Special Licenses in Wisconsin

School Bus Requirements

You must:

• Be at least 18 years old.

• Have an "S" endorsement on your Wisconsin driver's license.

• Own a Wisconsin driver's license that pertains to the class you're applying for.

• Harbor no foot or hand restrictions that would prevent you from operating any gears or brakes.

• Meet required physical/medical standards.

• Have no convictions over the last two years for:

• ―Reckless driving.

• ―Driving while under the influence of booze or drugs.

• ―Refusing a Breathalyzer exam.

• ―Any offense detailed on this list

• ―Driving a commercial vehicle with an alcohol concentration of .04% or more.

• ―Causing injury to another human being while steering a commercial vehicle with an alcohol concentration of .04% or more but less than .10%.

• ―Two or more offenses for: driving a commercial vehicle with an alcohol concentration about 0.00%; operating a commercial vehicle within four hours of downing any type of alcohol; driving a commercial vehicle while in possession of booze.

• ―Any type of child-molestation or endangerment conviction within the last five years.

• Pass a background check.

• Submit to fingerprinting, if you resided in another state within the last two years.

Shuttle Van Requirements

School Shuttle Van, or Alternative Vehicle

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) refers to any school van that carries nine passengers or fewer, and that's not painted school bus yellow, as an "alternative vehicle."

To operate an alternative vehicle, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old.

• Own either a valid Wisconsin driver's license or a valid license and endorsement from another jurisdiction pertaining to the appropriate class of vehicle.

• Have no convictions over the last two years for:

• ―Reckless driving.

• ―Driving while under the influence of booze or drugs.

• ―Refusing a Breathalyzer exam.

• ―Any offense detailed on this list

• ―Driving a commercial vehicle with an alcohol concentration of .04% or more.

• ―Causing injury to another human being while steering a commercial vehicle with an alcohol concentration of .04% or more but less than .10%.

• ―Two or more offenses for: driving a commercial vehicle with an alcohol concentration about 0.00%; operating a commercial vehicle within four hours of downing any type of alcohol; driving a commercial vehicle while in possession of booze.

• ―Any type of conviction within the last five years that may have overstepped the lines of public morality at the expense of a child's safety.

Hotel Shuttle Van

There are no state requirements to operate a hotel shuttle van. Generally, all that's required is a regular driver's license, and a relatively clean record. Requirements, of course, may vary with each hotel.

Taxi License Requirements

There is no uniform statewide taxi driver license requirement list. Licensing is handled by each individual municipality. For requirements, contact your local city clerk.

Chauffeur License Requirements

Wisconsin no longer requires a specific chauffeur license. As long as you're driving a vehicle that carries fewer than 16 people(including the driver), you do not need a special license. If, however the vehicle you're operating carries more than 16 people or weighs over 26,000 pounds, a commercial driver license is required.

Sport Vehicles

Snowmobiles

To operate a snowmobile, you must be at least 12 to ride without a parent or guardian with you. Under-12 operators can snowmobile with a parent or guardian. No license is required, but you must take a safety class if you were born after 1985.

These rules don't apply if you're snowmobiling on family-owned land.

NOTE: You must obtain a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Customer ID Number before completing a safety class. Apply by visiting any DNR office or by calling (888) 936-7463.

ATVs

No license is needed for an ATV. Once you turn 12 (or if you're older than that and were born on or after January 1, 1988) you must take an ATV safety class to ride on public land.

Those younger than 12 must ride using a 90cc or less ATV, with a parent.

See the Department of Natural Resource's ATV Regulations for more information.

NOTE: You must obtain a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Customer ID Number before completing a safety class. Apply by visiting any DNR office or by calling (888) 936-7463.

For more information on sport vehicles, check our our Other Types of Vehicles article.

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