Top Getting Started

If you've never had a driver license before, you must complete an approved driver education course to get a Utah license from the Driver License Division.

Utah law states that each student in a driver's education course must receive 18 hours of classroom instruction, six hours of driving instruction behind the wheel, and six hours of driving observation (where you are in the car, but not driving).

You may complete the classroom instruction at your public school (courses are offered at many high schools, colleges, and universities), through a home-study program, or with a commercial provider. In many cases, you may take your licensing test at the same place you received your training; check with your instructor to see whether you are eligible.

You must be at least 15 years and six months old to enroll in a driver's education course. Look up "driving schools" in your local listings or go online to find public schools, colleges, or private companies that offer driver education.

Top Next Steps

Once you have enrolled in a driver's education course, you may apply for a practice permit from your instructor or at the Driver License Division by providing proof of enrollment in the course and passing the written exam.

Valid for six months, the practice permit allows you to drive a car as long as you are accompanied in the front by a licensed parent, guardian, or spouse; you are also permitted to have additional passengers.

If you are 16 years old, have completed the driver education course, and passed the written test, you may apply for a learner's permit. The permit is valid for six months and enables you to drive as long as a licensed driver 21 or older is beside you.

An instruction permit gives you the fewest privileges, allowing you to drive only with a qualified instructor and only in a driver education car that has dual controls.

To help you pass the written exam and get your practice permit, we suggest that you study the Utah Driver's Handbook, which covers all the rules of the road. However, there is no substitute for a qualified instructor and a full training course to educate you on the fundamentals of driving, decision-making skills, the importance of sharing the road, and developing safe driving habits.

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