Florida Classified Driver Licenses  

The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles issues the following classes of licenses: Class A, B, C, and E. Classes A, B, and C are for 

drivers of commercial motor vehicles such as large trucks and buses. Class E is for drivers of non-commercial vehicles. There is a separate manual 

entitled Commercial Driver License Manual for truck and bus drivers. This manual is available at any driver licenses office or on the Department's web 

page at http://www.flhsmv.gov/. If you wish to drive a motor vehicle you must be properly tested and licensed.  

Who Needs One?  

 1.  If you live in Florida and want to drive a motor vehicle on public streets and highways.  

 2.  If you move to Florida and have a valid license from another state, you must get a Florida license within 30 days of becoming a resident. 

You are considered a resident of Florida if you:  

  • Enroll your children in public school, or 

  • Register to vote, or 

  • File for a homestead exemption, or 

  • Accept employment, or  

  • Reside in Florida for more than six consecutive months. 

BUSINESS DISTRICT

: An area where 50% or more of the land next to the road is used for businesses. 

BICYCLE

: Every vehicle propelled solely by human power. 

CANCELLATION

 The act of declaring a driver's license void and terminated.

CERTIFIED COPY

: A copy which is marked in some official way to show that it is a true copy of the original document. To get a certified copy of a document, you must contact the agency that issued the original document.  

CHILD RESTRAINTS

 Infant carriers or removable car seats specially designed to keep babies and young children from being injured in car  crashes. A lap belt may be used as a restraint for children four years old or older. 

CONVICTION

: A judgment of guilt in a court. In a driver's record, suspended sentences, forfeiting/entreasures of bonds, and pleas of no contest count against the driver just as a conviction does. 

DEPARTMENT

: The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Tallahassee, Florida. 

ENDORSEMENT

: A special authorization which permits a person to drive certain types of vehicles, transport certain types of property or transport a number of passengers. 

FELONY

 Any criminal offense that is punishable under the laws of this state, or that would be punishable if committed in this state, by death or imprisonment in a state penitentiary.  "State penitentiary" includes state correctional facilities. 

INTERSECTION

: Where two streets meet or cross. 

MOTOR VEHICLE

: Any self-propelled vehicle, including a motor vehicle combination, not operated upon rails or guide way, excluding vehicles moved solely by human power, motorized wheelchairs, and motorized bicycles as defined in section 316.003, Florida Statutes. 

MOTORIZED SCOOTER

: Any vehicle not having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider, designed to travel on not more than three wheels, and not capable of propelling the vehicle at a speed greater than 30 miles per hour on level ground.  

PEDESTRIAN

: Any person afoot. 

RESIDENT

: A person, who has his principal place of domicile in this state for a period of more than six consecutive months, has registered to vote, has made a statement of domicile pursuant to section 222.17, Florida Statutes, or has filed for homestead exemption on property in this state. 

RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT

: An area where most of the land next to the road is used for homes. 

RESTRICTION

: A prohibition against operating certain types of motor vehicles or a requirement that a driver comply with certain conditions when driving a motor vehicle. 

REVOCATION

: The termination of a licensee's privilege to drive a motor vehicle. 

SUSPENSION

: The temporary withdrawal of a licensee's privilege to drive a motor vehicle. 

VEHICLE

: Every device, in, upon, or by which any person is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, except devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks. 

Who Does Not Need aFlorida Classified Driver Licenses ?

 drive in Florida without a Florida driver license, if they have a valid license from another state or country:  

 • Any non-resident who is at least 16 years old.  

 • Persons employed by the United States government driving a United States government motor vehicle on official business.  

 • Any non-resident working for a firm on a contract for the United States government. (This exemption is only for 60 days.)  

 • Any non-resident attending college in Florida.  

 • Persons who drive only vehicles like farm tractors or road machines temporarily on the highway may drive without a license.  

 • A licensed driver who lives in another state and travels regularly between his home and work in Florida.  

 • Non-resident migrant farm workers even though they are employed or place children in the public schools, providing they have a 

  valid license from their home state.  

 • Members of the Armed Forces stationed in Florida and their dependents, with these exceptions:  

   a. Service member or spouse claims homestead exemption (All drivers in family must obtain Florida licenses),  

   b.  Service member becomes employed (All drivers in family must obtain Florida licenses),  

   c. Spouse becomes employed (Spouse and children who drive must obtain Florida licenses),  

   d.  Child becomes employed (Only employed child who drives must obtain Florida license)  

Learner's Driver License  Requirements  

• Be at least 15 years old.  

• Pass vision, road signs and road rules tests.  

• Have the signature of one parent (or guardian) on the parent consent form, if under age 18.  

• Completion of Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education Course.  

• Two forms of identification (see Identifying Yourself).  

• Proof of Social Security Number.  

• Proof of residential address. (Two documents will be required) 

• Must be in compliance with school attendance, if under 18.  

The following requirements must be met in order to obtain a regular Class E license:  

• Must hold the learner’s license for 12 months or until the 18th  birthday.  

 • Must have NO moving traffic violation convictions 12 months from the issue date of the Learner’s license.  

 • May have one moving traffic violation conviction within 12 months from the issue date of the learner’s license, if adjudication is withheld.  

 • A parent, legal guardian or responsible adult over 21 years old, must certify that the driver has 50 hours of driving experience, of which 

  10 hours must be at night.   

Parent's Consent for Minors  

If you are under 18 and are not married, your license application must be signed by one parent or legal guardian.  

The application must be signed in front of the examiner or a notary public. Whoever signs your application agrees to take responsibility with you 

for your driving. If the signer decides not to accept responsibility for your driving, your license will be canceled. To cancel the license, the signer 

must write a letter to the department, at the address listed below, requesting to withdraw their consent for the minor driver. Include the complete 

name, date of birth and driver license number of the minor driver in the letter.   

TURN ABOUT

 - Turn your car around in a 30' to 40' space.

APPROACH OF CROSSING 

-Get in the proper lane and look in each direction. Change gears smoothly and correctly (if your car has a manual shift transmission).  

OBSERVE RIGHT-OF-WAY -

Allow pedestrians to cross, pull over and stop for emergency vehicles and do not enter an intersection 

where you will interfere with other traffic.  

STRAIGHT-IN PARKING 

- Park your vehicle inside the parking space straight-in. When properly parked, the vehicle should be centered 

inside the space with no part of the vehicle extending out in the traffic lane. This maneuver gives the examiner the opportunity to observe 

your ability to:  

    a) handle the vehicle in close quarters  

    b) judge distance  

    c) maintain control of the vehicle as you turn into a straight-in parking space.  

STOP/START ON A GRADE 

- If there is no hill on your driving test, this maneuver is simulated when the car is in the straight-in parking 

space or when the car is pulled over to the side of the road before the turnabout maneuver. You will be instructed to show or tell the 

examiner what you would do if you were going to leave the vehicle parked up or down a hill, with or without a curb.  

STOP QUICKLY 

 - Drive at 20 miles per hour and make a quick, safe stop when the examiner instructs you. 

BACKING 

-Back for a distance of 50 feet at a slow speed. Do not use the rear-view mirror when backing. Look to the rear instead. 

OBEY STOP SIGNS 

- Give the proper signal if turning, approach in the proper lane, come to a complete stop before reaching the 

pedestrian crosswalk or stop line, and remain stopped until you can move safely without interfering with cross traffic.  

OBEY TRAFFIC SIGNALS

 - Get into the proper lane and approach the light at a speed that will allow you to stop if the light should 

change. When you must stop, stop before the pedestrian crosswalk or stop line. When the light turns green, do not move forward until the 

other traffic has cleared  and "one way" signs.  

SIGNAL AND TURN -

 Get into the proper lane and signal your turn for the last 100 feet. You may use either hand signals or mechanical 

signals. Slow before reaching the crosswalk and turn into the proper lane. 

PASSING

 - Always look ahead and behind to make sure you can pass safely. Pass on the left, unless the car ahead is about to make a 

left turn or is in the left turn lane on a street with more than one lane in each direction. Do not pass on the shoulder (side of the road).  

STAY IN PROPER LANE 

FOLLOW AT A SAFE DISTANCE

USE PROPER POSTURE 

Keep both hands on the steering wheel and do not rest your elbow in the window.