To get a learner’s permit in Alabama you must be at least 15, apply in person at an Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) driver license office with proof of identity, your Social Security card, two proofs of Alabama residency, and school enrollment or graduation proof if you’re under 19, then pass a vision screening and a 30-question written test. The total cost is $41.25: a $5 examination fee plus $36.25 for the permit itself.1Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. License and ID Cards
Documents to Bring
Every document must be an original or certified copy. Photocopies will not be accepted, and a missing document means a wasted trip.2Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Document Requirements and Fees
- One proof of identity: a certified U.S. birth certificate issued by a state or federal authority, or an unexpired U.S. passport.
- Your original Social Security card, if you have been assigned or are eligible for a number.
- Two proofs of Alabama residency. Acceptable documents include a utility bill (water, gas, or electric) less than 90 days old, a voter registration card, a current lease or rental agreement, a residential mortgage contract, vehicle registration in your name, the previous year’s tax return, or a current homeowner’s insurance policy showing your address.
- If you’re under 19 and applying for the first time, school enrollment or graduation proof: ALEA Form DL1/93, a certificate of graduation, or a GED certificate.
If your residency documents are in a parent’s or spouse’s name, bring a birth certificate or marriage certificate connecting you to that person. Applicants under 18 should plan for a parent or legal guardian to come along; ALEA’s checklist doesn’t list a standalone consent form for the Stage I permit, but having a parent or guardian present helps a minor’s application move through smoothly.
The Knowledge Test
The written test has 30 multiple-choice questions on Alabama traffic laws, road signs, and safe driving practices. You need 24 correct answers, or 80%, to pass, and you’ll complete a basic vision screening before the written portion.3Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Alabama Driver Manual
Study the official Alabama Driver Manual, which ALEA publishes as a free PDF on its website. Everything on the test comes from the manual, so treat it as your sole study guide. Practice tests are widely available online and are useful for finding weak areas before test day.
If you don’t pass, you can retake the test by paying the $5 examination fee again for each attempt.4Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 32-6-21 – Examination Fee Qualified students taking the exam for the first time are exempt from the $5 testing fee.
Fees and How to Pay
Two separate charges apply. The $5 examination fee is paid before the vision and knowledge tests. If you pass, you then pay $36.25 to purchase the permit. ALEA does not accept personal checks for any driver license fees, so bring cash, a debit card, or a credit card.2Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Document Requirements and Fees
Where to Apply
You apply in person at any ALEA driver license examining office.5Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Driver License Offices Examining offices are located in Birmingham, Decatur, Dothan, Huntsville, Jacksonville, Mobile, Montgomery, Opelika, Selma, Sheffield, and Tuscaloosa, with additional county locations around the state. ALEA runs an online appointment scheduler, and booking ahead can save you a long wait.6Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Schedule a Driver License Appointment
At the office, you’ll present your documents, pay the $5 testing fee, complete the vision screening, and take the knowledge test. If you pass both, you’ll pay the $36.25 permit fee and have your photo taken. You walk out with the permit that day.
What You Can Do With the Permit
A Stage I learner’s permit has one core restriction. You must always be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or licensed driver who is at least 21 years old, and that person must sit in the front passenger seat beside you.7Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Graduated Driver License A licensed or certified driving instructor in the front seat also counts. Without a qualifying supervisor in that seat, you cannot legally drive.
The curfew (no driving between midnight and 6 a.m.), the passenger limit (no more than one non-family member), and the ban on handheld devices do not apply to the learner’s permit. Those are Stage II restrictions that begin once you upgrade to a restricted license at age 16. At the Stage I level, the supervision rule effectively controls when and how you drive, because your supervising adult must always be there.
The permit is valid for four years from the date of issue.8Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Driver License Information It can be suspended or revoked for the same reasons as a full driver’s license, and for violating the terms of the permit itself. If you’re under 18, you’ll need to hold the Stage I permit for at least six months before you can move up to a Stage II restricted license at 16.7Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Graduated Driver License