How to get your Driver's License after having your Learner’s Permit?
Congratulations, you have your learner's permit! Now how do you get your full privilege driver's license? There are steps in place by the State of Florida that you must follow in order to go from your learner’s permit, to your full privilege driver’s license. These steps are known as the Florida's Graduated Drivers Licensing (GDL) law and has three stages (Learner's License, Intermediate License, Full Privilege License).
Assuming you already have your learner’s license, you can start at Stage 2.
Stage 1
Learner's License: This is the first stage on the way to getting your full privilege license. Before you can receive a restricted driver’s license (learner’s permit) in the state of Florida, you must successfully complete the Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course.
The course is known by many different names, but they are all the same:
- Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE)
- First Time Driver Course
- The DATA Course (Drugs, Alcohol, Traffic, Awareness)
- The 4-Hour Drug & Alcohol course
- The DATE Course (Drugs, Alcohol, Traffic Education)
In Florida, you must take this course if you are a first time driver. If you have never before had a regular driver’s license in any state or country, you must complete this course to get a learner’s permit. You must be at least 15 years of age, complete the Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE), complete and pass the Florida Permit DMV Test (Road & Sign Test), vision test, hearing test and submit a signed
Parental Consent Form.
Now that you have your Florida learner's permit there are specific driving restrictions you must follow, these restrictions are:
- For the first 3 months you will only be able to drive during daylight hours
- After the first 3 months, you will be allowed to drive between the hours of 6:00am and 10:00pm.
- It is extremely important to remember that with a learner’s permit you are not allowed to drive alone. Someone with a valid driver's license who is at least 21 years of age must be present in the front passenger seat at all times.
With a Learner's License, you can drive during daylight hours during the first three months and until 10 p.m. thereafter. You must
always be with a licensed driver who is at least 21 years of age and is in the front passenger seat. Before moving onto stage 2, your Intermediate License, you must:
- Have practiced driving for at least 50 hours behind the wheel
- And 10 hours of the total 50 hours must be driven at night
Stage 2
Intermediate License:
In order to obtain your Intermediate License, you must be at least 16 years of age and have had a Learner’s License for at least one full year. You must also have no traffic convictions within that year. You will have to visit your local Division of Driver Licenses
DMV Office
and submit your Florida Learner's License or Out-of-State Learner's Permit. At the Division of Drivers Licenses DMV Office you will need to pass a driving test or provide a DMV approved road test waiver. Finally you will need to submit proof that you have completed all the required behind the wheel hours. Your driving restrictions also change once you obtain your Intermediate License. You have more driving freedom, which also means more responsibility.
At 16 years old, you will now be allowed to drive between the hours of 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. At all other times you must be accompanied by a licensed driver of at least 21 years old in the front passenger seat, or must be traveling to or from work.
At 17 years old, you will now be allowed to drive between the hours of 5 a.m. and 1 a.m. At all other times you must be accompanied by a licensed driver of at least 21 years old in the front passenger seat, or must be traveling to or from work.
Stage 3
Full Privilege License:
In order to obtain your Full Privilege License, you must be 18 years of age and be able to supply to your local Division of Driver Licenses
DMV Office:
- Proof of Social Security number
- Proof of identity
- Proof of residential address
- Proof of completion of the Traffic Law & Substance Abuse Education Course or License from another state, country, or jurisdiction
At this stage all restrictions are removed from your license. You will be able to drive during any hours of the day and would not need another licensed driver in the vehicle.
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