License
In the Sunshine State, getting the driver's license is quite simple . All the driver must do is to complete a TLSAE course, pass a driving and theoretical exam, present the paperwork and the process will be finished.
Depending if the driver is young with no experience, or if the driver has experience behind the wheel, there are different kinds of licences.
Class E - Learners license
Drivers between 15 and 18 years old must apply for their first driver's license called: class E - Learners license. Graduated Driver License laws (GDL) establish this first step for those inexperienced people who are starting to learn how to drive.
To be able to apply for the Learners License, the individual must complete a Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education course (TLSAE). After complying with it, he or she will make an appointment at the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHMSV), where the officer will request all the necessary documentation. The driver will have to pass a vision and hearing examination, if everything is Ok, the last step required is to pay the fee to access the knowledge test.
What Documents do you need to apply to the Learners License?
- ID
- Social Security Number
- Residential address
- Parental consent for a driver application of a minor - If under 18
- If you are not a US citizen: Proof of Legal residence in the US.
Characteristics of the Learners License:
- The individual must drive under the supervision of an adult over 21 years old.
- It is not allowed to drive at night during the first 3 months of the license. After this period, it is permitted to drive up to 10PM.
If you hold the first Learners License, you will have 1 year to upgrade it and obtain an intermediate or full privilege license. If your Learners license expires, you will have to renew it and do the process all over again.
Intermediate Driver License (Teen)
As established by the Graduated Driver License laws (GDL),this is the second step: you must obtain the Intermediate Driver's License before the expiration date of your Learners license. With this license you can use the vehicle with non supervision, but there are still some restrictions that apply until you turn 18 years old.
To apply for this Intermediate License, you must hold your Learners license for one year with no traffic violations. You must count with 50 hours of driving practise, 10 of which must be during night hours. After this, you will have to Schedule an appointment to the DHMSV’s Service Center. At your appointment the officer will request you all the documentation. You will have to pass a Driving exam, and if you succeed, you will give up your learners license and gain the new one.
Required Documents for an Intermediate License
It is mandatory that you present the form: Certification of Driving Experience of a Minor (HSMV 71142). This paper is really important, and it will be filled up by your parent or driving instructor in the presence of an officer from the Driver License Center.
Characteristics of the Intermediate License:
- The individual can drive between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m with no supervision until he or she turns 17 years old.
- The individual can drive between 5:00 a.m. and 1:00 a.m with no supervision until he or she turns 18 years old.
- The individual must drive under the supervision of an adult over 21 years old between the time periods not mentioned before.
Full privilege Driver's License (Adult +18)
If an Individual over 18 years old, never had a Drivers license, he or she can apply for a Full privilege License without going through the Learners and Intermediate Steps. Also, there is the chance for those people who need to have some supervised driving, to get their full license starting from the learners step. There is no age limitation in this case.
To apply for this Full-Privilege License, you must complete a Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education course (TLSAE). After this, you will have to schedule an appointment to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHMSV), where you will present all of your papers to the officer. You will have to successfully pass a vision and a hearing examination, to access the Knowledge and driving test. If you comply with all of these steps, you will have to pay a fee (if apply) and take your Picture for your new drivers license.
Necessary Documents to apply for a Full privilege License?
- Identification Card or Passport
- Proof of Social Security Number
- Proof of Residential address
- If from outside the States: Proof of Legal residence in the US.
Transferring your Driver's License to the Florida Driver’s License.
Out of the State of Florida Licenses.
If you are older than 16 years old, and hold a Driver's license from outside the state of Florida, you can exchange it for a Florida one. The only requirement you will have to pass is a Vision and Hearing examination. Bear in mind that if your license is expired, you will have to pass the medical examinations, plus a Knowledge and a Driving test.
To apply for the Full-Privilege License in Florida, the individual has to make an appointment to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHMSV), where the officer will ask you to present all the required documentation. The driver will have to pass a vision and hearing examination. If it is successful, the last step will be to pay the fee, take the Picture for the new license and surrender the out of state license he or she owns.
Once all the requirements above are finished, the driver will obtain a Full Privilege Florida Drivers License. This License has a validity for 8 years and it expires the day of the driver's birthday.
Holders of a License from another country outside the US.
If you are coming from another country, the necessary steps to obtain your Florida Drivers license are similar to the ones you should follow when applying for a new Driver's license. Except if you are coming from Canada or Germany, (where you will only have to take a driving and Knowledge test), France, South Korea and Taiwan.
To be able to apply for the Florida driver’s license, the driver must schedule an appointment at the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHMSV), once there, the officer will request all the documentation. The driver will have to pass a vision and hearing examination, and if necessary, must also take the Knowledge and Driving test. If everything is successful, the last step will be to pay the fee, take a Picture, and surrender the license the driver owns. (If required).
This website is privately owned and is not affiliated with the FLHSMV (Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles). Remember that we are never going to solicit any personal information, ID or credentials. The official FLHSMV website: https://www.flhsmv.gov/
