Driver Education Driver Services

Instruction Permit Requirements

• You must pay the appropriate fee, pass the vision screening and the applicable written exam for the classification you are seeking. Proper identification documents and a Secretary of State application are required. Depending on whether you are enrolled in driver education at a high school or commercial driver training school, either you or your driver education instructor may submit the application to Secretary of State. Please check with your instructor.
• If you are age 15-17, you must be enrolled in, or 30 days prior to active participation in, an approved driver education course.
• Your permit must be used in the behind-the-wheel portion of the driver education course when an adult instructor is sitting beside you.
• You also may practice driving with an adult who is at least age 21, has a license for the type of vehicle you are driving, and has at least one year of driving experience.
• An applicant under age 18 is issued an instruction permit valid for two years, and the permit must be held for at least nine months prior to obtaining a driver's license. An applicant age 18 and older is issued an instruction permit valid for one year.
• If you are age 17 years and 3 months or older, you may apply for a permit without taking a driver education course.
• After you have successfully completed the driver education course, you may continue practicing to drive with your instruction permit under the supervision of a responsible adult as outlined above.
• If you receive your license prior to the expiration of your instruction permit, you may not be required to pay an additional fee.
• To receive your license at any age, you will need one item from Group A, B, C and D Proper identification documents