Florida Licensing Procedures and Florida Online Driver Education

So, you and your family have decided that you’re finally ready to begin the process of applying for your Florida learner’s permit or first Florida driver license. Florida has a graduated driver license program for Florida drivers ages 15-18 that will allow you to safely gain driving experience before “graduating” to full driving privileges. There are a few things to keep in mind to make sure that applying for your Florida driving license goes as smoothly as possible. So let’s not waste any more time!

Florida Instructional Permit or Florida Learner Permit

When you turn 15, you’re finally ready to apply for a Florida instructional permit, otherwise known as a Florida learner’s permit. In order to apply for your Florida learner’s permit, you’ll need to make sure you’ve done the following:

• At the DMV, provided proper identification
• And don’t forget, proof of residential address
• Brought your social security card
• Taken a Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Course
• Prepared for the practice test by studying the Florida driver handbook
• Gotten your parent or guardian to sign a consent form

At the DMV, once you present these materials you will then take a series of tests. There will be two 20-question multiple choice tests, one about traffic laws, the other about road signs. For both, get 15 questions correct and you pass!

There will also be vision and hearing tests. For the vision test, you must have 20/40 vision (with or without corrective lenses).

If you manage to survive all of that, then congratulations, you just earned your Florida learner’s permit! For the first three months of your Florida learner’s license, you an only drive until 10PM, and always with a licensed driver who is at least 21 and in the front passenger seat. After you’ve had your Florida learner’s permit for one year (using it responsibly, of course), you’re ready to apply for your Florida intermediate license.

Your First Florida Driver’s License

In order to apply for your first Florida provisional driver license, you’ll need the following:

• A parent or guardian who can certify that you have practiced at least 50 hours of driving (10 of which must be at night)
• To make sure that you have not had any traffic violations in the last year—otherwise, you’ll have to wait!
• A Florida learner’s license

At the Florida DMV, you’ll present your Florida learner’s license and the required forms. Then you’ll have to take three tests:

• Vision test, in which you must have 20/40 vision (with or without glasses)
• Written test, in which you must score at least an 80%.
• The dreaded road test! We hope you’ve been studying your Florida Driver Handbook!

• However, if you’ve taken an approved Florida driver education course, you can skip the dreaded road test altogether!

If you survive, then congratulations—you’ve just earned your first Florida driver license!

Florida Teen Driver License Restrictions and Penalties

As we said above, the purpose of the Florida driver license program is to provide you with a probationary period in which to safely develop your skills before graduating to full driving privileges. Thus, there are several restrictions you need to keep in mind regarding your Florida learner’s license or Florida driver’s license.

Florida Permit Restrictions – With a Florida learner’s permit, you must observe the following restrictions:

• you can only drive until 10PM for the first three months
• you must always with a licensed driver who is at least 21 and in the front passenger seat.

Florida Intermediate License Restrictions – Florida intermediate license holders who are 16 years old can only drive between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. except in the following cases:

• when being accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old and occupies the front passenger seat
• when traveling to or from work.

Florida intermediate license holders who are 17 years old can only drive between 5 a.m. and 1 a.m. except in the following cases:

• when being accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old and occupies the front passenger seat
• when traveling to or from work.

But cheer up: when you turn 18, all of these restrictions are removed!

Florida Auto Insurance Florida Financial Responsibility Laws

Sadly, traffic accidents are a fact of life, for young and experienced drivers alike. Any vehicle registered in Florida must be covered by liability insurance. The minimum coverage is $10,000 for personal injury and $10,000 for property damage.

If you are found to be driving without the minimum mandatory liability insurance, you could be fined. If you are involved in an accident and cannot provide proof of insurance, your Florida learner’s permit or Florida intermediate license will be suspended.

Florida Drunk Driving, Cell Phone, and Text Messaging Laws

As a new Florida driver, it’s important for you to learn the Florida drunk driving, cell phone, and text messaging laws. In Florida, the standard of DUI is lower for teens, and you only need to have a blood alcohol level of 0.02 (instead of the 0.08 for adults) to be convicted.

Upon your first conviction of a Florida DUI (0.08), you will face the following penalties:

• Your Florida license will be suspended from 6 months to 1 year
• $500 to $1000 fine
• 50 hours of community service
• Vehicle impounding
• Jail sentence of 6 months maximum
• 100 hour of community service
• Ignition Interlock Device may be installed
• mandatory alcohol education program

As you can see, driving under the influence is not a habit you should want to develop. Further Florida DUI convictions will result in increased jail time, community service, fines, and Florida license suspension or even Florida license revocation.

Currently, there is no law banning cell phone use in Florida, though in 2010 there are two laws making their way through the state legislature which, if passed, will ban text messaging while driving.

Florida Online Driver Education

Anyone 16-18 applying for a Florida intermediate license may opt out of the dreaded road test upon completion of a Florida approved driver education course. The Florida DMV has a thorough list of the many Florida approved driver education courses.