What You Need to Get a Florida Driver's License in 2026

Getting your driver's license in Florida might seem overwhelming at first, but once you understand what documents you need and what tests to expect, the process becomes much more manageable. Whether you're a teenager eager to get behind the wheel, an adult seeking your first license, or someone moving to the Sunshine State from another country, the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) has specific requirements you'll need to meet.

The rules changed somewhat in recent years due to the REAL ID Act, which affects what documents you need to bring and how your license can be used. Starting May 7, 2025, you'll need a REAL ID-compliant license if you plan to board domestic flights or enter certain federal facilities. That gold star in the upper right corner of your Florida license shows you're already compliant.

In this guide, we'll walk through everything you need to know about Florida drivers license requirements, from the documents you'll need to gather to the tests you'll take. We've helped hundreds of students at PalmWay Driving School navigate this process, and we're sharing that experience to make your journey smoother.

Quick Overview: What You Need to Get a Florida Drivers License

Before diving into the details, here's a snapshot of the basic requirements across different categories:

All applicants need to prove their identity, Social Security Number (or exemption), and residential address. The documents you'll need depend on your citizenship status, which we'll cover in detail below.

Florida Drivers License Requirements by Category

Your citizenship status determines which documents you'll need to bring to the FLHSMV office. Getting this right the first time saves you from making multiple trips.

Requirements for U.S. Citizens

If you're a U.S. citizen, you'll need three types of documentation. For primary identification, bring your original birth certificate from the Bureau of Vital Statistics or state-issued copy. A U.S. passport or passport card works too. Hospital birth certificates don't count, and photocopies won't be accepted.

Your Social Security proof can be your original Social Security card with your current name on it. Alternatively, a W-2 form, paycheck stub, SSA-1099, or any 1099 form works as long as it's not handwritten and shows your complete name and SSN.

For residential address, you need two different documents showing your Florida address. These can include utility bills dated within the last 60 days, a lease agreement, mortgage statement, Florida vehicle registration, voter registration card, bank statements, or paycheck stubs. The documents must be originals or physical copies-digital versions shown on your phone won't work.

If your name has changed due to marriage or divorce, bring the original or certified marriage certificate or divorce decree. The name on all your documents must match, or you'll need to show the connection through these legal documents.

Requirements for Immigrants and Non-Immigrants

Permanent residents need their valid alien registration receipt card (green card, form I-551) or I-551 stamp in their passport. The name on your immigration documents must match the name that will appear on your Social Security Number records. If you've changed your name, update it with the Social Security Administration first, then wait 24-48 hours before applying for your Florida license.

Students and temporary workers on F-1, J-1, or H-1B visas fall under the non-immigrant category. You'll need your valid passport, Form I-94 showing your entry date, and additional documents based on your visa type. F-1 and M-1 students must bring their I-20 form, while J-1 and J-2 exchange visitors need their DS-2019.

Here's something important about the non-immigrant process: you won't walk out with a permanent license right away. Instead, you'll receive a 60-day temporary paper permit and a receipt. The FLHSMV verifies your immigration status electronically, and your actual license arrives by mail within 60 days. Your license will be valid for up to one year, matching your visa documentation expiration date.

If you're in the U.S. without a work visa, you're not required to get a refusal letter from the Social Security Administration. However, if you do have work authorization, you'll need to show SSN documentation like any other applicant.

Age-Based Requirements: Teens vs. Adults

The requirements split dramatically based on whether you're under or over 18. Florida takes teen driver safety seriously through its Graduated Driver Licensing program.

Florida Drivers License Requirements for Teens (Ages 15-17)

Teens follow a three-step process designed to build driving skills gradually. At 15, you can get your learner's license after completing the Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS) course, passing vision and hearing tests, and acing the Class E Knowledge Exam with at least 40 out of 50 questions correct.

A parent or legal guardian must be present at your FLHSMV appointment or provide a signed and notarized Parental Consent Form. Step-parents can't sign this form unless they've legally adopted you. With your learner's license, you can only drive during daylight hours for the first three months. After that, you can drive until 10 p.m., but you must always have a licensed driver 21 or older in the front passenger seat.

You'll need to hold that learner's permit for 12 months or until you turn 18, whichever comes first. During this time, log 50 hours of supervised driving experience, including 10 hours at night. Your parent or guardian will need to certify this on the Certification of Minor Driving Experience Form when you're ready for your license.

At 16, you can take the Driving Skills Test if you've met all requirements and have no moving violation convictions during your permit period. One violation can be forgiven if you complete a Basic Driver Improvement course. Once you pass and get your license at 16, you can drive between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. unless you're going to or from work or have that licensed 21+ driver with you. At 17, those hours extend to 5 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Many students starting their first driving lesson in Miami find these restrictions confusing at first, but they're there to keep young drivers safe during their highest-risk period.

Florida Drivers License Requirements for Adults (18+)

Once you hit 18, the process simplifies considerably. You don't need a learner's permit at all, though some people choose to get one for practice. The main requirement is completing the four-hour Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course, sometimes called the DATA course.

You're exempt from the TLSAE requirement if you already have a valid license from another U.S. state or territory, or if you completed a driver education program through the Florida Department of Education. Foreign license holders and first-time drivers without these exemptions must take the course.

After completing TLSAE, you'll take the same vision and hearing tests, Class E Knowledge Exam, and Driving Skills Test as everyone else. The knowledge exam covers traffic laws and road signs through 50 multiple-choice questions. You need 80% to pass. For more details on the testing process, check out our guide on where to take your driver's license test.

Adults 18 and older can find specific guidance in our article about getting your Florida driver's license as an adult.

Required Documents: What to Bring to the DMV

Showing up to your FLHSMV appointment without the right documents wastes your time and delays getting your license. Let's break down exactly what you need.

The Three Document Categories

Every applicant needs documents from three categories: primary identification, Social Security Number proof, and residential address proof. The primary ID establishes who you are and your legal presence in the United States. Your SSN proof connects your identity to federal records. The two residential address proofs show where you actually live in Florida.

The name on your Social Security Number must match the name that will appear on your driver license. If these don't match because you recently got married or divorced, update your records with the Social Security Administration first. Give it 24-48 hours for the electronic verification system to update before applying at FLHSMV.

Proof of Residential Address: The Tricky Part

Getting two valid address proofs trips up more applicants than anything else. Many documents work, but they must be dated within the last 60 days. Utility bills for water, gas, electricity, cell phone, or cable all count. Recent bank statements, credit card statements, paycheck stubs, and medical bills work too.

Longer-term documents like a lease agreement, mortgage statement, deed, or Florida vehicle registration don't have the 60-day requirement. A Florida voter registration card is also always acceptable.

Here's where many people get stuck: most teens and some adults don't have bills in their name. If that's you, someone you live with can complete a Certification of Address form. This person-your parent, step-parent, legal guardian, or anyone whose residence you share-provides two address proofs in their name. One must be a deed, mortgage, recent mortgage statement, or residential lease agreement. The second can be any other acceptable document like a utility bill or voter registration card.

The certifier has two options: come with you to the FLHSMV office and sign the form in front of staff, or sign it in front of a notary beforehand. Either way works, but the form won't be accepted without proper witnessing.

REAL ID Requirements: What You Need to Know

The REAL ID Act changed how driver licenses work nationwide. If you see a gold star in the upper right corner of your Florida license, you're already REAL ID compliant. If not, you'll want to become compliant before May 7, 2025.

After that date, the Transportation Security Administration won't accept non-compliant licenses as identification for domestic flights. You'll also need REAL ID-compliant identification to enter military bases and most federal facilities. A U.S. passport serves as an alternative to a REAL ID license.

The good news: once you become REAL ID compliant, you won't need to bring all those documents again for subsequent renewals unless your information changes. Name changes and address changes trigger the need for new documentation, but routine renewals every eight years won't.

Commercial Driver License and Commercial Learner's Permit applicants face stricter requirements every time, including mandatory proof of Florida residency showing you've lived here at least six consecutive months.

Testing Requirements for Florida Driver License

You'll face several tests on your path to a Florida license. Understanding what each one covers helps you prepare effectively.

Vision and Hearing Tests

These happen right at the FLHSMV service center before your other tests. The vision screening checks whether you can read road signs and see traffic clearly enough to drive safely. The hearing exam ensures you can hear horns, sirens, and other important sounds on the road.

If you need corrective lenses or contacts to pass the vision test, a restriction gets added to your license requiring you to wear them while driving. Same thing with hearing aids. These aren't failures-they're just safety measures.

Class E Knowledge Exam

This written test consists of 50 multiple-choice questions about Florida traffic laws and road signs. You need to answer at least 40 correctly to pass. The official Florida Driver License Handbook contains everything covered on the exam, and FLHSMV offers practice tests online.

Drivers with valid licenses from other U.S. states and territories, Canada, France, Germany, Taiwan, and South Korea are exempt from the knowledge exam when transferring their licenses. Everyone else takes it. If you fail, you can retake it, though you might need to wait a day or pay a retest fee.

Driving Skills Test

The road test is where you demonstrate you can actually drive safely. An FLHSMV examiner rides with you and evaluates your ability to control the vehicle and follow traffic laws. You'll be tested on backing up, signaling, turning, staying in your lane, following at a safe distance, obeying traffic signals and stop signs, making a three-point turn, and parking.

The vehicle you use must have valid registration and proof of insurance. The examiner performs a quick safety inspection before the test begins. If your car fails this check, you won't be able to test that day.

Schedule your driving test through the FLHSMV Online Appointment Service and Information System (OASIS). Walk-in testing isn't available at most locations anymore. Our students preparing for their road test often take advantage of our professional driving lessons to build confidence before test day.

Requirements for New Florida Residents

Moving to Florida from another state or country? You're considered a Florida resident when you've started employment, enrolled children in public schools, registered to vote, filed for homestead tax exemption, or lived here for more than six consecutive months. Any one of these actions establishes residency.

Once you become a Florida resident, you have 30 days to obtain a valid Florida driver license if you plan to drive on Florida roads. You also must register your vehicle and get Florida insurance within 10 days of establishing residency.

The testing requirements depend on your current license status. If you're transferring a valid license from another U.S. state, you'll skip the knowledge and driving tests but still need to pass vision and hearing screenings. Foreign license holders might be eligible for testing exemptions depending on their country, but most will need to complete the full testing process.

Important note: As of July 1, 2023, certain out-of-state license classes are no longer accepted in Florida per Section 322.033, Florida Statutes. Check the FLHSMV published list to see if your license type is affected. For complete details on transferring to Florida, visit our guide on how to get your driver's license in Miami.

Fees and Costs for Florida Driver License

Budget for these expenses when planning your license application. The initial Class E driver license costs $48, which includes the learner's permit fee if you get one. A standalone ID card runs $25. Commercial Driver License applicants pay $75, with endorsements costing an additional $7 each.

Most Tax Collector offices charge a $6.25 service fee on top of these base fees. Some counties handle driver license services through their Tax Collector rather than dedicated FLHSMV offices, and both charge this fee.

Don't forget about course fees. The DETS course for teens typically costs between $30 and $50, while the TLSAE course for adults runs about the same. Road test appointments don't carry separate fees beyond the initial license cost, but if you fail and need to retest, some locations charge additional fees.

Step-by-Step Process: How to Get Your Florida Driver License

Let's walk through the complete process from start to finish:

First, figure out which category you fall into and what specific requirements apply to you. Gather all necessary documents before making an appointment. Double-check expiration dates on your proofs of address-those 60-day limits catch people off guard.

Complete your required education course. Teens take the DETS course, while adults 18 and older complete TLSAE unless they're exempt. Keep your completion certificate; you'll need to show it.

Make an appointment at your nearest FLHSMV service center through OASIS, or check if your location accepts walk-ins. Appointment slots fill up fast in Miami-Dade County, so book a week or two ahead if possible.

Arrive at your appointment with all original documents. The staff will verify your paperwork first. If anything's missing or incorrect, you'll need to reschedule. Bring payment for the fees-most offices accept cash, check, money order, or credit/debit cards, but confirm your location's policy.

You'll take the vision and hearing tests, then the knowledge exam if required. If you pass, teens get their learner's permit at this point. Adults 18+ and teens ready for their full license schedule the driving test. Some locations offer same-day road tests if examiners are available, but don't count on it.

For the road test, show up in a properly insured vehicle with valid registration. After passing, you'll pay your license fee if you haven't already, and the FLHSMV issues your license. Non-immigrants receive a temporary permit while awaiting verification, but everyone else walks out with their license the same day.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

In our years helping Miami drivers get licensed, we've seen these mistakes repeatedly. Learn from others' errors and save yourself the hassle.

Bringing photocopies instead of original documents is the number one issue. FLHSMV requires originals or certified copies for everything except address proofs, where printouts are acceptable. That hospital birth certificate from when you were born? Won't work. You need the certified copy from the Bureau of Vital Statistics.

Mismatched names across documents causes problems. If you got married and took your spouse's name, but your Social Security card still shows your maiden name, FLHSMV's system won't verify you. Update SSA first, wait two days, then apply.

Address proofs older than 60 days get rejected constantly. That utility bill from three months ago won't help you. Get recent statements before your appointment.

Many people forget about name change documents entirely. If the name on your birth certificate differs from your current legal name, you must bring every document showing the progression from one to the other. One marriage? Bring that certificate. Divorced and remarried? Bring both the divorce decree and the second marriage certificate.

Showing up without completing the TLSAE or DETS course wastes your appointment. You can't take the knowledge exam without that completion certificate.

Finally, bringing an uninsured vehicle or one with expired registration for your road test means automatic cancellation. The examiner won't even get in the car.

Getting Started on Your License Journey

The Florida drivers license requirements might seem like a lot to navigate, but breaking down the process into steps makes it manageable. Start by gathering your documents now, especially if you need to order a certified birth certificate or update your name with the Social Security Administration.

Take your required education course early so you're ready when you schedule your FLHSMV appointment. The official Florida Driver License Handbook is free online and contains everything you need to pass the knowledge exam. Many students find the practice tests helpful for identifying weak areas.

Whether you're a teen counting down the days until you can drive solo or an adult ready to gain independence through your first license, preparation is key. Make sure your documents are in order, study the handbook, and practice your driving skills thoroughly. The road test examiner wants to see safe, confident driving-not perfection.

At PalmWay Driving School, we've guided countless Miami residents through this process. If you need help with any part of your licensing journey, from education courses to behind-the-wheel practice, we're here to support you. Good luck, and we'll see you on the road!