Getting your New Mexico learner permit

By the end of this topic you can

• You can say who is eligible for a New Mexico instructional permit.
• You can list the documents and forms to bring to MVD.
• You can describe the vision and knowledge tests you must pass.
• You can explain who may supervise you once you have the permit.

What you need to know and understand

• The minimum age is 15.
• Under-18s must be enrolled in and attending, or have completed, a driver education course approved by the Traffic Safety Bureau that includes DWI education.
• Under-18s need a consent form signed by a parent or guardian.
• You must pass a knowledge test and a vision test.
• The vision standard is at least 20/40 in at least one eye, with or without glasses or contacts.
• Only MVD issues the permit; a driving school cannot.
• You must hold the permit for at least six months before moving up.

What to take to the MVD office

Bring original or certified documents, not photocopies. The exact list depends on whether you choose a REAL ID or a Standard credential, so check the MVD document list before your visit.

• Proof of driver education enrollment or completion, such as the Driver Education Referral Card or certificate of completion.
• Proof of identity and age.
• Proof of your identification number (for a REAL ID).
• Two proofs of New Mexico residency.
• A parent or guardian consent form if you are under 18.
• The permit fee. Fees change, so confirm the current amount with MVD.

The tests on permit day

First comes a vision screening. You need at least 20/40 vision in at least one eye. If you need glasses or contact lenses to pass, you must wear them whenever you drive.

Then you take the knowledge test, which is based on the New Mexico Driver Manual. MVD states a pass mark of 70 percent. Some MVD-contracted driver education schools can give the knowledge test too, but the permit itself still comes from MVD. The site's New Mexico permit test guide has more detail.

Using your permit legally

1. Carry your permit every time you drive.
2. Drive only with an approved instructor, or a licensed driver 21 or older who has held a license for at least three years.
3. Make sure that supervisor sits in the right front seat.
4. Start logging practice hours from day one toward the 50 hours (10 at night) you need for the provisional license.
5. Avoid traffic tickets: MVD guidance says each conviction adds 30 days to your permit period.

Common mistakes

• Turning up at MVD before enrolling in driver education. Under-18s are turned away without proof of enrollment.
• Bringing photocopies. MVD wants original or certified documents.
• Forgetting the parent consent form. Without it, an under-18 cannot get a permit.
• Practicing with an older sibling who has only just passed. The supervisor must be at least 21 and licensed for three years.

Test yourself: Getting your New Mexico learner permit

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

Go deeper

• New Mexico Driver’s License for Adults and New Residents
• Learning to Drive in New Mexico
• New Mexico Permit Test and Instructional Permit