Getting your Alabama learner permit

By the end of this topic you can

• You can say who is eligible for an Alabama learner license.
• You can gather the documents a 15 year old needs to apply.
• You can explain the school enrollment rule for applicants under 19.
• You can work out the test fee and license fee and how to pay them.
• You can describe what happens at the vision screening.

What you need to know and understand

• You can apply for a learner license from age 15.
• A 15 year old must bring a certified U.S. birth certificate, a Social Security card, proof of school enrollment or graduation and two proofs of residence.
• Applicants under 19 must show a current Student Enrollment/Exclusion form (DL-1/93) from their school.
• The knowledge test costs $5 and the learner license costs $36.25, and fees can be slightly higher in some counties.
• ALEA does not accept checks. Bring cash or a money order, and ask your local office whether it also takes cards.
• The learner license is valid for four years.

Your document checklist

Every document must be an original or a copy certified by the agency that issued it. ALEA rejects documents with correction fluid, erasures, missing or unreadable details, or tears and staples that hide information.

• Certified U.S. birth certificate (required for all 15 year old applicants). A current U.S. passport can prove date of birth for foreign-born applicants.
• Social Security card, or another accepted proof showing the full nine-digit number.
• Student Enrollment/Exclusion form (DL-1/93) if you are under 19, signed by your school.
• Two proofs of your principal residence address, from ALEA's residence document list.
• Applicants aged 16 or over need two forms of ID (one with a photo) or three non-photo forms, with at least one from ALEA's primary list.

Applying step by step

1. Pre-apply online through ALEA's driver license online services and request an appointment at an ALEA driver license office, or check walk-in options at your local office.
2. Bring your documents and fees to the ALEA driver license examining office. Probate judge and license commissioner offices handle renewals, not first-time tests.
3. Take the vision screening. If you need glasses or contacts to pass, your license will require you to wear them when driving.
4. Take the knowledge test on the automated testing equipment.
5. Pay the license fee and receive your learner license.

School attendance and parent permission

Alabama links driving to education. Under state law an applicant under 19 must be enrolled in school, have graduated, or fall into a limited exclusion. If you leave school early, your license can be suspended. In August 2026 ALEA confirmed these rules are unchanged.

A parent or guardian's permission is required before a 16 year old can move to the Stage II license and drive without supervision. If you are unsure whether a parent should come with you to the learner license appointment, check with your local ALEA office.

If you fail the vision screening

You will be asked to have your eyes examined by a licensed eye specialist and bring the report back to the examiner. If the report shows you can see well enough to drive safely, you can complete the rest of the test.

Common mistakes

• Bringing a photocopy of a birth certificate. Only an original or certified copy is accepted.
• Forgetting the DL-1/93 school form. Ask your school office for it a few days before your appointment.
• Trying to pay by check. Bring cash or a money order.
• Leaving your glasses at home. If you normally wear them, wear them for the vision screening.

Test yourself: Getting your Alabama learner permit

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Alabama Permit Test
• Alabama Permit Practice Test
• How to Get a Driver’s License in Alabama