To get a new Florida driver’s license, you need to bring documents proving your identity, your Social Security number, and your Florida residence; complete a Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education course; and pass a vision screening, a written knowledge exam, and a behind-the-wheel road test. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) runs the process, and every new license is now issued as a REAL ID-compliant credential with a gold star in the upper right corner.1Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. REAL ID The state fee for an original Class E license, which covers both the learner’s permit and the full license, is $48.2Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Fees These are the Florida new driver’s license requirements in detail.
Proof of Identity
Bring one original or certified copy of a primary identity document. Florida Statute 322.08 lists what qualifies:3The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 322.08 – Application for License; Requirements for License and Identification Card Forms
- A certified U.S. birth certificate from the issuing vital records office. A hospital souvenir certificate does not count.
- A valid, unexpired U.S. passport or passport card.
- A valid, unexpired alien registration receipt card (green card).
- A U.S. naturalization certificate.
- A Consular Report of Birth Abroad from the U.S. Department of State.
- An unexpired employment authorization card from the Department of Homeland Security.
A driver license from another state can also serve as primary ID, but only if that state’s license was REAL ID-compliant.3The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 322.08 – Application for License; Requirements for License and Identification Card Forms
If Your Name Has Changed
If the name on your identity document is not your current legal name, bring certified records that trace every change. A certified marriage certificate, a divorce decree specifying a name change, or a court order will work. Each change in the chain needs its own document, so a marriage, divorce, and remarriage means three records. Photocopies and church-issued marriage certificates are not accepted.
Proof of Your Social Security Number
You must prove your Social Security number as part of every new application.4Florida Senate. Florida Code 322 Section 051 Any one of these documents is accepted:
- Your original Social Security card
- A W-2 wage statement showing your full number
- A 1099 tax form showing your full number
- A pay stub displaying your full Social Security number
If you can’t find any of these, you can request a replacement card from the Social Security Administration using Form SS-5, but that process has its own identity requirements, so build in lead time before your license appointment.5Social Security Administration. Application for a Social Security Card
Two Proofs of Florida Residential Address
Florida requires two different documents showing your current residential address.6Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. U.S. Citizen Several of the accepted items must be dated within the last 60 days, so gather them close to your appointment. Qualifying documents include:
- A deed, mortgage document, or monthly mortgage statement
- A residential lease or rental agreement
- A utility bill for water, gas, electric, cell phone, or cable, dated within 60 days
- A bank or credit card statement dated within 60 days
- A Florida voter registration card
- A valid Florida vehicle registration or title
- A homeowner’s or auto insurance policy dated within 60 days
- Mail from a federal, state, or local government agency dated within 60 days
Your existing Florida driver license or ID card does not count toward the two documents.6Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. U.S. Citizen
When Nothing Comes in Your Name
If you live with someone else and the household bills are all in their name, that person can complete a Certification of Address form (HSMV 71120) and bring two qualifying address documents in their own name.7Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Certification of Address They either come to the office with you or sign the form in front of a notary. This is the usual fix for teens and young adults still living at home.
Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education Course
Before you take the knowledge exam, you have to complete the Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course. This requirement applies to every first-time applicant, regardless of age.8The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 322.095 – Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education Program for Driver License Applicants You take it through an FLHSMV-approved provider, usually online, and the provider sends your completion to the state database.
You can skip the TLSAE course if you already held a valid driver license in another state, country, or jurisdiction, or if you completed a Department of Education driver education course in a Florida school.8The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 322.095 – Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education Program for Driver License Applicants
Vision Screening and Knowledge Exam
Every applicant gets a vision screening at the service center. Florida’s minimum standard is 20/70 acuity in either eye or both together, with or without correction. If you need glasses or contacts to meet it, your license carries a corrective lens restriction.9Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Report of Eye Examination Form
The Class E Knowledge Exam covers road signs, right-of-way rules, and Florida traffic laws. Applicants under 18 can take it online through an approved third-party provider, which charges a separate testing fee.10Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Licensing Requirements for Teens, Graduated Driver License Laws and Driving Curfews Adults take it in person at a service center. If you fail, you can retake it, but each attempt after the first costs a re-exam fee.
The Road Test
The last step is the Class E driving skills exam, a practical road test with an FLHSMV examiner. Schedule an appointment through the FLHSMV website or your local service center; walk-in slots are limited at most offices.
You have to bring a vehicle that is safe, properly registered, and insured. The examiner inspects brake lights, turn signals, headlights, the horn, and windshield wipers before the test starts. Bald tires, a cracked windshield, or expired registration will end the appointment in the parking lot. If the car isn’t yours, bring the registered owner or carry proof of permission and insurance.
The test itself covers turns, lane changes, stopping, backing, and following traffic signs. A failed attempt can be rescheduled, with a re-exam fee for each retake.
What It Costs
The state fee for an original Class E license is $48 and covers both the learner’s permit and the full license.2Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Fees Many Florida counties process licenses through the local tax collector’s office rather than a state-run center, and those offices add a service fee. The total at a tax collector’s office commonly runs about $54.25. Check your local office’s fee schedule before you go. The TLSAE course and any online testing fees are separate charges paid to those providers.
If the Applicant Is Under 18
Florida uses a graduated licensing system for drivers under 18. The process takes longer than it does for adults, and a parent or guardian is involved throughout.
Parental Consent
A parent, guardian, or other responsible adult must sign the Parental Consent form (HSMV 71142) before a minor can apply.11Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Required Forms for Teens By signing, that adult accepts legal responsibility for the minor’s driving and can be held jointly liable for damages caused by the teen’s negligence.12The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 322.09 – Application of Minors; Responsibility for Negligence or Misconduct of Minor If the signer can’t come in person, the form has to be notarized. Minors emancipated by marriage don’t need consent.
Learner’s Permit, Practice Hours, and Permit Restrictions
Teens can apply for a learner’s permit at age 15.13The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 322.1615 – Learner’s Driver License The permit must be held for at least 12 months or until the teen turns 18, whichever comes first. During that period, the teen has to log 50 hours of behind-the-wheel practice, at least 10 of them at night, and a parent or guardian certifies those hours on the full license application.10Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Licensing Requirements for Teens, Graduated Driver License Laws and Driving Curfews
While driving on the permit, a licensed driver at least 21 years old has to sit in the passenger seat. For the first three months, driving is limited to daylight hours; after three months, driving is allowed until 10 p.m.10Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Licensing Requirements for Teens, Graduated Driver License Laws and Driving Curfews
Nighttime Driving Curfews After Licensing
Even after passing the road test, teens face nighttime restrictions that phase out with age:10Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Licensing Requirements for Teens, Graduated Driver License Laws and Driving Curfews
- At age 16, no driving between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. unless the teen is going to or from work or has a licensed driver aged 21 or older in the car.
- At age 17, no driving between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. unless the teen is going to or from work or has a licensed driver aged 21 or older in the car.
These curfews end at age 18.