A Connecticut Class D license is the standard, non-commercial driver’s license for operating a passenger car, SUV, pickup, or van in the state. To get one, you pass a vision screening and written knowledge test to earn a learner’s permit, hold that permit for the required waiting period while completing the training that applies to your age, and then pass an on-road skills test at the DMV.
What a Class D License Lets You Drive
Class D covers non-commercial passenger vehicles on Connecticut roads. It does not cover motorcycles, which require a separate endorsement; commercial vehicles above certain weight thresholds; or vehicles used to carry passengers for hire. For anything in those categories, you need a different license class or an added endorsement on top of your Class D.
Step 1: Get a Learner’s Permit
Before you can take the road test, you must hold a learner’s permit. The holding period and training rules differ depending on whether you’re a teen or an adult, so the process effectively forks here.
If You’re 16 or 17
Connecticut residents who are at least 16 can apply for a youth instruction permit. You’ll pass a vision screening and a written knowledge test covering traffic laws, road signs, and safe driving rules, and a parent or legal guardian must sign a consent form authorizing the permit and eventual license.1Justia. Connecticut Code 14-36 – Motor Vehicle Operator’s License You must hold the youth permit for at least 120 days before taking the road skills test, provided you’ve completed the required driving school training.2CT.gov. Learn About Driver Training Options for Teens
If You’re 18 or Older
Adults apply for an adult learner’s permit by passing the same vision screening and knowledge test. No parental consent is needed. You must hold the adult permit for at least 90 days before you’re eligible for the road test, unless you qualify for an exemption such as transferring from an out-of-state license.3CT.gov. Get a DMV Learner’s Permit for Adults
Step 2: Complete the Required Training
Training is where the biggest difference between teen and adult applicants shows up. Most of the time and expense of getting a license at 16 or 17 lives here.
Teen Training
If you’re 16 or 17, you must complete a driver education program through a Connecticut-licensed commercial driving school or an approved secondary school program. The minimum requirements include at least 30 hours of classroom instruction and 8 hours of behind-the-wheel training with a qualified instructor.2CT.gov. Learn About Driver Training Options for Teens The classroom component must include 8 hours of safe driving practices instruction, with 2 of those hours attended by a parent or legal guardian.4Legal Information Institute. Connecticut Agencies Regulations 14-36f-7 – Driver Education Certificate
Beyond the driving school hours, Connecticut law requires a total of 40 hours of behind-the-wheel, on-road practice before you can take the road test.1Justia. Connecticut Code 14-36 – Motor Vehicle Operator’s License The 8 hours with your driving school count toward that total, so you’ll need roughly 32 additional hours of supervised practice with a parent, guardian, or other qualified adult. Those 40 hours can be completed in any combination of commercial school, secondary school, or parent-supervised instruction.2CT.gov. Learn About Driver Training Options for Teens
Adult Training
Adults 18 and older are not required to complete a formal driver education program. You must, however, complete an 8-hour safe driving practices course at a Connecticut-licensed driving school before taking the road test.3CT.gov. Get a DMV Learner’s Permit for Adults Supervised practice during the 90-day permit period is strongly encouraged, but no statutory minimum of practice hours applies to adults.
Step 3: Pass the Road Test
Every Class D applicant takes three assessments overall: the vision screening and written knowledge test at the permit stage, then the on-road skills test after the holding period and training are complete. An examiner rides with you and evaluates your driving.
Documents to Bring
Connecticut requires you to verify your identity, Social Security number, state residency, and legal presence in the United States. You must present two forms of identification, with at least one from a primary document list such as a U.S. birth certificate, valid U.S. passport, or permanent resident card. You also need two different forms of proof showing your Connecticut residential address, dated within 90 days, from two separate sources such as utility bills, bank statements, or a lease agreement.5CT.gov. REAL ID Document Identity Verification Checklist
Only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible for a verified REAL ID license. If you don’t qualify for REAL ID, you’ll receive a non-verified license marked “Not for Federal Identification,” which won’t be accepted for domestic flights or entry to certain federal facilities. Bring every required document on your first visit if you want the REAL ID version; otherwise you’ll be back for a second trip.5CT.gov. REAL ID Document Identity Verification Checklist
Fee
The testing fee is $40, a single payment covering your vision screening, knowledge test, and road test.3CT.gov. Get a DMV Learner’s Permit for Adults It’s separate from the license issuance fee. If you miss your road test appointment without rescheduling at least three days in advance, you forfeit the prepaid fee and have to pay again.6CT.gov. Connecticut DMV – Take the Road Test
Restrictions After You’re Licensed Under 18
Getting your Class D license at 16 or 17 doesn’t mean full driving freedom right away. Connecticut’s graduated driver licensing law puts restrictions on new teen drivers that phase out over the first year. These rules trip up a lot of new drivers, and violations can extend the restriction period or lead to a suspension.
First Six Months
During the first six months, the only passengers you may carry are your parents or legal guardian (at least one of whom holds a valid license), a licensed driving instructor, or one person who is at least 20 years old with at least four consecutive years of licensed driving experience and no suspensions during that period.7Justia. Connecticut Code 14-36g – Restrictions on Drivers Under 18 No friends. No siblings unless a parent is also in the car. This is the restriction most commonly broken and one of the first things an officer checks at a traffic stop involving a young driver.
Months Seven Through Twelve
Starting in the seventh month, you can carry everyone allowed during the first phase plus members of your immediate family, so siblings can now ride with you. Friends and other non-family passengers remain off-limits until you’ve held the license for a full year.8CT.gov. Info for Parents, Teen Drivers and Their Passengers
Nighttime Curfew
Until your 18th birthday, you may not drive between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. unless you’re traveling for work, school, a religious activity, or a medical necessity.9CT.gov. Learn About Driving Restrictions for 16 and 17-Year-Olds Active members of a volunteer fire department, ambulance service, or emergency medical organization are exempt from both the passenger and curfew restrictions when responding to or returning from emergencies.7Justia. Connecticut Code 14-36g – Restrictions on Drivers Under 18
Other Teen Rules
Regardless of phase, teen drivers may never carry more passengers than the vehicle has seat belts. A 16- or 17-year-old with a motorcycle endorsement cannot carry motorcycle passengers for the first six months. Teen drivers also cannot operate vehicles requiring a public passenger endorsement or drive a vanpool vehicle.7Justia. Connecticut Code 14-36g – Restrictions on Drivers Under 18
How Long the License Lasts and How to Renew
An original Class D license expires within a period of up to seven years after your next birthday. Connecticut is phasing in eight-year renewal terms, so the length and fee on your renewal notice depend on where you fall in the transition.10Justia. Connecticut Code 14-41 – Expiration and Renewal of Operators’ Licenses and Identity Cards Drivers aged 65 and older can choose a two-year renewal for $24.11CT.gov. DMV Fees
You can renew online, in person at a DMV office, or by mail. The renewal fee depends on the term: $72 for a six-year license, $96 for an eight-year license, or $24 for the two-year option available to drivers 65 and older. Your renewal notice will tell you which term and fee apply.12CT.gov. Renew a Driver’s License In-person renewals may include a vision screening.
Replacing a Lost or Stolen License
If your license is lost, stolen, or damaged, you can request a duplicate online, in person, or by mail for a $30 fee. Online requests require your license number, date of birth, and Social Security number, and the replacement arrives by mail within 30 days. In-person requests use Form 1-B, and you’ll walk out with a temporary license while the permanent card is mailed. Mail-in requests use Form B-350 with a $30 check or money order sent to the DMV’s Central Issuance Operations Unit in Wethersfield.13CT.gov. Replace a Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Driver’s License Non-U.S. citizens, CDL holders, and anyone whose name has changed since their last license was issued must apply in person rather than online.