What are the requirements to get a drivers license where you live?
I'll answer for where I grew up since I don't know what it's like here. (I just swapped my license for a local one).
I wrote a written exam to get a learners permit. Then I needed to take a driving test to get a restricted permit that didn't allow me to drive with certain stipulations (no highway driving alone, 0 blood alcohol) and then finally a second driving test where the examiner took me on the highway.
cantaloupe / 6692 posts
At 16 you get your learners permit by taking a super easy written test. After that you have 6 months before you can get your drivers license. During that time you must have a licensed driver in the car over age 21 and no more than 2 passengers unless they are family members. You're allowed to drive anywhere/anytime. I think maybe they restricted it to not after midnight...but that wasn't in effect when I got my license.
Then you have to take a 4 hour drivers safety course where they go over what to do if you get pulled over, drinking and driving, etc. Then in 6 months you can take your driving test! Then you're free!
This is in KY, USA.
apricot / 448 posts
15yr 6mos you take a written test for permit, then at 16 you take the easiest driving test EVER plus a written test. No drivers ed or other courses required.
Arizona, USA. Home of the craziest teenage drivers ever 
grapefruit / 4582 posts
In Florida 10 years ago this is what I had to do:
At 15 I got my learners permit and I had to take a written test (I think)
At 16 I got my drivers license by taking a written test and driving around the parking lot of the DMV.
Never had to take drivers Ed or other courses
papaya / 10560 posts
15 learners permit-written test
16 drivers license just went to DMV and completed paperwork
No driving test
Have to be enrolled in school
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
@luckypenny: yes! I did drivers ed at school as an elective because I did the driving test with my teacher versus a dmv person so it was really easy.
clementine / 899 posts
They started up the "Graduated Driver's Licensing" a couple years before I was "of age". Oh my god, soo many restrictions. The gist:
Learner's stage - Wrote the written exam at 15 and half. (16 for kids that weren't enrolled in a driver's ed course). Had to be accompanied by someone that has had their full license for 3 years while driving. Lasted 9 months.
Intermediate stage - Did the driving test. Only allowed 1 passenger, which had to be someone with the full license again, from midnight to 5AM (the cops didn't really enforce that one, not sure how much they do now). Lasted 15 months.
Full stage - Able to upgrade so you can drive a motorcycle, semi's etc. Can be a "supervising driver" after 3 years. Can start gaining "merits" at this point. (That's a whole 'nother system that contributes to your license and insurance costs)
Have to maintain 0 blood alcohol level throughout.
GOLD / wonderful pea / 17697 posts
I got my license as an adult, and I don't know how different it is for a minor.
Had to take a written test to get Learner's Permit. Included vision test.
If I'm not mistaken as an adult I could have gone directly to take the test, but I took a Driving class and had my permit for about just over a year before I took the driving test. I believe there was a 6 month waiting period for a minor. Maybe.
During that time if I drove I had to have either a 21 year old with me or a spouse over 18. There were no curfews or limits on how many people were in the car.
When I was ready I scheduled a driving test (had to schedule like 6 weeks in advance). Had to be accompanied by someone with a valid license, car registration as well as up to date insurance on the car. Took the driving test, passed, got photo taken. I was given a temp license that day and got my permanent one in the mail about a week later.
coconut / 8430 posts
@HellOnHeels: Is this the system in Ontario? That's where I learned to drive. I don't think it was this complicated when I did it though!
pomegranate / 3759 posts
At 15, take a drivers ed course in high school. You have to complete so many hours including spending a few in a vehicle with the trainer. You do a vision test and write a written test which includes signs and regulations. After completing all of this you receive a learners permit which allows you to drive with a guardian. Once you turn 16 you can book in for a road test and providing you score less than 10 points, you receive your probationary drivers license. The probation gives restrictions on amount of passengers and any offences you incur which may revoke your license. After the probationary period (1 or 2 years), your a regular license holder. No follow ups ever needed in your lifetime (which I wouldn't be opposed if you had to redo it at least once).
nectarine / 2163 posts
learners at 16 (was 15 when I got it). that's just a written test and an eye test. you need a licensed driver (who's had their full license for at least 2 years) in the car to drive on this lisence. until a couple of weeks ago, this is the only license I had
you need your learners for at least 6 months, then you can take a driving test to get your restricted license. this means you can only drive by yourself or with other lisenced drivers (other than your children and partner). and only between 6am and 10pm. I think you must have blood alcohol level of 0. you have to have this one for at least 18 months.
then you get to take another driving test, then you're finally fully licensed!
clementine / 899 posts
@sunny: nope, Manitoba. Came into effect 12 years ago or so. Maybe more.
papaya / 10570 posts
In the UK, you can apply for your provisional driving licence at 17. This allows you to drive a car (but not on the motorway) providing you display L plates on the back and front of the vehicle and there is a full licence holder present in the car with you, supervising. You then need to take a written exam (theory test), a hazard perception test and a practical driving test in order to obtain your full licence. You can then drive anywhere, including the motorway.
GOLD / coconut / 8266 posts
NY (this is what it was wayyyyy back in...I don't want to say 
):
- 16 - written learner's permit test
- Must take driver's ed and have a total of 24 hours (I think) driving time documented before you can apply to take your road test
- Must pass a road test
- If you pass before 17, then you get a junior license (can drive to school and work on your own but most schools only allowed senior license drivers anyway)
- 17, driver's ed taken and road test passed - senior license. Drive on your own anywhere at any time.
You must be 18 to drive in NYC.
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