Illustration by Emily Marra
Driver Licenses
For many young people, both with and without disabilities, learning to drive and getting your driver license is a big milestone, increasing independence and opening new doors of opportunity, whether related to education, employment or recreation. But, driving comes with many responsibilities, the first of which is understanding the process for learning to drive and obtaining your driver license.
Getting Your Driver License: The Three-Stage Process
Florida has a three-stage graduated driver license (GDL) process. These three stages include the:
1 | Learner’s License,
2 | Operational License and, finally, the
3 | Full Driver License.
Driver licenses and license plate transactions are generally handled at the county level; however, you can access detailed information about requirements by visiting the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) website at www.flhsmv.gov and clicking on “Driver Licenses and ID Cards.” On this website, you can also find a list of driver license service centers by county.
To obtain a learner’s license, you must:
- Be at least 15 years old.
- If under 18 years old, have a signed/notarized Parental Consent Form.
- Provide proof of Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education course completion.
- Pass a vision and hearing test.
- Pass a Knowledge Exam consisting of 50 multiple-choice questions about traffic laws and signs. The passing score is 80% or 40 out of 50 questions. You can prepare for the exam by studying the Official Florida Driver License Handbook.
Provide documents needed to establish proof of identity, social security number and residential address.
A legal guardian must sign the Parental Consent Form in the presence of the driver license examiner. A foster parent, authorized representative of a residential group home or guardian ad litem can sign the consent form for minors who are enrolled in licensed out-of-home care. In all cases, the driver must pass the required Knowledge Exam and pass a vision and hearing test.
Minors holding a learner’s license must be accompanied by a full licensed driver who is age 21 or older and must only drive during daylight hours. After holding a learner’s license for three months, they may drive until 10:00 p.m. Other restrictions are detailed in the Official Florida Driver License Handbook.
To receive an operational license, you must be 16 to 17 years old, have held a learner’s license for at least 12 months without any traffic convictions, and show proof of parent or guardian Certification of Minor Driving Experience log. This log must be notarized and document that you have had at least 50 hours of driving experience (10 of which must have been at night). You must also pass a behind the wheel skills test in the presence of the driver license examiner.
Drivers with an operational license who are 16 years of age may only drive between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m., with two exceptions: if the driver is going to and from work or has a full licensed driver who is at least 21 years of age in the front passenger seat. Drivers with an operational license who are 17 years of age are restricted from driving between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., with the two exceptions noted above.
The full driver license is the end goal. Once you reach age 18, you may apply for a full driver license. For those already holding an operational license, the driving restrictions will no longer apply by default, and no new testing is required. As during earlier stages, it is extremely important to abide by Florida’s zero tolerance alcohol policy and avoid traffic infractions or convictions.
People who apply for a driver license at age 18 or older and have never held one before may apply for a full driver license as long as they can show proof of completion of a Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education course.
All information to assist during all three stages, including the Official Florida Driver License Handbook and Certification of Minor Driving Experience log, are available on the DHSMV website at www.flhsmv.gov.
Special Considerations for Youth with Developmental Disabilities
People with a developmental disability, or their parents/guardians, can apply to have a special designation (“D”) appear on their identification card or driver license to identify them as having a developmental disability. A fee of $1.00 will be charged for this designation.
According to Florida law, autism spectrum disorder or a related developmental disability must be documented by a licensed physician or other specified professional. In the event the card holder is stopped by a law enforcement officer, correctional officer or other public safety official, a good faith effort must be made in response to a request by the parent, guardian or the individual to ensure that a specified professional is present at all interviews of all individuals with a “D” designation. There may be costs associated with hiring the professional, who must have experience in treating, teaching or assisting individuals with disabilities.
More detailed information is available at www.flhsmv.gov/driver-licenses-id-cards/newdl, and the application for the “D” designation is available at www.flhsmv.gov/pdf/forms/72120.pdf.
Special Considerations for Youth in Foster Care
Youth in foster care should have access to the same experiences as other youth, including learning to drive a car and obtaining a driver license. A program called Keys to Independence (K2I) helps youth in foster care access driver education and obtain their driver license. This program is authorized by Florida law and can help reduce or assist with the costs involved in obtaining a driver license, including classes and car insurance. For more details, see www.keystoindependencefl.com.
Reasonable Accommodations
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), FLHSMV will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities in its services, programs or activities. These services, programs and activities include (but are not limited to) the driver license application process.
As a result, FLHSMV will attempt, upon request, to provide services for persons with disabilities, including sign language interpreters, documents in Braille, and other ways of making information accessible to people who have speech, hearing or vision impairments. FLHSMV will also make reasonable modifications to programs to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate. For example, individuals with service animals are welcome in FLHSMV offices.
Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, or a modification of policies to participate in FLHSMV services, should contact the manager at the relevant FLHSMV office as soon as possible but no later than 48 hours before the scheduled event.
The ADA does not require FLHSMV to take action that would fundamentally alter the nature of its programs or services or impose an undue financial burden.
Illustration by Wilkinson Jones
Tip
Complaints that a program, service or activity of FLHSMV is not accessible to persons with disabilities should be directed to:
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
Attention: External ADA Coordinator, Neil Kirkman
Building Room A102
2900 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee, FL 32399
PH. 850-617-3161
Illustration by Jonah Bienhoff