Phase 1: Instruction Permit

Qualifications:

• Must be at least 15 years of age
• Must have completed 30 hours of classroom instruction (blue card) and be enrolled in behind-the-wheel instruction
• Must pass written test and vision test, complete application, and pay required fee
• Must bring to written test 1 primary and 1 secondary form of identification and blue card
• Parent or guardian signature required

Conditions when driving with an instruction permit:

• Permit holder may drive under the supervision of a certified driving instructor, parent or guardian, or other licensed driver age 21 or older.  The supervisor must occupy the seat beside the permit holder.
• Every occupant under the age of 18 must have a seat belt or child passenger restraint system properly fastened.
• May not operate vehicle while using a cell phone even when stopped in traffic--except to call 911.  Illegal for all drivers to compose, read, or send text messages or emails or access the internet on a wireless device.

Phase 2: Provisional License

Qualifications:

• Must be at least 16 years of age
• Must have completed driver education behind-the-wheel training (white card)
• Must have held an instruction permit for at least 6 months with no convictions for moving violations or convictions for alcohol/controlled substance violations
• Must pass road test, complete application, and pay required fee
• Must submit a driving log certifying that the applicant has driven under the supervision of a licensed driver at least 21 years of age for 40 hours (with supplemental parent curriculum course certificate of completion) or 50 hours, 15 of which were at night

Conditions when driving with a provisional license:

• Every occupant under the age of 18 must have a seat belt or child passenger restraint system properly fastened.
• For the first 6 months of licensure driving is prohibited from midnight to 5am unless accompanied by a licensed driver age 25 or older, driving for employment, driving between home and place of employment, or driving to/from home and a school event for which the school has not provided transportation.
• For the first 6 months of licensure only 1 passenger under age 20 is permitted, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.  Passengers under age 20 who are members of the driver’s immediate family are permitted.
• For the second 6 months of licensure no more than 3 passengers under the age of 20 are permitted, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.  Passengers under age 20 who are members of the driver’s immediate family are permitted.
• May not operate vehicle while using a cell phone even when stopped in traffic--except to call 911.  Illegal for all drivers to compose, read, or send text messages or emails or access the internet on a wireless device.

Phase 3: Full License

Qualifications:

• Must be at least 18 years of age OR must have held a provisional license for at least 12 consecutive months with no convictions for impaired driving or crash related moving violations, and not have more than one conviction for a non-crash related moving violation
• If under 18, the person who approves the application must also certify that the applicant has driven under the supervision of a licensed driver at least 21 years of age for not less than 10 additional hours on the provisional license
• Must complete the application and pay the required fee

Farm Work License

• A 15 year old may apply for a restricted farm work license at any time after receiving an instruction permit and completing behind-the-wheel instruction.
• Applicant must present a farm work affidavit and a property tax statement or rental agreement with the property tax statement for the rental property, along with a white card, supervised driving log, and an instruction permit at the time of the road test.
• The farm work license allows a young person to help a parent or guardian with farm work.  The license holder may drive alone to perform farm work during daylight hours, within 20 miles of the farmhouse, or in cities with populations of less than 100,000.
• The farm work restriction can be removed after the driver holds an instruction permit for six months and reaches 16 years of age.  The farm work restriction will remain in effect until the driver applies to have it removed.