Driving Licenses in
Florida
The information about driving licenses below is from the Department of
Motor Vehicles.
Who Needs One?
- If you live in Florida and want to drive a motor vehicle on public streets and highways.
- If you move to Florida and have a
valid license from another state, you must get a Florida license within
30 days of becoming a resident. You are considered a resident of Florida
if you:
- enroll your children in public school, or
- register to vote, or
- file for a homestead exemption, or
- accept employment, or
- reside in Florida for more than six consecutive months.
Who Does Not Need One?
The
following persons may drive in Florida without having a Florida driver
license if they have a valid license from another state or country:
- Any non-resident who is at least 16 years old.
- Persons employed by the United States Government driving a United States Government motor vehicle on official business.
- Any non-resident working for a firm on a contract for the United States Government. (This exemption is only for 60 days.)
- Any non-resident attending college in Florida.
- Persons who drive only vehicles like farm tractors or road machines temporarily on the highway may drive without a license.
- A licensed driver who lives in another state and travels regularly between his home and work in Florida.
- Non-resident migrant farm workers even though they are employed or place children in the public schools, providing they have a valid license from their home state.
- Members of the Armed Forces stationed
in Florida and their dependents, with these exceptions:
- Service member or spouse claims homestead exemption (All drivers in family must obtain Florida licenses),
- Service member becomes employed (All drivers in family must obtain Florida licenses),
- Spouse becomes employed (Spouse and children who drive must obtain Florida licenses),
- Child becomes employed (Only employed child who drives must obtain Florida license).
Learner's Driver License
A person
who holds a Learner's License must be accompanied by a licensed driver, 21
years of age or older, who occupies the front passenger seat. To be
eligible for a Class E license, all drivers 15 years of age and under 18
years of age, must hold a Learner's License for at least 12 months without
convictions or who has a conviction but elects to attend a traffic school
for which adjudication must be withheld pursuant to section 318.14,
Florida Statutes. Parents or legal guardians must also certify that the
driver has 50 hours driving experience, 10 of these hours must include
night time driving.
Drivers can only drive between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. the first three months from the original issue date when accompanied by a licensed driver, 21 years or older who occupies the front passenger seat. After the three months, the driver may operate a vehicle from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. with a licensed driver, 21 years or older in the front passenger seat. Drivers with a Learner's License are ineligible for a motorcycle endorsement.
NOTE: A learner's driver license does not mean you can drive in other states. You will need to check the laws in each state.
Requirements
- Be at least 15 years old.
- Pass vision, road signs and road rules tests.
- Have the signature of one parent (or guardian) on the consent form if under age 18.
- Completion of Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education Course.
- Two forms of identification
- Social Security Number.
- Must be in compliance with school attendance.
Identifying Yourself
State law
requires identification, proof of date of birth and social security number
from all customers before a driver license or identification card can be
issued. Each application for an original driver license or identification
card MUST submit the original or certified copy of one of the first
five documents, unless a driver's license record or identification card
record has already been established:
Test Requirements*
Person
applying for original Florida licenses will be required to take the
following tests:
- Learner's Driver License - vision, hearing, road signs, and Class E road rules.
- Class E license - vision, hearing, road signs, Class E road rules and driving test.
- Class D license - vision, hearing,
road signs, Class D road rules and driving test (driving test not
required if applicant holds valid Florida Class E operator's license).
NOTE: Persons holding valid licenses from other states, U.S. possessions, France, or Canada are only required to take a vision test unless their driving ability is questionable. Persons holding a license from Germany and Taiwan are required to take the vision, hearing and written exam unless their driving ability is questionable.
- Motorcycle endorsement - In addition to the above tests, applicants requesting motorcycle endorsements must pass the written motorcycle knowledge test and on-cycle skill test (unless they have a motorcycle endorsement on their out-of-state license.)
- Commercial driver licenses - see Florida Manual for Truck and Bus Drivers for required exams.
*All vehicles used for driving or on-cycle skill tests will be inspected by the examiner.
Purpose of Driver License Examination
The purpose of the license examination is to find out several things:
- Can you read and understand road signs, traffic signals and highway markings?
- Do you know the Florida driving rules?
- Can you see well enough to drive safely?
- Do you have the skill and experience to drive safely?
- Do you have any physical or mental handicaps that would affect your driving?
Examination Information
Vision
test - standard vision screening.
Lenses or Glasses:
- You will be restricted to wearing corrective lenses when you drive if you need to wear contact lenses or glasses to pass the test.
- Telescopic lenses - you will not be eligible for a driver's license if you wear glasses with telescopic lenses.
Requirements:
Your driving privilege will be revoked if you are unable to meet the rules
of vision standards. To pass you must meet the following vision standards
with or without corrective lenses:
- Have 20/40 (or better) vision in each and both eyes. With or without corrective lenses.
- If you have 20/200 (or worse) vision in one eye, you must have 20/40 (or better) vision in the other eye. With or without corrective lenses.
- If you have 20/70 (or better) vision in either eye separately, or in both eyes together. The worst eye must have a vision screening better than 20/200. With or without corrective lenses. Referral to an eye doctor may be required.
