Getting a Driver's License in Florida
Florida issues one standard non-commercial license — the Class E — through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV).
First-issue is done in person at a driver license service center or a participating county tax collector office and is processed as a REAL ID transaction. A new resident must obtain a Florida license within 30 days of establishing residency.
Estimated time
First-issue is completed in person in a single visit once you hold the required documents and have passed the knowledge exam; the road skills test may be scheduled separately
Cost
$48-78
What You Need
Tap to check off items as you gather them
Additional Items
- If you must complete the TLSAE course first, its fee is set by the approved private course provider, not by FLHSMV — there is no single state-published price, so it varies by provider.
Step-by-Step
- 1
Complete the TLSAE Course (First-Time Drivers Only)
If you are over 18 and have never held a driver license from any other state, country, or jurisdiction
- Complete the 4-hour Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course through an approved provider before applying
- A Driver Education Licensing Assistance Program (DELAP) course offered by some county school boards also satisfies this requirement, because it includes the TLSAE curriculum
💡 Tip: If you already hold a valid license from your previous U.S. jurisdiction, you do not need the TLSAE course — you exchange your license instead. The course is for people who have never been licensed anywhere.
- 2
Pass the Class E Knowledge Exam and Vision Test
- The knowledge exam has 50 multiple-choice questions; you must answer 40 of 50 correctly (80 percent) to pass
- It is administered in English only and covers Florida traffic laws, safe driving practices, and identifying traffic controls
- A vision test using an eye machine is conducted at the counter; visual acuity below 20/40 is referred to an eye specialist
💡 Tip: Passing the knowledge exam together with the vision test qualifies you for a learner's license. The exam may also be given by an approved third-party administrator under FLHSMV oversight.
- 3
Hold the Learner's License (If Under 18)
- A customer must hold the learner's license for 12 months from the issuance date, or be 18 years old, before qualifying for a full driver license
- An adult applicant who is already 18 or older is not subject to the 12-month wait
💡 Tip: If you are an adult new arrival, this holding period does not delay you — the 12-month requirement is satisfied at age 18.
- 4
Pass the Class E Driving Skills Test
- The road test is a series of maneuvers that determine your ability to safely operate a motor vehicle
- The vehicle you use must have a valid registration, proof of insurance, and pass a basic safety inspection by the examiner
💡 Tip: The skills test may also be administered by an approved third-party administrator under FLHSMV oversight, which can be a way to schedule it sooner.
- 5
Receive Your Florida Class E License
- First-issue is done in person at a FLHSMV driver license service center or a participating county tax collector office, and the transaction is completed during the visit
- A non-U.S. citizen applying for an original license is issued a 60-day temporary paper permit (without a photo) plus a receipt while lawful-status verification completes; the permanent card follows
💡 Tip: New driver licenses and ID cards have a star in the upper right corner of the card, indicating that they are REAL ID-compliant. Because every Florida first-issue is processed as a REAL ID transaction, you receive a starred card by default.
Local Tips from the Community
- The driver license exam is administered in English only. If English is not your first language, prepare accordingly — the knowledge exam covers Florida traffic laws, safe driving practices, and identifying traffic controls.
- For the first in-office issuance, bring original documents — not photocopies — except for the two address proofs, where printouts and faxes are accepted.
- If you legally changed your name with the Social Security Administration, allow 24 to 48 hours before applying so the new name matches the FLHSMV record.
What Could Go Wrong
Present proof of identity: Birth certificate is a hospital souvenir certificate
Recovery: A hospital souvenir birth certificate is not a certified document and is not accepted. Bring a certificate issued by a county health department or a state/federal vital-statistics office instead.
Present proof of Social Security number: The name on your Social Security record does not match your other documents
Recovery: Update your name with the Social Security Administration first, then allow 24 to 48 hours before applying at FLHSMV so the records align.
Present two proofs of address: You have only one address document, the wrong kind, or an out-of-state address
Recovery: Two different Florida-address documents are required; a current driver license or ID card cannot serve as address proof, dated documents must be within the last 60 days, and the address must be in Florida.
Costs
| Item | Amount | Payment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Class E driver license (includes the learner's license) | $48 | Paid at the service center or tax collector office | A single charge that also covers the learner's license — it is not billed twice |
| County tax collector office service fee (Optional) | $6.25 | Charged at the office | Added by most county tax collector offices in addition to the license fee — not every office charges it |
| Class E Knowledge Exam | $10 | Paid at the office or approved administrator | — |
| Class E Driving Skills Test (road test) | $20 | Paid at the office or approved administrator | — |
| Florida identification card (Optional) | $25 | Paid at the service center or tax collector office | An ID card instead of a driver license, for those who do not drive |
- Payment:
- Paid at the service center or tax collector office
- Notes:
- A single charge that also covers the learner's license — it is not billed twice
- Payment:
- Charged at the office
- Notes:
- Added by most county tax collector offices in addition to the license fee — not every office charges it
- Payment:
- Paid at the office or approved administrator
- Payment:
- Paid at the office or approved administrator
- Payment:
- Paid at the service center or tax collector office
- Notes:
- An ID card instead of a driver license, for those who do not drive
FAQ
General
What language is the driver license exam given in?
The driver license exam is administered in English only. The Class E knowledge exam has 50 multiple-choice questions on Florida traffic laws, safe driving practices, and identifying traffic controls; you must answer 40 of the 50 correctly (80 percent) to pass. If English is not your first language, prepare for the test in English.
How soon must a new resident get a Florida license?
Within 30 days of establishing residency, in order to drive on Florida roads. You are considered a Florida resident if you enroll your children in public school, register to vote, file for a homestead exemption, accept employment, or reside in Florida for more than six consecutive months.
I already hold a valid driver license from my previous U.S. jurisdiction — do I retake the tests?
No. A new resident who exchanges a valid driver license from their previous U.S. jurisdiction for a Florida license is required to pass the vision and hearing tests only — the knowledge (written) and driving (road) tests are waived. The exchange is done in person and must be completed within 30 days of establishing residency.
My only previous license is from a foreign country — can I just exchange it?
No. A license issued only by a foreign country cannot be exchanged the way a previous U.S. jurisdiction license can. If you have never been issued a license in any state or country, you must complete the TLSAE course, then pass the vision and hearing tests, the knowledge test, and the driving skills test — the full first-time process.
Does an adult new arrival have to wait 12 months after the learner's license?
No. The 12-month learner's-license holding period is satisfied at age 18, so an applicant who is already 18 or older is not subject to the wait.
Will my new license be REAL ID-compliant?
Yes. Every first in-office issuance is processed as a REAL ID transaction, producing a card with a star in the upper-right corner. From May 7, 2025, the Transportation Security Administration accepts only a REAL ID-compliant license (with the star) — or another acceptable ID such as a U.S. passport — at airport security checkpoints.
After This Process
- → Carry your starred REAL ID-compliant Florida license — it (or another acceptable ID such as a U.S. passport) is now required at airport security checkpoints under the federal REAL ID enforcement deadline noted in the FAQ
- → If you received a 60-day temporary paper permit, watch for the permanent card to arrive by mail once lawful-status verification completes
- → A new resident must complete the license process within 30 days of establishing residency
Sources
- FLHSMV — General Information (flhsmv.gov ↗)
- FLHSMV — What to Bring (flhsmv.gov ↗)
- FLHSMV — REAL ID (flhsmv.gov ↗)
- FLHSMV — Fees (flhsmv.gov ↗)
- TSA — REAL ID (tsa.gov ↗)
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More in United States
9 sources cited last accessed 2026-05-29
T1 official portal · T2 embassy/consulate · T3 news · T4 community — higher tier wins on conflict. methodology →
- T1Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles 2026-05-29
The Class E is Florida's standard non-commercial driver license. First-issue and REAL ID transactions are done in person at a driver license service center or a participating county tax collector office. The initial Class E license fee is $48.00 and includes the learner's license. A new resident exchanging a valid driver license from their previous U.S. jurisdiction is required to pass the vision and hearing tests only; the knowledge and driving tests are waived. A person who has never been licensed in any state or country must complete the full first-time process.
flhsmv.gov - T1Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles 2026-05-29
A new resident must obtain a valid Florida driver license within 30 days of establishing residency to drive on Florida roads. A person is considered a Florida resident if they enroll their children in public school, register to vote, file for a homestead exemption, accept employment, or reside in Florida for more than six consecutive months.
flhsmv.gov - T1Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles 2026-05-29
A first-time original applicant must present documents in four categories: two forms of identification, proof of date of birth, proof of Social Security number, and two different documents proving a Florida residential address (printouts and faxes accepted). Dated address documents must be within the last 60 days. A current driver license or ID card cannot serve as address proof, and an address outside Florida is not accepted.
flhsmv.gov - T1Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles 2026-05-29
Non-immigrant applicants present an employment authorization card (form I-688B or I-766) or a non-expired I-94 with a valid passport bearing a date-of-entry stamp; F-1/M-1 also need an I-20 and J-1/J-2 a DS-2019. Documents must be valid for more than 30 days from issuance. A non-U.S. citizen is issued a 60-day temporary paper permit plus a receipt while lawful-status verification through SAVE or USCIS completes.
flhsmv.gov - T1Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles 2026-05-29
The Class E knowledge exam has 50 multiple-choice questions; a customer must answer 40 of 50 correctly (80 percent) to pass. A vision test is conducted at the counter, with acuity below 20/40 referred to a specialist. The learner's license must be held for 12 months or until age 18 before a full license. The knowledge exam fee is $10.00, the driving skills test fee is $20.00, and a replacement license fee is $25.00.
flhsmv.gov - T1Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles 2026-05-29
The FLHSMV fee schedule is the authority for current motorist-services fees. Most county tax collector offices add a $6.25 service fee on top of the license fee. A Florida identification card is $25.00.
flhsmv.gov - T1Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles 2026-05-29
FLHSMV driver license exams are administered in English only, effective early 2026.
flhsmv.gov - T1Transportation Security Administration 2026-05-29
From May 7, 2025, the TSA accepts only REAL ID-compliant driver licenses and ID cards (marked with a star) — or another acceptable ID such as a U.S. passport — as identification at airport security checkpoints.
tsa.gov - T1Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles 2026-05-29
An applicant over 18 who has never held a driver license from any other state, country, or jurisdiction must complete a 4-hour Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course before applying. A DELAP course offered by some county school boards satisfies this requirement. The TLSAE fee is set by the approved private provider, not by FLHSMV, so no single state-published price exists.
flhsmv.gov