Getting your learner permit

By the end of this topic you can

• You can find the minimum permit age in your state.
• You can gather the documents the DMV is likely to ask for.
• You can prepare for the knowledge test and vision screening.
• You can explain what a parent or guardian must sign if you are under 18.

What you need to know and understand

• Minimum permit ages vary by state, commonly 15 or 16, and a few states allow younger teens. Check your state manual.
• In California the minimum is 15 and a half for an instruction permit.
• You will usually need proof of identity, date of birth, Social Security number and state residency.
• Applicants under 18 normally need a parent or guardian to sign the application.
• Most states give a written or computer knowledge test on road signs and rules.
• A vision screening is standard; if you need glasses to pass, your permit will say so.
• Fees vary by state and change often: check your DMV's current fee list.

Step by step: from study to permit

1. Read your state driver manual. The knowledge test questions come from it.
2. Check whether your state requires you to start or finish driver education first. California, for example, requires minors to complete driver education.
3. Make a DMV appointment or check if walk-ins are allowed.
4. Bring original documents (photocopies are often refused) and your parent or guardian if you are under 18.
5. Pay the fee, have your photo taken and take the vision screening.
6. Pass the knowledge test. If you fail, most states let you retake it after a waiting period.
7. Read the conditions printed on your permit before your first drive.

What the vision screening checks

The DMV checks that you can see clearly enough to drive safely, usually by reading letters on a chart or in a machine. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, wear them. Your permit may then carry a corrective lens restriction, meaning you must wear them every time you drive. If you do not meet the standard, you may be asked for a report from an eye doctor. Exact standards vary by state.

Parental consent and responsibility

When a parent or guardian signs for a minor, they are often accepting financial responsibility for your driving and can usually withdraw consent later, which cancels the permit. Some states require both parents to sign in joint-custody cases, as California does.

Common mistakes

• Bringing photocopies instead of original documents. Check the list on your DMV website the night before.
• Skimming the manual. Study signs, right-of-way and alcohol laws carefully, as they are heavily tested.
• Forgetting glasses for the vision screening.
• Driving alone on a permit. You always need a qualified supervisor.

Test yourself: Getting your learner permit

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

Go deeper

• Documents for Your First Learner Permit
• Driver’s License Vision Rules in the Midwest, State by State
• Driver’s License Vision Rules in the Northeast, State by State