How to Get Your Driver's License in Florida Over 18

Getting your driver's license in Florida after turning 18 is much simpler than you might think. Unlike teenagers who must complete a graduated licensing program, adults can skip most of those extra steps and get straight to the essentials.

The process involves five main requirements: completing a drug and alcohol course, passing vision and hearing tests, passing a knowledge exam, passing a driving test, and providing the right documentation. Most people can finish everything within a couple of weeks if they prepare ahead of time.

This guide walks you through each step so you'll know exactly what to expect when you apply for your Class E driver license in Florida.

Understanding the Class E driver license

What you're actually applying for

When people talk about getting a "driver's license" in Florida, they're usually referring to a Class E license. This is the standard license that lets you drive regular passenger vehicles like cars, SUVs, vans, and pickup trucks. You can also drive recreational vehicles that are 26,000 pounds or less.

The Class E license is different from commercial licenses (for semi-trucks and buses) or motorcycle endorsements. It's what most people need for everyday driving.

Why being 18 makes things easier

If you're 18 or older, you get to bypass Florida's Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program. Here's what you don't have to do:

• Hold a learner's permit for 12 months
• Log 50 hours of supervised driving practice
• Get parental consent forms signed
• Follow nighttime driving restrictions
• Wait through different license stages

You can go directly from no license to a full privilege license without any restrictions. That's a huge advantage compared to the process for 16 and 17-year-olds.

Step 1: Complete the drug and alcohol course

What this course covers

Before you can get your Florida driver's license, you need to complete a four-hour course about the dangers of driving under the influence. Florida calls it the Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course, but you might also see it called:

• The DATA course (Drugs, Alcohol, Traffic, Awareness)
• The drug and alcohol course
• The four-hour course
• The DATE course

They're all the same thing with different names. The course teaches you about how alcohol and drugs affect your ability to drive safely, what the legal consequences are if you're caught driving impaired, and general traffic safety information specific to Florida.

Taking the course online

You can complete this course entirely online through state-approved providers. The whole thing takes about four hours, though most providers let you stop and come back to finish later. You can use your computer, tablet, or smartphone.

The cost typically runs between $15 and $30 depending on which provider you choose. Make sure you pick an approved provider from the FLHSMV (Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles) website. Some sketchy websites offer courses that won't count toward your license requirements.

After you finish, you'll get a certificate of completion. You'll need to bring this certificate when you apply for your license, so don't lose it.

Who can skip this requirement

You don't need to take the course if you:

• Already have a learner's permit in Florida (you took it for the permit)
• Hold or previously held a valid driver's license from another state
• Have a license from another country

The exemption makes sense because the course is designed for first-time drivers who've never been licensed anywhere before. If you already went through the licensing process somewhere else, Florida recognizes that you've had similar training.

Step 2: Pass vision and hearing tests

What happens during these tests

The vision and hearing tests are straightforward and quick. You'll take them at a driver license office when you go to apply for your license.

For the vision test, you'll read letters or numbers from a chart, similar to an eye exam at the doctor's office. The examiner wants to make sure you can see well enough to read road signs and spot hazards while driving.

The hearing test checks whether you can hear warning sounds like horns, sirens, and other traffic noises. Some offices use headphones with tones at different volumes, while others might just check your ability to hear normal conversation.

Both tests take just a few minutes total.

If you wear glasses or hearing aids

You can absolutely wear your glasses, contact lenses, or hearing aids during the tests. In fact, you should wear them if you normally use them. The point is to test your vision and hearing as they actually are when you drive.

Here's the catch: if you need corrective lenses or a hearing aid to pass the tests, the examiner will add a restriction to your license. This restriction requires you to wear your glasses, contacts, or hearing aid whenever you're driving. If a police officer stops you and you're not wearing them, you could get a ticket for violating your license restrictions.

Where to take the tests

You'll take these tests at an FLHSMV office or Tax Collector's office in your county. In Miami-Dade County, most driver license services have transitioned to Tax Collector offices, which often have better hours and more appointment availability.

Many locations now offer Saturday hours from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM, which is helpful if you work during the week. You can also walk in without an appointment at most locations, though scheduling ahead usually means less waiting time.

Step 3: Pass the Class E knowledge exam

What's on the test

The Class E Knowledge Exam has 50 multiple-choice questions covering Florida traffic laws, road signs, traffic signals, and safe driving practices. You need to answer at least 40 questions correctly (80%) to pass.

The questions aren't trying to trick you, but they do require you to know Florida-specific rules. Some states have different laws about right-of-way, speed limits in school zones, or how to handle certain situations. You can't just rely on common sense or what you learned in another state.

Here's what the exam covers:

How to prepare for the exam

The Official Florida Driver License Handbook contains everything you need to pass the test. You can download it free from the FLHSMV website or pick up a printed copy at any driver license office.

Don't just skim through it. Actually read the handbook and pay attention to the specific numbers and details. Know the exact speed limits for different types of roads. Memorize what different road sign shapes and colors mean. Understand the proper distances for various situations.

Many websites offer practice tests that use questions similar to the real exam. These can help you identify areas where you need more study. Just remember that practice tests aren't perfect replicas of the actual exam.

Plan to spend a few hours studying over several days. Cramming the night before usually doesn't work well because there's a lot of specific information to remember.

Taking the exam

You have two options for taking the knowledge exam: online or in person at a driver license office.

Florida allows you to take the exam online for up to three of your five total attempts. This means you can take it from home in a comfortable environment. However, you'll need someone (like a parent or friend) to supervise you and verify that you didn't cheat. That person signs a form confirming they watched you take the entire test.

If you prefer to take it in person, or if you've already used your three online attempts, you'll take it at an FLHSMV or Tax Collector office. The in-person test is usually on a computer, though some locations might still use paper tests.

You get five total attempts to pass the exam. If you fail the first time, you can retake it. Most people who study the handbook adequately pass on their first or second try.

Exemptions from the knowledge exam

You don't have to take the knowledge exam if you already have a valid driver's license from:

• Any U.S. state or territory
• The U.S. military
• Canada
• France
• Germany
• Taiwan (Republic of China)
• South Korea

There's one exception: if you hold a valid Canadian license but want to keep it instead of surrendering it, Florida requires you to take the knowledge exam. This is the only scenario where having one of these licenses doesn't exempt you from testing.

When you apply for your Florida license, you'll need to surrender any licenses you have from other U.S. states or territories. Florida won't let you hold driver's licenses from multiple states at the same time.

Step 4: Pass the Class E driving skills test

What the driving test involves

The Class E Driving Skills Test is your chance to demonstrate that you can actually drive safely. A licensed driving examiner sits in the passenger seat and evaluates how well you handle various situations and maneuvers.

The test usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes and covers basic driving skills you'll use every day. You'll drive on regular streets (not highways) and perform specific maneuvers in a parking lot or designated testing area.

Skills the examiner will evaluate

The examiner watches everything you do and marks whether you perform each skill correctly. Here's what they're looking for:

Vehicle control basics:

• Proper driving posture and hand position
• Smooth acceleration and braking
• Appropriate speed for conditions
• Staying centered in your lane

Turning and signaling:

• Using turn signals at the right time (100 feet before turning)
• Checking mirrors and blind spots
• Making turns at appropriate speeds
• Ending up in the correct lane after turning

Intersections and right-of-way:

• Coming to complete stops at stop signs
• Obeying traffic signals
• Yielding to pedestrians and other vehicles when required
• Proceeding through intersections safely

Parking maneuvers:

• Three-point turns in tight spaces
• Straight-in parking between marked lines
• Parking on a hill with wheels turned the correct direction
• Backing up in a straight line

Safety awareness:

• Maintaining safe following distance (at least 3-4 seconds behind other cars)
• Checking mirrors regularly
• Scanning for hazards
• Stopping quickly when necessary without losing control

The examiner isn't expecting perfection, but you can't make any serious mistakes. Running a stop sign, hitting a curb, or nearly causing an accident will result in an automatic failure.

Scheduling your driving test

You should schedule your test in advance using the FLHSMV Online Appointment Service and Information System (OASIS). Walk-ins are sometimes possible, but appointment times fill up quickly, especially at popular locations.

When you book your appointment online, you'll choose a date, time, and location that works for you. Try to pick a time when you're alert and relaxed. Early morning appointments often have less traffic, which can make the test easier.

Vehicle requirements for the test

You need to bring your own vehicle for the driving test. Rental cars are allowed as long as you're listed as an authorized driver on the rental agreement.

Your vehicle must meet these requirements:

• Valid license plate and current registration
• Proof of insurance
• Working brake lights, turn signals, and headlights
• Horn that works
• Functioning emergency brake
• No check engine lights or obvious mechanical problems

Before you can take the driving test, the examiner will do a safety inspection of the vehicle. They'll check that everything works properly and that the car is safe to use for testing. If your vehicle fails the inspection, you won't be able to take the test that day, and you'll have to reschedule.

Who can skip the driving test

The exemptions for the driving test are the same as for the knowledge exam. You don't have to take the driving test if you have a valid license from any U.S. state, U.S. territory, U.S. military, Canada, France, Germany, Taiwan, or South Korea.

The Canadian exception applies here too: if you want to keep your Canadian license instead of surrendering it, you must take the driving test.

Step 5: Provide required documentation

The three categories you need

Florida requires you to prove three things when you apply for your driver's license: who you are, where you live, and that you have a Social Security number. You need original documents or certified copies—no photocopies or pictures of documents.

Getting these documents together before you go to the driver license office will save you a wasted trip. Many people show up without the right paperwork and have to come back another day.

Proving your identity

For proof of identity, you can use:

• Your original birth certificate from the Bureau of Vital Statistics or a state-issued certified copy
• A valid U.S. Passport (unexpired)
• A Certificate of Naturalization
• A valid foreign passport with approved immigration status documents

Hospital birth certificates don't count, even if they look official. Florida only accepts birth certificates issued by a state agency. If you were born in another state, you'll need to contact that state's vital records office to get a certified copy.

Photocopies of your birth certificate won't work either, no matter how good the copy looks. The office needs to see the original document with security features like a raised seal.

Proving where you live

You need two documents that show your current Florida residential address. These documents must be originals, not photocopies, and they need to have your name on them.

Acceptable documents include:

• Utility bills (electric, water, gas, cable)
• Bank statements
• Credit card statements
• Current school transcripts showing your address
• Mortgage statements or property tax bills
• Lease agreements
• W-2 forms

At least one of your address proofs should be dated within the last 60 days. If you just moved to Florida, gather these documents as soon as you can so you have them ready when you apply for your license.

The certification of address option

What if you're staying with someone and don't have bills in your name? Florida has a solution called the Certification of Address Form.

Here's how it works: someone who does have documents proving their address (like a parent, roommate, or friend you're staying with) fills out this form to verify that you live at their address. That person must provide two proofs of their own residential address, and one of those proofs must be a deed, mortgage agreement, lease agreement, or similar document that establishes they live there.

The catch is that the person certifying your address must either:

• Come with you to the driver license office and sign the form in front of an examiner, or
• Sign the form in front of a notary public before you go

This requirement prevents fraud. Florida wants to make sure the person certifying your address is real and actually willing to vouch for you.

Proving your Social Security number

You need to show your Social Security number using one of these documents:

• Your original Social Security card
• A W-2 form with your full SSN showing
• An SSA-1099 form (Social Security benefits statement)
• A non-SSA-1099 form that includes your SSN

Your Social Security number is tied to your driver's license in Florida's system. This helps prevent identity theft and makes sure only one license is issued per person.

If you've lost your Social Security card, you can order a replacement from the Social Security Administration. You can do this online at ssa.gov if you have a my Social Security account, or you can visit a Social Security office in person.

Special considerations for different situations

The requirements vary slightly depending on your residency status:

U.S. citizens born in the United States need the documents listed above.

Naturalized citizens should bring their Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship along with the other required documents.

Immigrants with permanent resident status need their Permanent Resident Card (green card) plus the other documents.

Non-immigrants on temporary visas need their foreign passport, I-94 arrival/departure record, and visa documents. Your Florida license will only be valid for as long as your authorized stay in the United States.

Canadian residents have specific requirements that differ slightly from other international applicants.

The FLHSMV website has a detailed "What to Bring" page that breaks down exact requirements for each category. If you're not a U.S. citizen born in America, check that page carefully before your appointment.

Completing your application

Where to go for your license

The location you'll visit depends on which county you live in. Most Florida counties still use FLHSMV offices for driver license services. However, some counties have transferred these services to Tax Collector offices.

Miami-Dade County has made the biggest change. Eight locations in Miami-Dade are now managed by the Tax Collector's office instead of FLHSMV:

• North Dade Justice Tax Collector's Office
• Downtown Miami Tax Collector's Office
• Midway Crossings
• Miami - Central Tax Collector's Office
• Florida City Tax Collector's Office
• Kendall Tax Collector's Office
• Richard Gerstein Justice Center
• Coral Gables

These Tax Collector offices offer some advantages. They're open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and most locations have Saturday hours from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. You can schedule an appointment online or walk in during business hours.

Benefits of using Tax Collector offices

The Tax Collector offices provide more than just driver license services. You can also handle vehicle registration, title transfers, license plates, specialty parking permits, and property or business tax payments all in one place.

The appointment system at Tax Collector offices often has better availability than state-managed FLHSMV locations. The extended hours, including Saturdays, make it easier to fit your appointment into your schedule without taking time off work.

If you live outside Miami-Dade County and your county still uses FLHSMV offices, you'll schedule your appointment through the OASIS system on the FLHSMV website.

What happens on your appointment day

Here's what to expect when you go to apply for your license:

When you arrive: Check in at the front desk with your appointment confirmation or let them know you're a walk-in. You'll probably wait a bit, so bring something to read or do.

Document review: A clerk will examine all your documents to make sure you have everything required. They'll verify that your identity documents match your Social Security documents and that your address proofs are current.

Vision and hearing tests: If you haven't already completed these, you'll take them now. The whole process takes about five minutes.

Knowledge exam: If you're taking the exam in person, you'll do it at a computer station or with a paper test. The clerk will give you instructions on how to navigate the test.

Payment: You'll pay the license fees, which include the testing fees and the cost of your license itself. Bring a debit card, credit card, or cash. Some offices don't accept personal checks.

Driving test: If you're taking the driving test that same day (and brought a vehicle), an examiner will take you out for the road test. If you're scheduling the driving test for another day, you can book it before you leave.

Photo and temporary license: After you pass all the requirements, you'll take a photo for your license. You'll receive a temporary paper license that's valid for 30 days while they make your permanent license card.

Permanent license arrival: Your actual license card will arrive in the mail within about two to three weeks. Until then, keep your temporary license with you when you drive.

Cost breakdown

The total cost for getting your Florida driver's license includes:

Fees can change, so check the current FLHSMV fee schedule for the most up-to-date information. Some offices might charge slightly different amounts for certain services.

After receiving your license

What your new license includes

Your Florida driver's license is valid for eight years from the date it's issued. The expiration date is printed right on the card, so you'll know exactly when you need to renew.

Florida now issues REAL ID-compliant licenses by default. A REAL ID-compliant license has a star in the upper right corner of the card. This type of license meets federal requirements for boarding domestic flights and entering federal facilities or military bases.

If you don't provide all the documents needed for REAL ID compliance, you'll get a regular license that says "NOT FOR FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION" on it. You can still use it to drive legally in Florida, but you won't be able to use it to board a plane or enter restricted federal locations.

Renewing your license down the road

You can renew your Florida license up to 18 months before it expires. Florida sends renewal notices by mail about three months before your expiration date, but don't rely on getting the notice. Keep track of your expiration date yourself.

Many people can renew their license online through the FLHSMV website without visiting an office. The online system will tell you if you're eligible for online renewal or if you need to renew in person. You typically must renew in person every other renewal cycle to take a new photo and update your information.

Keeping your information current

Florida law requires you to update your license within 30 days if you change your address. You can update your address online through the MyDMV Portal on the FLHSMV website. The address change costs a small fee, and you'll receive a sticker or new license card with your updated address.

Name changes are more complicated. You must first change your name with the Social Security Administration before Florida will update your driver's license. After you complete the name change with the SSA, wait 24 to 48 hours, then visit a driver license office in person with your new Social Security card and legal documentation of your name change (like a marriage certificate or court order).

You also need to update your vehicle registration and title if you change your name or address. These are separate updates from your driver's license, though you can often do them at the same time.

Protecting your license from suspension

Your license can be suspended for various reasons, and driving with a suspended license is a serious offense in Florida. Common reasons for license suspension include:

• Accumulating too many points from traffic tickets
• Getting a DUI or DWI
• Failing to pay traffic tickets
• Not maintaining car insurance
• Being convicted of certain drug offenses
• Falling behind on child support payments
• Failing to complete court-ordered driver improvement courses

If your license does get suspended, you'll need to complete specific requirements to get it reinstated. This might include paying reinstatement fees, completing a driver improvement course, providing proof of insurance, or resolving the issue that caused the suspension.

The best approach is to avoid suspension in the first place. Follow traffic laws, pay tickets promptly, maintain continuous insurance coverage, and handle any legal issues quickly.

Getting started with your Florida license

The process of getting your Florida driver's license as an adult is straightforward when you know what to expect. Complete the DATA course online, study the driver's handbook, gather your documents, and schedule your tests. Most people find the whole experience much easier than they anticipated.

Start by taking care of the DATA course this week. That gets one requirement out of the way and gives you your completion certificate. While you're waiting for that to arrive, study the Official Florida Driver License Handbook and gather your identity documents, address proofs, and Social Security documentation.

Check the FLHSMV website or your local Tax Collector's office website to see current appointment availability. Scheduling your tests a week or two in advance usually gives you plenty of time to prepare without a long wait.

Having your Florida license opens up independence and opportunities throughout the state. Take the process one step at a time, and you'll have your license in hand before you know it.