Are you ready for the independence that comes with your driver license? Learning to drive is exciting and challenging. We know this experience can also be stressful. We’re here to help!

This section of our website is devoted to teen drivers and their parents. Let us guide you through the process and help you build a lifetime of safe driving habits.

Preparing to Drive

Before you get behind the wheel, take some time to prepare for success.

• Learn more about Florida’s Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) process, which has special rules for teens. This process is designed to help you build your skills gradually and could take a year or more to complete.
• Learn about financial and legal responsibilities associated with driving.
• Talk to a parent, guardian or other trusted adult. They will have valuable experience to share with you!

Be A Smart Passenger

You may not realize it, but being a smart passenger can help you prepare to be a smart driver.

• Always wear your seat belt.
• Observe drivers, road conditions and traffic control devices like stoplights and signs.
• Ask the person driving you to explain their decisions behind the wheel.
• Avoid driving with teen drivers until they become safer, more experienced drivers.
• Be a helpful passenger by making sure you never distract your driver.
• If you’re a passenger of an unsafe driver – one who is texting, using a cellphone, speeding or driving recklessly – speak up!
• Tell your driver to drive safely or ask to be dropped off in a safe place.

Maintain Good Grades

It’s important to maintain good grades to keep your auto insurance costs down. Most insurance companies offer lower rates for teen drivers who have a “B” or higher grade average. Your good grades today will help you save money later!

Learn As Much As  You Can

There are many helpful resources available to prepare you for a lifetime of safe driving. Here are a few that we recommend:

• In the Driver’s Seat – Our free mobile app contains the Florida Driver Handbook, practice tests, safety tips and helpful checklists. Click here to download or download it today from the iOS App Store or Google Play.
• Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach – Practice your driving skills from the safe (and fun!) driving simulator! You can view how the simulator works by watching our Teen Driver Resource video. You can also take practice tests online.

Understand the Graduated Driver Licensing Process

Florida requires you to complete a three-step process, called Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL), to obtain your first driver license. This process is designed to help you safety gain driving experience under low-risk conditions before obtaining full driving privileges. These laws outline limits and restrictions for new drivers aged 15 through 17. Florida’s GDL laws will help you gradually and safely build your skills and experience – from basic to advanced – in all kinds of road conditions. Teen drivers and their parents or guardians must fully understand and comply with these laws.

For more information about Florida’s Graduated Driver Licensing Laws, please visit the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website.

STEP 1: LEARNER’S LICENSE

Getting your Learner’s License is just the beginning of this fun and exciting process! Make sure you understand each requirement and Florida Graduated Driving Licensing (GDL) laws for obtaining your Learner’s License. If you have not downloaded our free study app called “In the Driver’s Seat,” download it today from the iOS App Store or Google Play.

Requirements:

• You must be at least 15 years old
• If you are under 18 years old, you must have a signed/notarized Parental Consent Form. Step-parents may not sign unless they have legally adopted the minor child.
• Provide proof that you passed the Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course
• Pass a vision test in one of our service centers
• Pass the Class E Knowledge Exam
  • Study the official Florida Driver License Handbook
  • Take a practice exam
  • Exam consists of 50 multiple choice questions about traffic laws and signs
  • Passing score is 80 percent (40 out of 50 questions answered correctly)
• Provide proof of your identity, your social security number and your residential address
• Review this list of required documents

Obey all Florida GDL laws including:

• Must always have a licensed driver 21 years old or older in the closest seat to the right of the driver
• For the first three months, driving is limited to daylight hours only
• After three months, hours are extended to 10 p.m.
• Log 50 hours of driving experience

STEP 2: INTERMEDIATE DRIVER LICENSE

At ages 16 and 17, you can obtain your restricted driver license if you have successfully completed the Learner’s License process. Driving is restricted to certain hours based on your age.

• 16 years old – driving is allowed between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m.
• 17 years old – driving is allowed between 5 a.m. and 1 a.m.

At any other time, 16 and 17 year old drivers must be accompanied by a licensed driver at least 21 years old in the closest seat next to the driver, or be traveling to or from work.

STEP 3: UNRESTRICTED DRIVER LICENSE

At 18 years old, there are no restrictions on driving hours. You can obtain a full unrestricted driver license if you have had no major traffic convictions during the previous 12 months. Such violations include driving under the influence, drag racing, and reckless driving.

Driver Education

When you’re behind the wheel of a car, you are responsible for your actions. Many new teen drivers have crashes, and the consequences — both legal and personal — can be serious. You could kill someone, be killed or seriously injure yourself, loved ones or others. Doesn’t it make sense to be taught how to drive by a professional?

What Driver Education Teaches You

• How to identify and manage risk.
• The rules of the road, signs, signals and markings.
• Basic operation of a vehicle.
• Risk prevention techniques, how to handle emergencies and how to prevent distractions.
• Financial and legal responsibilities associated with driving.

Find a Driver Education Program That’s Right for You

• Help your parents research and identify schools in your area.
• Get recommendations from friends who have taken driver training, along with their parents.
• Talk to people about classroom vs. online classes.
• Check to see if driving schools use current training materials, have professional instructors and maintain clean classrooms and safe vehicles.
• Don’t settle for driving schools that advertise quick or easy programs — focus on quality.

All first time drivers in Florida must take a Traffic Law and Substance Abuse course and a written exam to receive a learner’s driving permit.

Teen Driver Safety

Newly licensed teens are involved in many more accidents than older, experience drivers. These are the most common trouble areas for young drivers.

Other Teens

Research is clear on the fact that risky teen driving behaviors increase in the presence of teen passengers. A teen who is driving with other teens in the car is more likely to crash. And the more kids in the car, the greatly the likelihood of a crash. Avoid driving with your friends until you have more experience behind the wheel.

Seat Belts

Unfortunately, teens buckle up less frequently than adults. Recent studies show that belt use among teens is the lowest of any age group, just 76 percent compared to 85 percent. The majority (58 percent) of 16 to 20 year olds killed in car accidents were not wearing their seat belt. Always wear your seat belt and insist on your passengers wear theirs!

Drugs and Alcohol

Teens are at far greater risk of death in an alcohol-related crash than the overall population. Any driver under the age of 21 who has a blood alcohol level of .02 or more will automatically have their driving privilege suspended for six months. It is illegal for any teen to possess or consume alcohol in Florida.

Fatigue

Teen drivers who sleep less than 8 hours a night are 33 percent more likely to crash than teens who sleep more than 8 hours. This lack of sleep results in depressive moods, more risk-taking behaviors and lower grades. It also reduces your ability to process information, be attentive and have good reflexes. Being well-rested is critical to safe driving. Remember to get plenty of rest when you’re learning to drive or are a newly licensed driver!

Distracted Driving

Your primary responsibility when you are behind the wheel is to focus on safe driving. Any behavior that distracts from that activity increase the rish of collision. The dangers of distracted driving are increasing every year.

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there were almost 50,000 crashes involving distracted driving in Florida. That means, on average in 2017, there were 958 distracted driving crashes per week. Distracted driving crashes have increased 25 percent since 2013. Last year, these distracted driving crashes accounted for more than 3,000 serious bodily injuries and 200 fatalities.

There are different types of driver distractions, including: visual (taking eyes off the road), manual (taking hands off the wheel) and cognitive (mind not on driving). Texting is one of the most dangerous driver distractions since it involves visual, manual and cognitive distractions. However, texting is not the only distracted driving behavior; other dangerous driving distractions include putting on makeup, tending to children in the backseat, eating, tuning the radio, checking GPS navigation and even daydreaming.

Learn More:

• Distracted Driving – Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles