Florida moves new drivers through three stages before they earn a full, unrestricted license. Here is the path from a learner's permit at 15 to an unrestricted license at 18 — including the rules most families get wrong.
Florida's GDL laws are designed to let new drivers build skill in lower-risk conditions before they get full privileges. A teen does not jump straight to an unrestricted license — each stage has its own age, waiting period, and restrictions, and you have to clear one before moving to the next.
§ 322.1615
Sets the minimum age of 15 for a learner's license.
§ 322.05
Minimum age of 16 for a Class E license; requires holding a learner's license 12 months and 50 supervised hours (10 at night).
§ 322.16
Sets the nighttime driving restrictions that differ for 16- and 17-year-olds.
§ 322.091
Ties a minor's driving privilege to school attendance and enrollment.
Before applying for a learner's license, a teen under 18 must complete Florida's Driver Education and Traffic Safety (DETS) course — a 6-hour, state-approved program covering traffic laws, defensive driving, and the effects of drugs and alcohol. This requirement took effect August 1, 2025 and replaced the shorter course families may have heard about from older siblings.
At 15, with a parent or guardian's signed consent, a teen can apply at a driver license office or tax collector service center. They must pass the Class E Knowledge Exam (50 multiple-choice questions, 80% to pass) and pass vision and hearing tests, and bring documents proving identity, Social Security number, and Florida residency.
A learner's license must be held for at least 12 months or until the driver turns 18, whichever comes first. During this stage the teen must always drive with a licensed driver 21 or older in the front passenger seat, and must log 50 hours of supervised driving (10 at night). For the first three months, driving is allowed in daylight only; after that, up to 10:00 p.m.
Once the teen is at least 16, has held the learner's license for the full period, has the certified driving hours, and has had no moving-violation convictions for a year (a single withhold of adjudication is allowed), they can take the Class E driving skills test. Passing it earns an operator's license — but with the nighttime curfews described below until age 18.
The GDL restrictions automatically fall away when the driver turns 18, provided they have a clean enough record. No new test is required — turning 18 is the milestone that lifts the curfew and supervision rules.
The curfew is the rule families most often misremember, partly because it is described two different ways — the hours you can drive versus the hours you cannot. Here are the hours a teen is permitted to drive:
| Stage | Allowed driving hours | Exceptions |
|---|---|---|
| Learner's license (first 3 months) | Daylight hours only | Always with a licensed driver 21+ in the front seat |
| Learner's license (after 3 months) | Until 10:00 p.m. | Always with a licensed driver 21+ in the front seat |
| Licensed driver, age 16 | 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. | Unless driving to or from work, or with a licensed driver 21+ |
| Licensed driver, age 17 | 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. | Unless driving to or from work, or with a licensed driver 21+ |
Many families assume a 16-year-old with a license can drive whenever an adult passenger is along, or that the curfew is the same for all teens. Neither is quite right. The 16-year-old window (6 a.m.–11 p.m.) is narrower than the 17-year-old window (5 a.m.–1 a.m.), and the only built-in exceptions are driving to or from work or having a licensed driver 21 or older in the car. There is no "running an errand for mom" exception — a curfew stop can mean a ticket and points on a brand-new license.
Driver education is now mandatory. Since August 1, 2025, the 6-hour DETS course is required before a learner's license for anyone under 18 — there is no longer a quick path that skips formal driver education.
The "Super Speeder" law. Effective July 1, 2025, Florida added criminal penalties for extreme speeding — generally driving 50 mph or more over the limit, or 100 mph or more. For a new driver, that turns a serious speeding choice into a criminal matter, not just a ticket.
A Florida driver's license is easier to lose at this age than many teens expect. Under section 322.091, a minor's driving privilege is tied to school enrollment and attendance — a pattern of unexcused absences or dropping out can trigger a suspension until the student returns to satisfactory attendance or turns 18. Points from tickets carry extra weight during the learner's stage, because the teen must keep a clean enough record to advance and to keep insurance affordable.
Florida also lets a parent, guardian, or the responsible adult who signed the application view the minor's driving record online, which can be a useful early-warning tool for families.
A teen can apply for a learner's license at 15, after completing the required driver-education course and passing the knowledge, vision, and hearing tests. They can move up to a restricted operator's license at 16, and restrictions lift at 18.
Yes. As of August 1, 2025, anyone under 18 applying for a learner's license must first complete the 6-hour Driver Education and Traffic Safety (DETS) course. This replaced the shorter substance-abuse-only course that used to satisfy the requirement.
A licensed 16-year-old may drive between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. Outside those hours, they must be driving to or from work, or accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21. At 17, the allowed window widens to 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.
50 hours total, including at least 10 at night. A parent, guardian, or responsible adult over 21 certifies the hours on the state's Certification of Minor Driving Experience form. Keeping a practice log makes that certification straightforward.
Yes. Throughout the learner's stage, a licensed driver who is at least 21 must occupy the front passenger seat at all times — there is no solo driving on a learner's license, regardless of the time of day.
It can. Florida ties a minor's driving privilege to school enrollment and attendance. A pattern of unexcused absences or withdrawing from school can lead to a suspension until the student returns to satisfactory attendance or turns 18.
The GDL curfews and supervision rules automatically end at 18, assuming the driver's record is clean enough. No additional test is required just because of the birthday.
This article is general legal information, not legal advice. JusticeXpress Florida is a non-attorney legal document preparation service and is not a law firm. We cannot select forms for you, advise you about your rights, or represent you. Driver-licensing rules change — confirm current requirements with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (flhsmv.gov) before you act, and consult a licensed Florida attorney for advice about your specific situation.