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In Alabama you can get a learner license at 15, a restricted license at 16 after holding the learner license for 6 months, and an unrestricted license at 17. This guide is for Alabama teens, their parents and adult first-time drivers. It walks through every stage of Alabama’s Graduated Driver License (GDL) law, the tests, the documents, the fees and what the Alabama Driver Manual covers.
Key facts (as of November 2026)
- Licensing agency: the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), Driver License Division.
- Learner license (Stage I): age 15, after a knowledge test. It is a Class D license with a “Y” restriction, valid for 4 years.
- Restricted license (Stage II): age 16, after holding the learner license for at least 6 months, plus a road skills test.
- Unrestricted license (Stage III): age 17, after holding Stage II for at least 6 months.
- Under 18: 50 hours of behind-the-wheel practice certified on form DL-31, or an approved driver education course.
- Fees listed by ALEA: $5 per knowledge test and $36.25 for the license. No checks: cash or money order.
- The GDL law does not apply once you are 18.
How to get a driver’s license in Alabama: the three stages
| Stage | Minimum age | What you need | Main rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage I: learner license | 15 | Pass the knowledge test and vision screening; documents; $5 test fee; $36.25 license fee | At 15, drive only with a parent, legal guardian or licensed driver aged 21 or older (or a licensed or certified driving instructor) in the front seat beside you |
| Stage II: restricted license | 16 | Learner license held at least 6 months (if under 18); parent, grandparent or guardian permission; 50 hours or driver ed; pass the road skills test | 1 non-family passenger; no driving midnight to 6 a.m. (with exceptions); no handheld communication devices |
| Stage III: unrestricted license | 17 | Stage II held at least 6 months (if 17) | No GDL restrictions |
Full detail on the Stage II limits, exceptions and penalties: Alabama graduated license rules for 16 and 17 year olds.
Step by step for an Alabama teen
- Study the Alabama Driver Manual. The knowledge test is taken from it. The current edition is dated November 2024.
- Gather documents. A 15-year-old needs a certified U.S. birth certificate (no photocopies), a Social Security card, proof of school enrollment or graduation (form DL-1/93) and 2 proofs of principal residence.
- Take the knowledge test and vision screening at an ALEA office. Pay the $5 test fee, then $36.25 for the learner license if you pass. See the Alabama learner license test guide.
- Practice for at least 6 months. Log 50 hours of behind-the-wheel practice for form DL-31, or complete an approved driver education course. See the Alabama 50 hour driving verification and driver ed guide.
- Take the road skills test at 16 or older. A 16-year-old must bring a parent or guardian. The car must pass the examiner’s inspection, and you need proof of insurance and registration. Use the Alabama road skills test checklist.
- Drive under Stage II rules until you are 17 and have held Stage II for 6 months, then apply for Stage III.
Getting an Alabama license at 18 or older
The GDL law does not apply to anyone aged 18 or older. You still pass the knowledge test to get a learner license, then the road skills test. ALEA says applicants 18 or older can apply for a Stage III license straight away once they pass the road skills exam. To complete all testing you need a licensed driver with you, proof of car insurance and a vehicle that will pass inspection. The manual’s 6-month learner holding period applies to applicants under 18. At 16 or older, a learner license holder may drive with any licensed driver in the seat beside them.
Alabama license fees (as of November 2026)
| Item | Fee listed by ALEA |
|---|---|
| Knowledge test (each attempt) | $5 |
| Learner license (Stage I) | $36.25 |
| Restricted license (Stage II) | $36.25 |
| Stage III, presenting a Stage II license (restriction-free duplicate) | $31.25 |
| Stage III without a Stage II license before age 18 | $36.25 |
| Out-of-state license transfer | $5 transfer fee plus $36.25 for the license |
| Standard license renewal (every 4 years) | $36.25 |
| Duplicate of a lost, destroyed or unreadable license | $31.25 |
Renewing or replacing: an Alabama license expires 4 years after issue. You can renew up to 180 days before the expiry date, in person or online at AlabamaDL.alea.gov if eligible, and there is a 60-day grace period after it expires. A duplicate needs no test, only proof of identity, and can be bought online or at a probate judge or license commissioner office.
ALEA says fees are subject to change and may be slightly higher in counties where local legislation allows. Check the current figure with ALEA before you go.
What the Alabama Driver Manual covers
The manual has nine chapters plus a parent-teen agreement and a GDL summary. Here is what each one means for a learner, with the Alabama-specific rules worth knowing.
Chapter 1: Your license to drive
Who needs a license, identification documents, the learner and restricted licenses, vision, knowledge and road tests, renewals (licenses expire after 4 years), address changes (notify within 30 days) and license classes. Ordinary cars need a Class D license. You must carry your license or learner license whenever you drive. The chapter ends with Alabama’s hands-free law: see Alabama hands-free law and point system.
Chapter 2: You may lose your license
Cancellation, revocation, suspension and the point system. 12 to 14 points in 2 years means a 60-day suspension. Reinstatement costs at least $100. Under 19, leaving school without meeting Alabama Act 93-368 can also stop you getting or keeping a license.
Chapter 3: The driving task
Turns (signal at least 100 feet before turning), three-point turns, sharing the road and parking. Pass a bicycle with at least 3 feet of clearance. Truck rear no-zones can extend 200 feet. You may not park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an uncontrolled intersection, or within 30 feet of a stop sign, flashing beacon or traffic signal at the roadside. Every occupant must wear a seat belt, whatever their age. More on parking: US parking rules for new drivers.
Chapter 4: The driver
Fatigue, alcohol, drugs, following distance and crashes. The adult limit is 0.08% blood alcohol. Under 21 it is 0.02%. A first DUI conviction brings a $600 to $2,100 fine and a 90-day suspension. Use the two-second rule, and stretch it to 4 or 5 seconds in poor conditions. The manual’s stopping-distance chart gives 228 feet at 55 mph. After a crash you must stop, help the injured and exchange details. See zero tolerance laws for drivers under 21 and what to do after a car crash.
Chapter 5: Signs, signals and road markings
Regulatory, warning and guide signs, pavement markings, traffic signals and roundabouts. The round yellow railroad advance warning sign stands 750 feet before the tracks. See how to drive a roundabout.
Chapter 6: Traffic laws
Alabama’s statutory speed limits are 30 mph in urban districts, 35 mph on unpaved roads, 45 mph on county paved roads (unless posted), 55 mph elsewhere, and 65 or 70 mph where posted. You may turn right on red after a full stop unless a sign prohibits it. Stop for a school bus or church bus with its stop arm out and red lights flashing, at least 20 feet from the bus, whether you are following it or meeting it, including on a 4 to 6 lane undivided highway. You need not stop when the bus is on the opposite side of a divided highway with at least two lanes each way, or when it is in a loading zone where pedestrians may not cross. Amber lights are the warning that a bus is about to stop. Under the move-over law, on roads with 4 or more lanes, leave the lane next to a stopped emergency vehicle or wrecker with flashing lights. If you cannot change lanes, slow to at least 15 mph below the limit. On a two-lane road, move as far from it as you can within your lane and slow to 15 mph below the limit (or to 10 mph where the limit is 20 mph or less). The chapter also covers traffic stops, insurance and window tint: see what to expect at an Alabama traffic stop, plus move over laws and school bus stopping laws.
Chapter 7: Adjust to driving conditions
Night, winter, rain, skids, hydroplaning, fog and emergencies. Headlights must be on from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise, and whenever you cannot see clearly for 500 feet. They must also be on when your wipers are in use because of rain, sleet or snow (intermittent wipers excepted). Dim your high beams within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle and within 200 feet when following. See driving in snow, fog and rain.
Chapter 8: Driving the freeways
Entering, interchanges and leaving. Backing up on a freeway is prohibited, and three-point turns are not allowed on interstates. See freeway driving for new drivers.
Chapter 9: Your vehicle
Required equipment: foot and parking brakes, muffler, wipers, a mirror that shows 200 feet behind, headlights, brake light, taillight, horn. Tires are illegal with less than 1/16 inch of tread. The manual’s penny test: if you can see all of Lincoln’s head, replace the tire.
Parent Teen Driving Agreement and GDL Summary
The manual ends with a sample parent-teen contract (passenger limits set by parents, no phone use, no alcohol, check in on location) and a one-page GDL summary.
Common questions
How old do you have to be to get a learner license in Alabama?
15. You can take the road skills test at 16 once you have held the learner license for 6 months.
Can I get my Alabama license at 16 without driver’s ed?
Yes. A parent, grandparent, legal guardian or certified driving instructor can certify 50 hours of behind-the-wheel practice on form DL-31 instead.
When do the GDL restrictions end in Alabama?
At 17, once you have held your license for 6 months. They also end at 18 regardless. If you break a GDL restriction, the restricted period is extended by 6 months or until you turn 18.
Does ALEA take checks?
No. ALEA accepts cash or money orders for driver license fees.
Can I book the road test online?
ALEA says Stage II road skills appointments can be scheduled online at select locations, up to 2 weeks ahead. Walk-ins are welcome at all testing sites.
I have a license from another state. Do I retest?
No. A license from another state that has not been expired for more than a year does not need a driver examination. New residents can drive on their old license for 30 days. See transferring your license when you move.
Do I need a STAR ID?
STAR ID is Alabama’s REAL ID-compliant license, described by ALEA as a step beyond an ordinary Alabama license. For domestic flights you need a STAR ID or another TSA-accepted ID. See REAL ID and your first US driver’s license.
Compare Alabama with other states
- How to get a driver’s license in the US
- GDL laws by state compared
- Supervised driving hours by state
- Minimum car insurance for new drivers
Sources
- Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, “Alabama Driver Manual” (November 2024) (alea.gov)
- Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, “Graduated Driver License” (alea.gov)
- Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, “Document Requirements and Fees” (alea.gov)
- Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, “Driver License Information” (alea.gov)
- Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, “Graduated Driver License Form DL-31” (alea.gov)
- Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, “Driver License Point System” (alea.gov)
- Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Driver License Division, “Duplicate/Renewal by mail” application form (alea.gov)