In Florida the first driver license you can hold is the Class E learner's license, which everyone calls the learner's permit. You can apply the day you turn 15. The process has six steps, and only one of them, the knowledge exam, is where people get stuck. Here is the whole thing in order, current for 2026.
Step 1: Finish the required course for your age
Before Florida will issue a permit to a first-time driver, you must complete a state-approved education course. Since August 1, 2025 the course depends on your age:
| Your age | Course | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | DETS (Driver Education and Traffic Safety) | 6 hours |
| 18 and older | TLSAE (Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education) | 4 hours |
Both are offered online by FLHSMV-approved providers, and you can stop and resume. When you finish, the provider reports your completion to the state electronically, so there is no paper certificate to carry. If you completed a high-school driver education classroom course or a DELAP program, that may count instead. Full details, exemptions and prices are in our guide to the TLSAE and DETS courses.
Step 2: Pass the Class E Knowledge Exam
The exam has 50 multiple-choice questions drawn from the Florida Driver License Handbook. You must answer 40 correctly (80%). Questions cover road signs and signals, traffic laws and right of way, safe driving practices, and alcohol and drug laws.
Where you take it depends on your age:
- Under 18: online through an approved third-party administrator, with a notarized Parent Proctoring Form (HSMV 71144), or in person at a driver license office.
- 18 and older: in person at a driver license service center or county tax collector office.
Step 3: Gather your original documents
Florida does not accept photocopies. Bring originals or certified copies of:
- Proof of identity: a certified U.S. birth certificate, valid U.S. passport, or an immigration document for non-citizens.
- Proof of Social Security number: the card, or a W-2, paystub or SSA-1099 that shows the full number.
- Two proofs of Florida residential address: a utility bill, bank statement, lease, school record or official mail with your name and address. A minor may use a parent's proofs plus the parent's ID.
- Under 18: the Parental Consent Form (HSMV 71142), notarized or signed in front of the examiner.
Names must match across all documents. If yours changed, bring the marriage certificate or court order that links the names. The complete list with edge cases is in our requirements and document checklist.
Step 4: Visit a driver license office or tax collector
Most counties issue licenses at the county tax collector's office; some areas also have FLHSMV service centers. Nearly all require an appointment, so book online first. Our where to take the test page lists offices by county. At the visit you will:
- Hand over your documents and course completion is verified in the state system.
- Pass a vision test (at least 20/40 in each eye, with or without glasses) and a hearing check.
- Take the knowledge exam if you have not already passed it online.
- Have your photo taken and pay the fee.
Step 5: Pay the fee
The FLHSMV fee for an original Class E license, which includes the learner's license, is $48. Tax collector offices may add a $6.25 service fee. If you fail the knowledge exam and come back, each retest is $10. For the full budget including course prices see how much a Florida permit really costs.
Step 6: Drive, within the permit rules
You usually leave with a temporary paper license and the card arrives by mail. From that day the learner's license rules apply:
- A licensed driver 21 or older must be in the front passenger seat every time you drive.
- Daylight only for the first three months, then until 10 p.m.
- You must hold the permit for 12 months or until you turn 18, whichever comes first, before the driving skills test.
- Teens must log 50 hours of supervised driving, 10 of them at night, certified by a parent.
The full list, including curfews once you get the Class E license at 16 and 17, is in Florida learner's permit rules.
Typical timeline
| Task | Time |
|---|---|
| Course (DETS 6 h or TLSAE 4 h) | 1 to 2 days |
| Studying and practice tests | 5 to 7 days |
| Office appointment wait | Same week to 3 weeks depending on county |
| The visit itself | 30 to 90 minutes |
Start the course and the practice tests in the same week and book the appointment as soon as the course is done. That way the appointment date, not your studying, is the only thing you wait on.
Quick answers
How old do you have to be to get a learner's permit in Florida?
You must be at least 15. Teens under 18 also need a parent or guardian to sign the consent form.
How long does it take to get a Florida learner's permit?
Most people finish the course in one or two days, pass the knowledge exam within a week of studying, and get the permit the same day they visit the office. From start to finish, one to two weeks is typical.
Can I do the whole permit process online?
Almost. The course is online, and applicants under 18 can take the knowledge exam online with a notarized Parent Proctoring Form. The final step, the vision test, photo and payment, still happens in person at a driver license or tax collector office.
Step 2 is the hard part. Practice it here.
A few full-length practice exams are the difference between passing on the first visit and paying for a retest.
Start Free Practice TestFacts in this article follow the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) as of September 2026. Rules and fees can change; confirm details with your local driver license office before you go.