To get your Florida
driver’s license, you must be at least 16 years old and able to provide valid identification and proof of address. The process to receive a license involves a driver education course, a vision test, a knowledge exam, and your final road test. Getting a driver’s license is an important rite of passage, but the process varies from state to state and can become complicated depending on your situation. Here to break down all the requirements for a Florida driver’s license is car insurance
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What are the requirements for a driver’s license in Florida?
You must be at least 16 years old to get a Florida driver’s license. Before you can head to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), you’ll need to gather the following documents:
Primary identification: a US birth certificate, US passport, certificate of naturalization, certificate of citizenship, or valid alien registration receipt card (such as a green card)
Social Security number: your Social Security card, W-2 form, paycheck including your complete SSN, 1099 form, or military ID
Proof of residential address: a mortgage statement, lease agreement, Florida voter registration card, car insurance bill, W-2 or 1099 form, utility bill, or a letter from a homeless shelter or halfway house
Check the FLHSMV website
for a complete list of the documents you can use in your license application based on immigration and citizenship status. Finally, if you have physical or mental conditions that could affect your driving, such as epilepsy or fainting spells, you must list them on your application and may need a medical report form from your doctor.
What are the requirements for young drivers?
Applicants under 18 need parental consent and must hold a learner’s license for at least 12 months or until their 18th birthday, whichever is sooner. In additional, to get your license before you turn 18, you’ll need:
Certification from a legal guardian that you completed at least 50 hours of driving, including 10 hours at night
What are the requirements for out-of-state drivers?
If you hold a valid driver’s license from another state, you don’t technically need to apply for a license in order to legally drive in the Sunshine State. However, if you choose to, you’ll only need to pass a vision and hearing test—no knowledge exam or road test required!
How to get a driver’s license in Florida
For new drivers: take the TLSAE course
If it’s your first time getting a driver’s license anywhere—not just in Florida—you’ll need to start with a Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education Course (TLSAE)
. This course, which you can take either online or in a classroom setting, will cover the essentials of Florida traffic laws, especially as they relate to road safety and alcohol use. Vision test
Before you can proceed with the driver’s license application process, it’s important to make sure you’re able to see the road!
In general, in order to meet Florida’s requirements, you must have 20/40 or better vision in each eye, or you’ll be referred to a specialist. However, if you’ve seen an eye doctor and gotten corrective lenses, it’s possible to pass with 20/70 vision as long as neither eye is worse than 20/200.
Knowledge exam
Once you’ve completed your TLSAE course and vision test, you’re ready for the next step: the Class E Knowledge Exam
. This is the written portion of your driving test, and it consists of 50 multiple choice questions on Florida’s traffic laws, road safety practices, and road signs. Study for your written exam using the Florida Driver License Handbook
, which covers all the material you’ll need to pass the test. The FLHSMV also provides an online practice test
, although applicants over 18 will need to complete the actual test at an HSMV testing location
. In order to pass your Class E Knowledge Exam, you must get 40 out of 50 questions correct, or 80%.
Road test
The final step on the road to your Florida driver’s license is a road test, which you can schedule at any FLHSMV service center
. You’ll need to bring your own vehicle, and it must have: A working horn, brakes, tires, steering wheels, turn signals, rear-view mirrors, and brake lights
Functional windshield wipers, headlights, and seatbelts
Good visibility through all windows
Bring all of your documents to the Florida driving test. During the exam, be prepared to perform the following:
Approaching an intersection
Parking in standard conditions and on a hill
Moving in reverse for about 50 feet
Signaling, turning, and passing
Your instructor will also watch carefully to see that you follow all traffic signals, including stop signs, correctly. They’ll take note of how closely you follow other cars and whether your posture is correct.
If you pass your driving test, you’ll be able to present your documents and pay the $48 fee for your very own Florida driver’s license! The FLHSMV will issue a provisional license on the day of your test, but you’ll receive your actual license in the mail within a few weeks.
How to save money on car insurance in Florida
And you’re off! Once you’ve passed all your tests and you’ve got that license in hand, it’s time to shop for car insurance. If that sounds like a major drag, don’t worry—with help from comparison shopping super app Jerry
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