At your local DMV office, complete the MV-44

application form for a permit/license or non-driver ID

and show proofs of identity and date of birth. Eye

tests may be taken at the DMV office, or bring a

completed MV-619 Visual Acuity Report form.

Pay application and license fees. Fees for

permits/licenses vary. Check our fee schedule.

Take the written permit test. To pass, you must

correctly answer at least 14 of the 20 multiple-choice

questions, including at least two of the four road sign

questions. No appointment is needed, but you must

arrive at least one half hour before office closing

time when you come in to take the written test.

If you do not pass, you may take the written test again

as often as you wish, but we encourage those who do not

pass the written test to study the Driver's Manual and

come back another day to re-take the test. The written

test fee is collected when you apply for your permit,

there is no additional fee to re-take this test.

If you pass the test, you will be issued a learner

permit which is valid for up to 5 years, depending on

your exact age and birth date in relation to the date

you apply.

There are driving restrictions for permit holder and

for drivers under 18. Get the complete text of our

brochure, Learner Permits and Junior Licenses, for

information on driving restrictions.

When you have your permit:

Practice, practice, practice! DMV recommends you have

at least 30 hours of driving practice to prepare for

your road test, with at least 10 hours in moderate to

heavy traffic. We recommend you take professional

instruction if possible or practice with an experienced

driver. Most learners who fail their road tests do so

because they are not properly prepared.

Attend a mandatory pre-licensing course or complete

high school or college driver education. The course is

offered by most commercial driving schools licensed by

DMV. Look in the telephone directory under "Driving

Instruction."

You must pass a 25-question, multiple-choice test at

the end of the 5- hour course. You will have two

opportunities to pass the test. To pass, you must

correctly answer 16 of the 25 questions. If you do not

pass on the second attempt, you must retake the course.

When you pass, you will receive a certificate that you

must present when making your road test appointment and

to the road test examiner on the day of your test.

Schedule a road test. When you receive your permit, the

local office will provide information on how to

schedule your road test. In most areas, you must make

an appointment in person; in some areas you may do so

by phone. It is usually 3-10 weeks from the date you

schedule the test to the date of the test, with the

longest waits generally occurring in summer. Bring your

pre-licensing certificate. If you took driver

education, bring your "blue card" completion

certificate (MV-285).

At the end of the road test, the examiner will tell you

if you passed. If you did not pass, you may schedule a

second road test. If you do not pass the second road

test, you must pay a $10 fee to take up to two more

road tests.

A driver permit may only be renewed if the written test

was taken within the last two years, AND the permit has

not been expired for more than 30 days. Since permits

are usually issued for 5 years, most new drivers never

need to renew a permit.