Teen Drivers

Your First Driver's License

There's no thrill like the one you'll get when you finally receive your first driver's license.

To find out where to go to get your license, call your local Driver's License Exam Site. This is also where you'll obtain the required application forms.

Which License Class?

You see reference to all types of license classifications. Classes A, B and C are commercial driver's license. Class D covers regular automobiles and passenger trucks. A first license for a teen is most often a Class D license. If you are applying for a commercial license, you'll know it. Otherwise, it'll be a Class D.

Age Requirements

Your learner's permit is what you're going to be primarily concerned with, and you can apply for your learner permit at 15 1/2 years old. The process depends on whether you've completed, or are currently enrolled, in some sort of driver education course. For specifics, visit Driver Education.

After you keep your learner's permit for six months you can apply for your intermediate license.

Once you've had your intermediate license for six months, you can apply for your unrestricted license.

Identification Requirements

As a teen driver applying for a license for the first time, you will need to take the same primary and secondary forms of identification listed in our Applying for a New License section.

Also, for teens, a custodial parent or guardian will need to accompany you and sign an affidavit furnished by the Department of Safety.

School Requirements

You need documentation from your school showing that you have taken and passed the required 8th Grade Reading Proficiency Test or an alternative reading proficiency test approved by the State Department of Education.

You need to bring proof that you are either currently enrolled in school or in a school program or that you have graduated high school or the equivalent. Bring the document that applies to you from the following:

• High school diploma.

• Other proof of high school graduation.

• Proof of home school on the proper Department of Public Safety form.

• Proof of an excused absence.

• Proof of enrollment and satisfactory progress in a GED program.

• Completed GED.

• Proof of employment if you are working more than 24 hours each week

Any forms from your school must be typed and have an original signature and your school's official stamp. No fooling' around―make sure those school forms are complete! You don't want to get to the tag agent, only to have to come back later because a stamp, a signature, or something else is missing, now, do you?

Driver Education

You'll need to present your Driver's Education green card, a certificate of completion from a commercial driver's school, or a Parent-taught Driver's Education Course approved by the Department of Safety.

License Fees

There are two charges involved in a driver's license fee; the application fee and the license fee. Here are the fees for a Class D license:

• Class D Application Fee: $4

• Class D License Fee: $21.50

• Learner Permit Application Fee:$4

• Learner Permit License Fee:$21.50

Graduated Driver's License

On November 1, 2005 Oklahoma began enforcing a new law changing the way teens are permitted to drive. Yes, it does restrict some of the things you can do during the first year you have a driver's license. But, as you've probably already heard from other people on other subjects, it's for your own good!

Law makers love numbers. They especially love numbers that have to do with public safety and accidents, big and small. They know just how many of those accidents occur and the ages of the drivers involved, the injuries from those accidents, and where the drivers in those accidents were going or coming from―even what the driver was wearing when the accident occurred!

OK, so they don't know what the driver was wearing. They do, however, know all that other stuff. And they also know that the numbers don't lie. The numbers told the lawmakers that too many teen drivers were getting injured or killed and that some additional rules would help stop these injuries and deaths. The graduated driver's license (GDL) is helping to lower those numbers.

Restrictions under the GDL

Once you apply for an Oklahoma driver's license and the State of Oklahoma grants you a graduated driver's license, you will have the following restrictions:

• You are permitted to drive between the hours of 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., with exceptions for driving to work, school, church or related activities, or if you are driving with a licensed driver in the seat next to you.

• You are not allowed to drive, even between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m. with multiple passengers younger than age 21, unless those passengers are members of your family. So, while you are allowed to drive your brothers or sisters around, you may not drive around in a car full of friends.

Not too bad. You have a year with some restrictions, during which you'll gain a lot of driving experience. Once the year is over, if you've kept your driving record clean, the restrictions will be lifted.

If you get a traffic ticket and are convicted (found guilty) of a moving violation during the first year of driving, the graduated license restrictions will remain on your license until you turn 18.

For more information about age and driver education requirements, as well as driving privileges, refer to Oklahoma's New Graduated Driver License Web page.