- Driver Types

Driver Education

FLORIDA FIRST TIME DRIVER COURSE (D.A.T.A.) SPONSOR

Never had a FL drivers license? All first time drivers in the State of Florida are required by law to take a Florida drivers ed course prior to applying for a Florida drivers license. DMV.ORG recommends FloridaDrivingCourse.com as a good choice for Florida drivers ed.

First-Time Driver (D.A.T.A.) - FloridaDrivingCourse.com

Enroll in the FloridaDrivingCourse.com four-hour class from the privacy of your own home and complete it at your convenience. This course will allow you to learn about how alcohol and other drugs affect your ability to drive, FL laws and responsibilities, safe driving techniques, and how to increase your awareness on Florida's roadways. You will also have the option of taking your FL drivers license written exam online after completing the course--as long as you are younger than 18 years old.

FloridaDrivingCourse.com also features driving courses for:

Page Overview

Education Comes First
Classroom Requirements
Driving Independence, Step by Step

Learning to drive is a big step for any teen, but the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) has created a lot of help along the way. Check out Applying For a New License on this site to get the specific details about how to apply for your learner's and operator's licenses.

Top Education Comes First

Before you get any kind of license, you need to learn the rules and some basic skills. A good place to start is the Florida Driver Handbook, which contains a lot of valuable information about driving laws and procedures. Here's just some of what you'll find in the handbook:

How to get your license, including required documents and testing

The point system, as well as information about license suspension and revocation

Driving skills, such as defensive driving, speed limits, right-of-way, and parking

Road signs, traffic signals, and highway markings

Vehicle safety, including equipment requirements

Study questions for the written tests

Top Classroom Requirements

If you're taking a driver's ed course at school, that class will usually cover the first-time driver education requirements set by the State of Florida. Check with your school board to make sure.

If your school doesn't offer driver's ed, you'll need to take a required Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education course through a private company before applying for your learner's license. The state has compiled a list of approved course providers on the DHSMV Web site.

Top Driving Independence, Step by Step

Because the State of Florida is serious about ensuring the safety of teens (and everyone else) on the highways, legislators have come up with a process that allows first-time drivers to gain experience and freedom gradually. Here are the steps you'll take:

Learner's license: You have to be at least 15 years old to get this instructional permit, which only allows you to drive during daylight hours and accompanied at all times by a licensed driver who's at least 21 years old. You'll be required to have this license for a year, during which you must get at least 50 hours of driving experience, with 10 of those hours being at night. You'll need to have a parent or guardian sign a statement saying you did indeed get at least the minimum hours of experience.

Operator's license: Once you're 16, you can take your on-road driving test and get your operator's license, which allows you to drive alone in the car between the hours of 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. (If you're driving to or from work or accompanied by a licensed driver who's at least 21, you can drive during restricted hours.) When you turn 17, you'll get a little more freedom, and be allowed to drive alone between 5 a.m. and 1 a.m., unless driving to or from work or accompanied by a licensed driver who's 21 or older.

Regular Class E license: At age 18, you'll be able to drive alone at any time or day or night. But even though you have an unrestricted license, you should know that the state will penalize you more harshly for certain infractions, until you are 21. See the Teen Drivers section on this site for more information about the penalties for younger drivers. The increased penalties aren't to keep you down; they're mainly to send a serious message about the need for safe and experienced driving.

Related Questions from DMV Answers

What is the legal driving age in my state?

See the chart below to determine the legal driving age in your state. Keep in mind that most states have additional steps to complete prior to obtaining your drivers license or drivers permit. For example, find out whether your particular state requires a drivers ed class for teen drivers or first time drivers. These drivers education requirements will vary from state-to-state, so refer to your local DMV Web site for specific requirements. Your local DMV Web site will also be a good source for downloading a practice test, any requisite administrative forms, study guides and manuals. These materials will make the quest for a learners permit and drivers license much easier. The following chart specifies the age at which one may be fully privileged to drive in a particular state.
Read more >>
What are the age requirements to get a learner’s permit?

See the chart below for the age requirements in the various states for obtaining your learners permit. Note that most states require teens to complete a driver's ed course before obtaining a learner's permit or drivers license, and several states will allow you to obtain a drivers permit sooner if you take an appropriate driver's ed class.Look to your particular state's DMV Web site to find out about any additional steps necessary for obtaining a permit and eventually your driver's license. The individual state's driver's manual often provides an excellent resource for the various requirements and will provide the information you will need regarding testing, forms, fees, and driver's ed details.The Age Requirements for Getting a Learner's Permit by State...
Read more >>
How many questions do I have to get right to pass drivers permit test?

Check the grid below for your state’s requirements. It will tell you how many questions – or, how high a percentage of questions – you must answer correctly in order to pass your drivers permit test.Every state requires applicants to take a written test (or, knowledge test, as it’s often called) at some point, whether it’s to obtain a learners permit, a junior or provisional license, or a full drivers license. The results of this test help examiners determine whether or not you have a sufficient knowledge and understanding of driving-related matters like the rules of the road and traffic signs and markers. In order to make sure you do have that knowledge and understanding – and can prove it to examiners – it’s best to actually prepare for the test. Many states require applicants to complete a driver education or training course, but other ways to get ready for the drivers permit exam include studying your driver handbook and taking a p...
Read more >>
How long must I hold a learners permit before I can apply for my license?

The time requirements vary from state to state; check the grid below.Before you commit the grid to memory (or, at least your state’s part of it), keep these factors in mind: States employ graduated driver licensing (GDL) programs, and within these programs many states require more than one kind of learners permit. This grid deals mostly with each state’s first learners permit, but notes other kinds of drivers permits (like provisional licenses) when possible. The majority of states allow drivers 18 years old and older to apply for their drivers license the same day they pass their written exams – or, very soon after. This isn’t always the case, so be sure to get details from your examiner when you go in for the written test. This grid focuses on the amount of time you have to wait between obtaining your learners permit and obtaining your drivers license; it doesn’t focus on any other requirements, such as completing a drivers ed course. Be sure to che...
Read more >>
How do I apply for a temporary license?

There are huge differences from state to state about this matter, so it's impossible to give a single answer. You'll need to visit your state's drivers license agency site to get this information, or call the department directly (you can find the number on the site).No matter where you live, you'll need to pass a written exam that will test your driving knowledge. The information on this test varies, but it will likely include questions about driving laws in your state, situational driving, parking requirements, road signs, and other driving safety matters. Additionally, you'll need pass a vision test, and complete a permit application. Your parents or guardians may have to be with you at the license branch office.Your state dictate the minimum age needed to take this test. And, you may need to be enrolled - or have completed - a driver education class to be eligible for the exam.
Read more >>