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LEARNER'S PERMIT AND OPERATOR'S LICENSE INFORMATION |
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The DMV requires that you complete the following
steps before receiving your Florida Operator's License.
Step 1: Get your Learner's Permit
How to get your Learner's Permit:
- Before going to the DMV (you must be 14 ½ years or older to
take the D.A.T.A course):
- Complete the Florida Drivers Association online D.A.T.A.
(Drug Alcohol Traffic Awareness) course (click
here to sign up now). The DMV requires that each person
spend at least four hours taking this course. You can log
in and out of the online course as many times as you want.
- Complete the DMV Exam - you must be 15 years old to take
the DMV exam (click
here to review the online Handbook). Review the online
Florida's Driver Handbook and then take the DMV Exam -Don't
stand inline take it online. You can take it here!
- What to bring to the DMV (you must be 15 years or older):
- Your Certificate of Completion with the D.A.T.A. Course.
- One of the following forms of identification: Original
Birth Certificate, valid U.S. passport, or Florida State
ID card,
- Your original Social Security Card
- If under 18, a natural parent (or legal guardian) must
sign a consent form in front of the examiner or a notary
public. Click
here for the Parent Consent form for a Driver Application
of a Minor
- What you will do at the DMV:
- Get your picture taken
- Take a vision test (to pass, you must have 20/40 or better
vision in each and both eyes, with or without corrective
lenses)
- Take a hearing test
- Give a thumb print
- Receive your Learner's License!
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Step 2: Using your Learner's Permit
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Auto Insurance. Parents need
to call their auto insurance agent to check what adjustments
need to be made to include a teen driver in their policy.
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Adult Supervision. There must
be an adult age 21 years or older with a valid driver's license
in the front passenger seat whenever a Learner Permit driver
is driving.
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Hour Restrictions. During the
first three (3) months, drive only during daylight hours.
After three (3) months, you can drive until 10:00 p.m.
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One Year Practice Driving. Drive
with your Learner's Permit for one (1) year for at least 50
hours including ten (10) hours at night.
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No Traffic Convictions. During
the Learner Permit year, you can not receive any traffic convictions
to be eligible for your Operator's License. NOTE: You may
avoid conviction by attending Florida Drivers Association
4 Hour Basic Driver Improvement course if you receive a ticket
or in an accident (click here to sign
up).
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Step 3: Getting your Operator's License
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You must be 16 years or older and have had a
Learner's Permit for at least one (1) year with no traffic
convictions and 50 hours of driving experience including ten
(10) hours at night.
-
Call ahead and schedule an appointment at the
DMV
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What to bring to the DMV:
- A Florida Learner's Permit or a license from another jurisdiction
- Parent or guardian must sign a Parent Consent for Driver
Application of a Minor in front of the DMV examiner or have
a notary witness (click
here to print the form). This form states that you have
at least 50 hours of driving experience, of which 10 hours
are at night.
- Valid vehicle registration must be provided on the vehicle
for the driving test
- Study the Florida Driver's Handbook so you can be prepared
to take the driving test and perform certain driving maneuvers
(click
here to study the online Handbook.)
-
Once you pass the Driving Skills Test:
Congratulations but beware! Traffic crashes are the number
one killer of teens. It's important to follow the rules below
and all traffic rules especially driving within speed limits
and following road sign rules.
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Don't get your License suspended or get points!
Important facts:
Age Restrictions
If you are 16 years old:
- You can only drive between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. except
to and from work or when accompanied by licensed driver who
is at least 21 years old and occupies the front passenger seat
If you are 17 years old:
- You can only drive between 5:00 a.m. and 1:00 a.m. except
to and from work or when accompanied by licensed driver who
is at least 21 years old and occupies the front passenger seat
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Points and License Suspension
There are a number of infractions that can cause
you to lose or restrict your driving privileges. The following
are of particular interest to teen drivers.
- If you receive a traffic conviction while you have a Learner's
Permit, the one year period you are required to hold your Learner's
License will be extended for one year from the date of the infraction.
- If you receive 6 points on your driving record within a 12
month period, your driving privileges are automatically restricted
to business purposes only for 12 months or until you are 18,
whichever happens first. If you receive additional points during
this restricted period, the restriction is extended 90 days
for each additional point.
- If you have a blood alcohol level of .02% or more (applies
to those under age 21), an administrative suspension of six
months will result.
- If you are truant in your school attendance, your driving
privilege is suspended until you provide proof you have attended
school for 30 consecutive days.
- If you are convicted of possession of tobacco products before
the age of 18, your driving privileges will be suspended.
Driving Violations and Points
If you get a ticket or are in an accident, keep points
off your driver's license by attending the Basic Driver Improvement
(BDI) 4-Hour Course (click here to sign
up).
License Points
If you choose to pay the civil penalty or are adjudicated
guilty by a judge, your driver record will be assessed as follows:
Moving Violations (includes
driving during restricted hours) |
3 points |
Speeding less than 15 mph over the speed
limit |
3 points |
Improper Lane Change |
3 points |
Littering |
3 points |
Violation of child restraint
laws |
3 points |
Speeding more than 15 mph over the speed
limit |
4 points |
Passing stopped school
bus |
4 points |
Moving violation (non-speeding) resulting
in an crash |
4 points |
Reckless driving (criminal
traffic violation) |
4 points |
Speeding resulting in a crash |
6 points |
Leaving scene of crash
with damage |
6 points |
License Suspension
Driver license suspension will result as follows:
License suspended for
30 days |
12 points
in 12 months |
License suspended for 90 days |
18 points in 18 months |
License suspended for
one (1) year |
24 points
in 36 months |
Zero Tolerance for DUI
Florida Drivers under the age of 21 with a blood
alcohol level of .02% or more will have their license immediately
suspended for six months. This administrative action is for a
first offense; a second offense will result in a one year suspension.
Refusal to submit to testing (first offense) results in a suspension
of twelve months; eighteen months on a second offense.
Most states have the same blood alcholo level limit of .02%, but
some states such as California have a limit of .01%. The bottom
line is don't get behind the wheel if you have any alcohol in
your system. |