Can you drive alone with the permit? Teens in Florida can’t drive alone if they only have a learner’s permit. But they can apply for a license if they’ve had a permit for a year and they’re 16 or older.
You can’t drive alone anywhere if you have just a Florida learner’s permit. That includes driving yourself to school or work. And you can only drive with a licensed driver at least 21 years old who always occupies the front passenger seat.
Read on to learn the full details about the driving age in Florida, Florida learner’s permit restrictions, driver’s license rules and other key considerations for younger drivers.
- A fully licensed driver at least 21 years old must be in the passenger’s seat for a teen with a permit to drive legally on the road.
- Once a teen turns 16 and has had a permit for a year, they can apply for a driver’s license.
- There are restrictions on both 16- and 17-year-old drivers regarding nighttime driving. Drivers in Florida must be at least 18 to drive unrestricted.
What are Florida’s learner’s permit rules?
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (HSMV), you must be at least 15 years old to obtain a learner’s license.
In addition to the age requirement, permit applicants must also show the following:
- Proof of Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course completion.
- Pass a vision and hearing test.
- Pass Class E Knowledge Exam.
- Provide documents to establish proof of identity.
- Once a teen or new driver has a learner’s permit, they are allowed to:
- Drive during daylight hours during the first three months and with a licensed driver at least 21 years old in the passenger seat.
- After three months have passed, permit holders can drive until 10 p.m. but must drive with a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old and occupies the front passenger seat.
Learn how long you are considered a new driver
What age can you get your license in Florida?
Once a teen has reached the age of 16 and held a learner’s permit for at least one year and completed the steps outlined below, they can apply for a driver’s license.
The following are required to get a license in Florida:
- Must be at least 16 years old.
- Must hold a learner’s license for at least one year (12 months) or reach age 18, whichever comes first.
- A parent, legal guardian or responsible adult older than 21 must complete the Certification of Minor Driving Experience Form, certifying the driver has 50 hours of driving experience, 10 of which must be at night.
- No moving violation convictions for one year from the learner’s license date of issuance (OR may have one moving violation as long as adjudication was withheld).
- Must pass Class E Driving Skills Test.
- The vehicle used for the driving test must have a valid registration, show proof of insurance and pass a basic vehicle inspection conducted by the driver’s license examiner to determine that it is safe for a driving test.
- Must provide documents to establish proof of identity, proof of Social Security Number and proof of residential address.
Florida driver’s license restrictions for 16-year-olds
Once a teen is 16 and has been issued a license, there are a couple of restrictions to their driving:
- Driving is allowed between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. without a licensed adult
- Must be accompanied by a licensed driver at least 21 years old occupying the closest seat to the right of the driver or be traveling to or from work if driving after 11 p.m.
How many passengers can a 16-year-old drive in Florida?
According to Mark Friedlander, director of corporate communications for the Insurance Information Institute, 16-year-old drivers in Florida can obtain an intermediate license if they have had a learner’s permit for at least one year without any moving violations. During the first three months with this intermediate license, teen drivers in Florida face passenger restrictions.
“They are not permitted to have passengers under the age of 21 who are not family members,” he says. “After the initial three months, they can transport no more than one non-family passenger under age 21. Sixteen-year-olds can also drive only between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. unaccompanied by an adult age 21 or older.”
Florida driver’s license restrictions for 17-year-olds
Once a driver turns 17, they are allowed to drive between 5 a.m. and 1 a.m. without a licensed adult. Between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., they must be accompanied by a licensed driver at least 21 years old occupying the closest seat to the right of the driver or be traveling to or from work.
Florida teen drivers are allowed to drive at all hours once they reach 18.
Can you get your license in Florida at 18 without a permit?
If you are 18 or older and getting your first driver’s license in Florida, you are not required to hold a learner’s permit previously, Friedlander says. Instead, you are immediately eligible for a Class E unrestricted driver’s license.
“This license lets you drive non-commercial vehicles weighing less than 26,000 pounds,” says Riley Beam, an attorney specializing in motor vehicle collisions. “However, if you’ve never had a license before, there are a few steps you need to take. These include completing a Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TSLAE) course, passing some exams and successfully passing a driver’s road test.”
Can you drive to school with a permit in Florida?
While a permitted driver cannot drive to school alone, they can drive themselves to and from school if there is a licensed driver at least age 21 in the passenger seat.
Florida law states that a driving permit holder can only drive during daylight hours, and there must be a licensed driver at all times at least 21 years old in the passenger seat.
It is important to remember that if you receive a ticket while in the learner’s permit stage of the Florida graduated driver’s licensing (GDL) process, you won’t be able to take the driving test for an intermediate license for one year from the conviction date.
How old do you have to be to drive alone in Florida?
Once you reach age 18, you can apply for a full, unrestricted driver’s license, which includes the privileges of driving alone and having no time-specific restrictions.
“If you are age 16, you can drive alone between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m., but there still needs to be a licensed adult with you in the car. If you are age 17, you get a bit more time – from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m., although you again need a licensed adult sitting next to you,” Beam says. “These rules are part of Florida’s GDL program, designed to help young drivers gain experience gradually before they’re out driving on their own.”
Learn more about what a learner’s permit is and how it works
What happens if you get caught driving with a permit in Florida?
If you are caught driving without a permit, the consequences are similar to those of driving without a valid driver’s license.
“This could generate a fine up to $500 and possibly points being added to your future driving record,” Friedlander says.
Beam says you could also lose your permit until you turn 18 and be forced to take an advanced driver improvement course to get it back.
The bottom line
Don’t take chances as a young driver in Florida. Ensure you understand Florida learner’s permit restrictions and rules regarding driver’s licenses, passengers allowed, minimum Florida driving ages and the repercussions of driving without a permit or license.
Learn the best ways to insure a teen driver:Sources
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. “Licensing Requirements for Teens, Graduated Driver License Laws and Driving Curfews.” Accessed April 2024.
— Mark Vallet contributed to this story.
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