Whether you have to take driver’s ed to get your permit depends on your age and your state. Roughly 20 states require teens to be enrolled in or have completed an approved driver’s education course before they can apply for a learner’s permit. The rest either push that requirement to a later stage, before a full or intermediate license, or leave it optional. Adults over 18 can usually skip driver’s ed entirely, with a few state-specific exceptions.1Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Graduated Licensing Laws
States That Require Driver’s Ed Before the Permit
About 20 states tie driver’s education directly to permit eligibility for younger applicants. In most of them, teens under 18 must be enrolled in or have finished an approved course before they can apply.1Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Graduated Licensing Laws
A few states cast a wider net:
- Florida requires all permit applicants to complete driver’s education regardless of age.
- Maryland requires it for all license applicants.
- Utah extends the requirement to anyone under 19.1Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Graduated Licensing Laws
Other states use driver’s ed as a lever on the minimum age. In Indiana, a teen who completes the course can get a permit at 15; without it, the floor is 16. Washington works the same way, letting enrolled students apply at 15 and making everyone else wait until 15 and a half.1Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Graduated Licensing Laws
States Where You Can Get the Permit Without It
The remaining states fall into two groups. Some don’t require driver’s ed for the permit itself but do require it before you can move up to a full or intermediate license. Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, and Maine all handle it this way: you can get your permit without a course, but you’ll need one before the next licensing stage.1Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Graduated Licensing Laws
Other states make driver’s ed entirely optional. Skipping it often means more hoops later, such as additional supervised practice hours or a longer waiting period before the full license.
If you’re 18 or older, most states let you apply for a permit, or in some cases go straight to a full license, without any driver’s education at all. The reasoning behind requiring it for teens but not adults sits in the graduated licensing framework: younger drivers crash more often, so states build more training checkpoints into their path.
Reasons to Take Driver’s Ed Even When It’s Optional
Even where the course isn’t mandatory, it can still pay off. Many auto insurers offer discounts of roughly 5 to 20 percent on the teen-driver portion of a policy for completing an approved program, and the structured behind-the-wheel time helps with the road test.
A handful of states also shorten the mandatory permit holding period for applicants who finish driver’s ed. Connecticut drops its holding period from six months to four, and South Dakota drops from nine months to six.1Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Graduated Licensing Laws If you’re planning to get your license as soon as you’re eligible, taking the course can move that date up.
What an Approved Driver’s Ed Course Looks Like
Approved programs generally combine classroom instruction with behind-the-wheel training. The classroom portion typically runs around 30 hours and covers traffic laws, road signs, right-of-way rules, and the effects of alcohol and drugs on driving. Behind-the-wheel training adds another 6 to 12 hours of supervised driving with a certified instructor, giving you time in real traffic, on highways, and in parking situations.
Cost
Price depends mostly on format:
- Online-only courses: $70 to $150. This covers the classroom component but not behind-the-wheel training.
- In-person classroom instruction: $200 to $600 for the lecture component alone.
- Complete packages combining classroom and behind-the-wheel: $400 to $1,500, depending on the school and the number of driving hours included.
Some public high schools still offer driver’s education at little or no cost, though availability has declined in many areas due to budget cuts. If cost is a concern, check whether your school district runs a program before paying for a private course.
Online Courses
Many states accept online driver’s education for the classroom portion, which lets you work through the material on your own schedule. Online courses still require passing quizzes or exams at set intervals, and you typically need to log a minimum number of hours in the system before the course issues a completion certificate. The behind-the-wheel component almost always requires in-person instruction, either through a driving school or, in some states, through a parent-taught program.
Parent-Taught Programs
A small number of states allow a parent or legal guardian to serve as the driving instructor, following a state-approved curriculum. These programs usually require the parent to hold a valid license with a clean driving record for several years, and they involve the same number of instruction hours as a commercial course. The completion certificate carries the same weight as one from a traditional driving school. Check your state’s motor vehicle department for whether parent-taught programs are accepted and what qualifications the teaching parent must meet.
Other Permit Requirements to Expect
Driver’s ed is only one piece of the permit application. Every state also sets age, testing, and documentation requirements.
Age
The minimum permit age ranges from 14 to 16. Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, North Dakota, and South Dakota set the floor at 14. Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Washington, D.C. require applicants to be at least 16.1Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Graduated Licensing Laws Most states land somewhere in between, with 15 or 15 and a half being the common minimum.
Written Test and Vision Screening
You’ll need to pass a written or computerized knowledge test covering traffic laws, road signs, and safe driving practices. Most states require a score of around 80 percent. A vision screening is standard. If your eyesight falls below the state threshold, corrective lenses will be noted on your permit. In some states, completing driver’s education through a school program lets you take the written test there instead of at the DMV.
Documents
Permit applications require original documents; photocopies are generally not accepted. Expect to bring:
- Proof of identity, such as an original birth certificate or unexpired U.S. passport.
- Two documents showing your current address, such as utility bills or bank statements.
- Social Security verification, usually your Social Security card or a W-2. If you haven’t been issued a Social Security number, most states will identify you through other means; you don’t need an SSN to get a driver’s license.2Social Security Administration. Social Security Numbers for Noncitizens
- Parental consent if you’re under 18. A parent or legal guardian must sign the application.
- Your driver’s education certificate, if your state requires completion before the permit.
Some states also ask for proof of school enrollment or attendance for teen applicants. Requirements vary, so check your state’s motor vehicle website for the exact list before you go.