All About Florida Provisional License

As the age of driving approaches, the typical 15-year-old is not considering all of the steps required to become a safe driver. Driving a car is a major responsibility, and the state of Florida goes to great efforts to ensure that its young inhabitants are prepared for it before granting them full driving privileges.

How To Get a Provisional License in Florida in 2 Steps

Obtaining a driver's license is a significant step toward independence and adulthood. And while the road to an unrestricted Florida driver's license may appear to be confusing, we're here to help you figure out the requirements for a learner's permit, how to obtain a provisional driver's license, and everything in between.

Step 1: Get Learner's Permit

For first-time teen drivers, the state of Florida has implemented a Graduated Driver's License (GDL) program. To continue, the adolescent must meet certain criteria set by the Florida DMV in each of the program's three stages. The procedure begins at the age of 15, issuing a Florida Learner's permit or license. Applicants must first finish a Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education class (TLSAE) and then visit the DMV to provide:
  • A completed form requesting parental authorization for a minor's driver application.
  • A birth certificate or other acceptable form of identification.
  • A social security number.
  • Proof that the TLSAE class was successfully finished.
  • Proof of residency in Florida.
If all of the documentation is in order, the applicant will be required to take eye and hearing tests, as well as the DMV's driving exam. If all tests are passed after submitting the proper papers, the minor will be allowed to drive a car until 10 p.m. as long as a licensed driver over 21 is in the front passenger seat.

Step 2: Your Provisional License

The following step is to obtain a Florida Provisional license. The license holder must be at least 16 years old, have held a learner's permit for at least a year without incident, and have logged at least 50 hours of practice driving, 10 of which must be at night. The provisional license will be issued if and only if the following conditions are met:
  • The learner's permit is returned to the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles.
  • The motorist can pass a road test or obtain a waiver from a DMV-approved driver's education course.
  • A certification indicating the 50-hour driving practice requirement has been satisfied.

Florida Provisional License Restrictions

Teenagers who pass a driver's test in Florida are issued a provisional license rather than a full unrestricted license under the current graduated driver's license program. These temporary license restrictions are part of a program aimed at addressing high teen driver crash rates by discouraging particular forms of driving behavior. Drivers under the age of 18 who have passed a Florida driver's license test must obey the Florida provisional license requirements listed below:
  • 16 years old - only drive between 6 AM and 11 PM Unless you are accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old and occupies the front passenger seat, or you are traveling to or from work between the hours of 6 AM and 11 PM.
  • 17 years old - only drives between 5 AM and 1 AM, unless accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old and occupies the front passenger seat, or you are traveling to or from work between the hours of 5 AM and 1 AM.
When a motorist reaches the age of 18, the restrictions on their provisional license are eliminated. There are no additional conditions to meet at the time, and you do not need to swap your driver's license; your provisional license immediately converts to a full license on your 18th birthday.