What You Need to Get a Learner's Permit in Florida (Ages 15-17)

To get a Florida learner's permit at age 15, you need five things: be 15 to 17 years old, complete a 6-hour DETS course, pass vision and hearing tests, pass the Class E Knowledge Exam with 40 out of 50 questions correct, and bring required documents including your birth certificate, Social Security card, and two address proofs. You also need parental consent if you're under 18. The entire process takes about one to two weeks if you complete the DETS course online. Once you have your learner's permit, you can practice driving with a licensed adult 21 or older for 12 months before getting your full license at 16.

Getting your learner's permit marks your first real step toward driving independence. It's not complicated, but Florida law requires you to complete specific steps in order.

This guide covers exactly what you need, which tests you'll take, and how to avoid the mistakes that send Miami teens home empty-handed. We've helped hundreds of students through this process, and we're sharing what actually works.

Five Requirements for a Florida Learner's Permit

Florida law requires teens to complete five specific steps before getting a learner's permit.

Age Requirement: When Can You Get Your Permit?

You must be between 15 and 17 years old to get a Florida learner's permit. If you're 18 or older, you skip the permit entirely and apply directly for a Class E driver's license.

Florida uses a Graduated Driver Licensing program that builds skills progressively. The state requires teens to hold their learner's permit for 12 months before getting a full license, giving you time to practice under supervision before driving solo.

Florida teens must hold a learner's permit for 12 months or until they turn 18, whichever comes first.

DETS Course: Your First Step

DETS stands for Driver Education Traffic Safety. It's required for all Florida teens ages 15 to 17 applying for a learner's permit.

The course runs six hours and covers defensive driving, Florida traffic laws, highway safety rules, and the dangers of drugs and alcohol behind the wheel. Most students complete it online over one to three days at their own pace.

What you'll learn in the DETS course:

• Defensive driving techniques
• Florida traffic laws and regulations
• Highway safety rules
• Dangers of drugs and alcohol while driving
• Road sign recognition and meaning

You can take the DETS 6-hour course online, and your completion certificate gets sent directly to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles system automatically. You won't need to bring a paper certificate to your appointment.

Important: DETS replaced TLSAE for teens in Florida. Adults 18 and older take the TLSAE course instead when applying for their first license.

Vision and Hearing Tests: What to Expect

Vision and hearing tests happen at the FLHSMV service center during your appointment. The vision test checks whether you can read road signs and see traffic clearly, while the hearing exam ensures you can hear horns and sirens.

You don't need perfect vision or hearing to pass. Glasses, contact lenses, and hearing aids are completely acceptable.

Quick facts about these tests:

• Tests conducted at FLHSMV service centers only
• Corrective lenses (glasses or contacts) are allowed
• Hearing aids are permitted
• Restrictions get noted on your permit if you need assistance
• You can retake a failed test with different corrective equipment

You don't need perfect vision or hearing. If you wear glasses or contacts to pass, you'll just get a restriction requiring you to wear them while driving.

Class E Knowledge Exam: How to Pass

The knowledge exam contains 50 multiple-choice questions about Florida traffic laws, road signs, and safe driving practices. You need 40 correct answers to pass, which equals 80 percent.

The exam covers traffic regulations, roadway signs, right-of-way rules, speed limits, and general safety habits. Questions come directly from the Official Florida Driver License Handbook.

You have three options for where to take the knowledge exam:

If you take the exam online, your parent or legal guardian must supervise and sign the Parent Proctoring Form. This form gets signed either at the FLHSMV office or before a notary public.

Study Tip: Review the Official Florida Driver License Handbook before testing. Take practice exams online to identify which topics need more review.

Required Documents: Your Checklist

Bring these five documents to your FLHSMV appointment or you won't get your permit that day.

1. Proof of Identity

You must prove who you are with an official certified document. Hospital birth certificates don't count, and photocopies get rejected.

Acceptable documents for identity:

• U.S. passport (valid or expired works)
• Original birth certificate from Bureau of Vital Statistics
• State-issued certified copy of birth certificate

Warning: Hospital birth certificates and photocopies are not accepted by FLHSMV.

2. Proof of Social Security Number

You need to show your complete Social Security Number on an official document.

Acceptable SSN documents:

• Original Social Security card
• W-2 tax form with your SSN
• Paycheck stub showing complete SSN
• SSA-1099 form
• Any 1099 form (must not be handwritten)

3. Two Proofs of Residential Address

You need two different documents showing your current Florida address. Most utility bills and financial statements must be dated within the last 60 days.

Documents you can use:

• Utility bills (water, gas, electric, cell phone - within 60 days)
• School transcript from current year
• Bank statement (within 60 days)
• Lease agreement or mortgage statement
• Florida vehicle registration
• Medical bill (within 60 days)

Most teens don't have bills in their name. If that's your situation, use the Certification of Address form instead.

How the Certification of Address works:

• Your parent or guardian provides their address documents
• One document must be a deed, mortgage, or lease agreement
• The second can be a utility bill or other approved document
• They sign the form at the FLHSMV office or before a notary public

4. Parental Consent Form

Anyone under 18 needs parental consent before Florida issues a learner's permit. Your parent or legal guardian signs the form either at the FLHSMV office in front of an examiner or beforehand in front of a notary.

Step-parents cannot sign the Parental Consent Form unless they've legally adopted you through court proceedings.

Both biological and adoptive parents can sign the Parental Consent Form. Step-parents cannot sign unless they've legally adopted you.

5. Parent Proctoring Form (If Tested Online)

This form is only required if you took the Class E Knowledge Exam online at home. Your parent or guardian confirms they supervised you during the test.

The form must be signed in the presence of a driver license examiner at FLHSMV or before a notary public. Bring the signed form to your permit appointment.

Step-by-Step: Getting Your Learner's Permit

Follow these seven steps to get your Florida learner's permit in one to two weeks.

Step 1: Complete the DETS Course

Take the six-hour Driver Education Traffic Safety course online. Most students finish it in one to three days. Your completion certificate gets transmitted directly to the FLHSMV system within 24 hours.

Step 2: Gather Required Documents

Collect all five documents: proof of identity, Social Security Number, two address proofs, and parental consent form. Check the dates on utility bills and bank statements-they must be within 60 days.

Step 3: Study for Knowledge Exam

Review the Florida Driver License Handbook cover to cover. Take practice tests online to identify weak areas. Focus extra time on traffic signs and right-of-way rules.

Step 4: Make FLHSMV Appointment

Schedule your appointment through the online system at your nearest service center. Walk-ins are available at some Miami locations, but expect wait times of two to three hours. To find the best testing location near you, check out our guide on where to take your driver's license test.

Step 5: Bring Parent and Documents

Your parent or legal guardian must accompany you if they're signing the consent form at the office. Bring all original documents-no photocopies or digital versions on your phone.

Step 6: Take Vision, Hearing, and Knowledge Tests

You'll complete all three tests at your appointment. The vision and hearing tests take about 10 minutes combined. The knowledge exam takes 30 to 45 minutes depending on how quickly you work.

Step 7: Get Your Permit

Pay the $48 permit fee plus a $6.25 service fee at most Tax Collector offices. You'll walk out with your learner's permit the same day.

Driving with Your Learner's Permit: The Rules

Your learner's permit comes with strict driving restrictions designed to keep you safe while learning.

You must always have a licensed driver 21 years or older sitting in the closest front passenger seat. This applies whether you're driving during the day or at night-no exceptions exist for short trips or emergencies.

During your permit period, you need to log 50 hours of supervised driving experience. Ten of those hours must happen at night. Keep a practice log sheet to track your hours, as your parent will need to certify them when you apply for your license at 16.

You need 50 hours of supervised driving experience before getting your license at 16-and 10 of those hours must be at night.

Many new drivers feel nervous during their first driving lesson. Breaking practice into small, achievable goals helps build confidence faster than trying to master everything at once.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these five mistakes that delay permits for Miami teens every week.

1. Bringing photocopies instead of originals

FLHSMV only accepts original documents or state-issued certified copies. Photocopies of your birth certificate won't work, even if they're notarized.

2. Forgetting parent must come to appointment

If you're signing the parental consent form at the FLHSMV office rather than before a notary, your parent must be physically present. They can't give you a signed form to bring alone.

3. Using old address proofs

Utility bills, bank statements, and most other address proofs must be dated within the last 60 days. That electric bill from three months ago gets rejected.

4. Not completing DETS course first

You cannot take the Class E Knowledge Exam at FLHSMV without your DETS completion certificate already in the system. Finish the course at least two days before your appointment to ensure it processes.

5. Mismatched names on documents

The name on your birth certificate must match the name on your Social Security card and all other documents. If they don't match due to adoption or name changes, bring legal documents proving the connection.

After Your Permit: Next Steps to Your License

You must hold your learner's permit for at least 12 months before applying for a full driver's license. During this time, practice driving as much as possible in different conditions and times of day.

At 16, you become eligible for your Class E driver's license if you meet all requirements. The process for getting your full license involves additional steps beyond what you did for your permit.

Requirements to get your license at 16:

• Held learner's permit for 12 months (or turned 18)
• Completed 50 hours of supervised driving experience
• No moving violations during your permit period
• Parent certification of your driving experience on official form
• Pass the Florida Driving Skills Test (road test)

Professional driving instruction helps you build the skills and confidence needed to pass your road test the first time. Book driving lessons at PalmWay to work with experienced instructors who know exactly what examiners look for.

For complete details on the full licensing process, visit our guide on how to get your driver's license in Miami.

Ready to Get Started?

Getting your learner's permit requires five things: the right age, DETS course completion, passing three tests, bringing proper documents, and parental consent. The process takes one to two weeks if you prepare everything in advance.

Start by completing your DETS course, then gather your documents while studying for the knowledge exam. Schedule your FLHSMV appointment, and bring your parent along to sign the consent form.

At PalmWay Driving School, we help Miami teens navigate every step of getting licensed. Complete your DETS course online today and take the first step toward your license.