examination page.1Arkansas Department of Public Safety. Driver Examination It opens on any phone, tablet, or computer, and the online copy is always the most current. Spanish and Vietnamese translations are posted on the same page, though those editions may be a step behind the English version. Prefer paper? Copies are available at Revenue Offices and State Police Troop headquarters.
Arkansas’s Graduated Licensing Stages
Arkansas phases teen drivers into full privileges through three stages, and each stage carries its own rules about when and with whom you can drive.
Learner’s Permit at 14
You can apply for a learner’s permit at age 14.2Justia. Arkansas Code 27-16-804 – Restricted Licenses, Learner’s Licenses, and Intermediate Licenses A licensed adult at least 21 years old has to sit in the front passenger seat any time you drive. Driving alone isn’t allowed, and neither is driving between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m.
Intermediate License at 16
At 16 you can move up to an intermediate license if you hold a valid learner’s permit.2Justia. Arkansas Code 27-16-804 – Restricted Licenses, Learner’s Licenses, and Intermediate Licenses Restrictions still apply: no more than one passenger under 21 (family excepted), and the same 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew. For the first six months, or until you turn 18, a supervising adult over 21 must still ride with you.
Full Class D License at 18
At 18 you qualify for a full, unrestricted Class D license with no curfew and no passenger limit.3Justia. Arkansas Code 27-16-801 – Licenses Authorized If you’ve never held an Arkansas permit or license, you’ll still have to pass every required test.
Documents to Bring to the Revenue Office
Arkansas issues REAL ID-compliant licenses by default, and that means you need documents from four separate categories, not just a birth certificate and Social Security card.4Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Arkansas Real ID
- One proof of legal presence: a U.S. birth certificate or U.S. passport.
- One proof of identity: a current driver’s license, school ID, vehicle registration or title, marriage certificate, or military ID.
- Your Social Security card.
- Two proofs of Arkansas residency: a utility bill, a paycheck stub or bank statement from the last six months, a current state or federal tax return, or a current insurance policy showing your Arkansas address. The two documents must be different.
Every document has to show your current legal name. If your name has changed since your birth certificate was issued, bring the marriage certificate or court order that documents the change.
The Three Tests
Licensing runs through a vision screening, a written knowledge exam, and a behind-the-wheel skills test. Most testing locations require an appointment scheduled in advance through the Arkansas State Police online booking system.
Vision
You need at least 20/40 uncorrected vision for an unrestricted license, or 20/70 corrected for a restricted license that requires glasses or contacts behind the wheel.5FindLaw. Arkansas Code 27-16-704 – Examinations for Licenses
Knowledge Exam
The knowledge test is computerized and multiple choice. Questions come straight out of the study guide, which makes the manual itself the best prep material available. Fail it, and you have to wait five calendar days before trying again.6Code of Arkansas Rules. Noncommercial Driver’s License Testing – Waiting Period
Skills Test
The road test puts you in real traffic with an examiner in the passenger seat. Expect to demonstrate parallel parking, backing in a straight line, proper lane changes, and safe turns. The vehicle you bring must be registered, insured, and in working order. When you pass, you’ll leave with a temporary permit good until your permanent card arrives in the mail.
The Traffic Rules That Matter Most
The bulk of the manual is the traffic code. A handful of rules cause most of the test errors and most of the real-world tickets.
Pedestrians and Crosswalks
Where there is no working traffic signal, you must yield to pedestrians in any marked or unmarked crosswalk.7Justia. Arkansas Code 27-51-1202 – Pedestrians Right-of-Way in Crosswalks The word “unmarked” is what trips people up. Every intersection is a legal crosswalk, even without any paint on the pavement.
Stopped School Buses
When a school bus stops with its red lights flashing, every driver approaching from any direction must stop at least 30 feet away and stay stopped until the bus moves again.8Justia. Arkansas Code 27-51-1004 – Passing When Stopped Prohibited A violation carries a fine of $250 to $1,000, up to 90 days in jail, or both, and the court can add up to 400 hours of community service and a license suspension of 21 days to one year.9Arkansas Department of Public Safety. Arkansas Code 27-51-1001 – Penalty Passing a stopped bus with reckless disregard for the children on board elevates the charge to a Class A misdemeanor.
Emergency Vehicles
When an emergency vehicle approaches with lights or siren on, pull to the right edge of the road, clear of any intersection, and stop. Wait until it has passed unless a police officer directs you differently.10Justia. Arkansas Code 27-51-901 – Operation of Vehicles on Approach of Authorized Emergency Vehicles The state’s Move Over law covers stationary vehicles too. If you see an emergency vehicle, utility truck, garbage truck, or roadside worker stopped with flashing lights, slow down and shift over to give them space.
Traffic Signals
Right on red is allowed after a complete stop unless a sign specifically forbids it.11Justia. Arkansas Code 27-52-107 – Signal Legend A yellow light is a signal to stop safely if you can, not a signal to speed through.
Passing a Bicycle
When you pass a bicycle heading the same direction as you, leave at least three feet of clearance, and don’t merge back until you’re safely past.12Justia. Arkansas Code 27-51-311 – Overtaking a Bicycle
Work Zones
Fines for moving violations double inside a highway work zone when workers are present.13Justia. Arkansas Code 27-50-408 – Fines for Moving Traffic Violations in Highway Work Zones That includes speeding, reckless driving, phone use, and distracted driving. As of August 2025, mobile work zones get the same protection as stationary ones.14Arkansas Department of Transportation. Slow Down, Phone Down
Phone Use Behind the Wheel
Texting, reading messages, and using social media on a wireless device while driving are illegal in Arkansas.15Justia. Arkansas Code 27-51-1504 – Use of Wireless Telecommunications Device Dialing a number for a phone call is technically permitted under the statute, though the Department of Public Safety’s “Drive Phone-Free” campaign urges drivers to put the phone away entirely.16Arkansas Department of Public Safety. Arkansas Law Enforcement Reminds Drivers to Drive Phone-Free The statute carves out exceptions for law enforcement, emergency responders, and anyone reporting illegal activity or summoning help.
Impaired Driving and Implied Consent
The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.08% for drivers 21 and older. Under 21, Arkansas uses a zero-tolerance rule: a BAC of 0.02% to 0.07% is an underage DUI offense, and 0.08% or higher is treated as a full DWI at any age.
Driving on Arkansas roads counts as implied consent to a breath, blood, or urine test whenever an officer has probable cause to suspect impairment. Refuse the test and your license is automatically suspended for 180 days on a first refusal, with longer suspensions after that. You have seven days from the refusal to request an administrative hearing. Miss that window and the suspension takes effect on its own.
Seat Belts and Child Passengers
Drivers and front-seat passengers must wear seat belts anytime the vehicle is moving on a public road.17Justia. Arkansas Code 27-37-702 – Seat Belt Use Required The law makes exceptions for people with a physician-certified condition that makes belt use inappropriate, and for rural letter carriers on the job.
Every child under 15 riding in a passenger vehicle has to be properly restrained, and the driver is the one responsible for making sure they are:18Justia. Arkansas Code 27-34-104 – Requirements
- Under 6 years old and under 60 pounds: a properly secured child passenger safety seat.
- 6 or older, or 60 pounds or more: a standard seat belt is enough.
Minimum Insurance
Every vehicle operated in Arkansas has to carry liability insurance at or above the state minimums, often called 25/50/25 coverage:19Justia. Arkansas Code 27-22-104 – Insurance Required
- $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person in a single accident.
- $50,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more people in a single accident.
- $25,000 for property damage in a single accident.
Driving uninsured can bring fines and a suspended registration. You have to carry proof of insurance in the vehicle, and an officer can ask for it at any traffic stop.
Points on Your Record
Traffic violations put points on your Arkansas driving record, with the number depending on the offense. Points accumulate over a rolling three-year window. Hit 14 or more and the Department of Finance and Administration automatically sets a hearing to decide whether to suspend your license.20Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Driver Improvements The hearing isn’t a formality. A hearing officer reviews the record and can order a suspension based on it.
License Renewal and Fees
A standard Class D license is valid for eight years. The base fee is $24 for that eight-year term, with additional statutory fees for vision testing and processing on top.3Justia. Arkansas Code 27-16-801 – Licenses Authorized Drivers 70 and older can choose a four-year term for $12 instead. Renewal usually calls for a new photo and a vision screening. Some renewal tasks can be handled online through the Department of Finance and Administration’s driver services portal, but certain transactions still require an in-person visit to a Revenue Office.