To get a Kansas learner’s permit, go to a Kansas Department of Revenue driver’s license exam station with your identity documents, pass a vision screening and a written knowledge test, and pay a $10 fee. You can apply starting at age 14. If you’re under 16, a parent or legal guardian has to submit the application for you and show up at the exam station with photo ID.1Kansas Department of Revenue. Driver’s License Proof of Identity
Kansas runs two permit tracks. Applicants ages 14 through 16 apply under K.S.A. 8-2,100.2Kansas State Legislature. Kansas Code 8-2,100 – Instruction Permits; Conditions, Restrictions and Requirements; Under 17 Years of Age Applicants 17 and older apply under K.S.A. 8-239. The testing and fee are the same; the difference is what happens after you pass, which matters more for teens than for adults.3Justia Law. Kansas Code 8-239 – Instruction Permits; Conditions, Restrictions and Requirements
Documents to Bring
Kansas exam stations follow REAL ID rules. Bring originals or certified copies. Photos on your phone will not be accepted.4Kansas Department of Revenue. Kansas Real ID
- Proof of lawful presence (one document): a state-issued birth certificate, unexpired U.S. passport, permanent resident card, employment authorization card, naturalization certificate, or Consular Report of Birth Abroad.
- Social Security number (one document): your Social Security card, a current W-2, or a current pay stub showing your full number.
- Proof of Kansas residential address (two documents dated within the last year): a rent or lease agreement, vehicle registration, utility bill, bank statement, deed, or mortgage document. Junk mail and personal letters do not count.
- Name change proof if your current legal name differs from your identity document: a certified marriage certificate, court-ordered divorce decree, or other legal name change paperwork.
The name mismatch is the most common reason people get turned away at the counter. If your birth certificate shows a different name from the one you use now and you don’t have the paperwork bridging the two, sort that out before your visit. Applicants under 16 also need a parent or legal guardian physically present with their own photo ID.1Kansas Department of Revenue. Driver’s License Proof of Identity
What Happens at the Exam Station
You can find your nearest exam station on the Department of Revenue’s website.5Kansas Department of Revenue. Find Your Nearest Driver License Exam Station Appointments are not required, but customers with appointments get priority, so booking one saves a lot of waiting.6Kansas Department of Revenue. Appointment Information
Vision Screening
You need to score at least 20/40 in one eye, with or without corrective lenses. Bring your glasses or contacts if you wear them. If you don’t meet the standard, you’ll get a referral to take to an eye doctor before coming back.7Kansas State Legislature. Kansas Code 8-295 – Vision Standards for Drivers’ Licenses
Written Knowledge Test
The written test covers Kansas traffic laws and road signs, and you need at least 80% to pass. The Department of Revenue publishes a free driving handbook that covers the material.8Kansas Department of Revenue. Kansas Driving Handbook Study it. Common sense won’t carry you through.
If you’ve completed a Kansas-approved driver education course, you can present your certificate of completion instead of taking the written test.9Kansas Department of Revenue. Graduated Driver License Requirements for Teen Drivers
Fee
A new instruction permit costs $10: a $2 issuance fee plus an $8 photo fee. Renewals cost the same.10Kansas Department of Revenue. Driver’s License Fee Schedule
Rules Once You Have the Permit
The permit is valid for one year from the date it’s issued.2Kansas State Legislature. Kansas Code 8-2,100 – Instruction Permits; Conditions, Restrictions and Requirements; Under 17 Years of Age Every time you drive, a supervising adult must sit in the front passenger seat. That person has to be at least 21, hold a valid Kansas driver’s license (class A, B, or C, or a commercial license), and have at least one year of driving experience. No one else is allowed in the front seat while you’re driving. Back seat passengers are allowed, and no rule limits who can ride there.9Kansas Department of Revenue. Graduated Driver License Requirements for Teen Drivers
There is no nighttime restriction on permit holders. As long as your supervising adult is with you, you can drive at any hour. The statute allows driving “at any time in accordance with the provisions of this section.”2Kansas State Legislature. Kansas Code 8-2,100 – Instruction Permits; Conditions, Restrictions and Requirements; Under 17 Years of Age The curfew rules (like the 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. window) kick in later, once a teen moves to a restricted license and starts driving without an adult.
You cannot use a wireless communication device while driving on the permit. The only exceptions are calling to report illegal activity or to summon emergency help, and a violation can lead to suspension of your permit.9Kansas Department of Revenue. Graduated Driver License Requirements for Teen Drivers
Carry the physical permit whenever you’re behind the wheel. Driving without it in your possession is itself a violation.
What Comes Next
Kansas uses a graduated licensing system, so the permit is the first step, not the last. Teens who get a permit at 14 must hold it for at least one year, complete an approved driver education course, and log at least 25 hours of supervised driving before they can apply for a restricted license at 15.11Justia Law. Kansas Code 8-2,101 – Restricted License; Conditions, Restrictions and Requirements Applicants who get their permit at 17 or older don’t have a minimum holding period and can schedule the driving skills test whenever they’re ready.3Justia Law. Kansas Code 8-239 – Instruction Permits; Conditions, Restrictions and Requirements Most people still need several weeks of regular practice to pass a road test with confidence.