Who Needs a License and Vision Rules

Key points

1. New residents must get an Arkansas license within 30 days of becoming a resident.

   Source: Handbook p. 2

   “Within thirty (30) calendar days of becoming a resident, any person who is a resident of this state shall obtain an Arkansas driver’s license”
   Arkansas Driver License Study Guide, Handbook p. 2

2. A nonresident present in Arkansas for 6 months must get an Arkansas license.

   Source: Handbook p. 2

   “Any nonresident who has been physically present in this state for a period of six (6) months shall obtain an Arkansas driver’s license”
   Arkansas Driver License Study Guide, Handbook p. 2

3. You can get a restricted license at 14 and a non restricted license at 18.

   Source: Handbook p. 2

   “You are at least fourteen (14) years of age (restricted license) You are at least eighteen (18) years of age (non-restricted license)”
   Arkansas Driver License Study Guide, Handbook p. 2

4. Applicants under 18 need a parent or legal guardian's consent.

   Source: Handbook p. 2

   “You have a parent or legal guardian to consent, if under eighteen (18) years of age.”
   Arkansas Driver License Study Guide, Handbook p. 2

5. An unrestricted license needs 20/40 vision uncorrected; a restricted license with lenses needs 20/70.

   Source: Handbook p. 5

   “A minimum uncorrected visual acuity of 20/40 is required for an unrestricted license, or a minimum corrected visual acuity of 20/70 is required for a restricted license”
   Arkansas Driver License Study Guide, Handbook p. 5

6. Your field of vision must be 140 degrees with two functional eyes, or 105 with one.

   Source: Handbook p. 5

   “your field of vision must be 140º for a person with two (2) functional eyes or 105º for a person with one (1) functional eye.”
   Arkansas Driver License Study Guide, Handbook p. 5

7. A vision test or vision referral form is valid for 1 year from the test date.

   Source: Handbook p. 5

   “A vision test and a vision referral form (ASP-90) will be valid for one (1) year from the date the test was administered.”
   Arkansas Driver License Study Guide, Handbook p. 5

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Arkansas practice test

1. 1. Within what period must a person who becomes an Arkansas resident obtain an Arkansas driver's license?

   1. Within 10 calendar days
   2. Within six months
   3. Within 60 calendar days
   4. Within 30 calendar days
   Show answer

   Within 30 calendar days. A new Arkansas resident has thirty calendar days to obtain an Arkansas driver's license for driving on state streets and highways. Six months describes the separate rule for a nonresident who has been physically present in Arkansas, not the resident deadline. Ten and sixty days do not match the stated period. The memory distinction is resident equals thirty calendar days, while nonresident physical presence reaches six months before the license requirement applies.

2. 2. At what age may an Arkansas applicant obtain a non-restricted license?

   1. 21
   2. 14
   3. 16
   4. 18
   Show answer

   18. The manual sets 18 as the minimum age for a non-restricted license. Fourteen is the minimum age associated with a restricted license, while 16 describes another stage in the graduated system rather than the Class D threshold. The age 21 option is too high. When studying the stages, pair 14 with restricted eligibility and 18 with the non-restricted license to avoid swapping the two milestones.

3. 3. What minimum uncorrected visual acuity is required for an unrestricted Arkansas license?

   1. 20/40
   2. 20/20
   3. 20/70
   4. 20/100
   Show answer

   20/40. An unrestricted license requires minimum uncorrected visual acuity of 20/40. The 20/70 figure belongs to corrected acuity for a restricted license, so it is not the unrestricted standard. The perfect-vision choice is stricter than the guide requires, and 20/100 is weaker than the stated threshold. Applicants should distinguish uncorrected from corrected vision and unrestricted from restricted licensing before selecting a figure.

Source: the Arkansas Driver License Study Guide, The Driver's License. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.