Learner's license, practice hours and teen curfews

Key points

1. You must be at least 15 for a learner's license and pass the TLSAE course, vision and knowledge exams.

   Source: Handbook p. 8

   “Be at least 15 years old. 2. Completion of Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education Course (TLSAE)*. 3. Pass Vision and Class E Knowledge exams.”
   Official Florida Driver License Handbook, Handbook p. 8

2. Under 18, you must hold the learner's license for 12 months or until your 18th birthday, whichever comes first.

   Source: Handbook p. 8

   “Must hold a learner’s license for 12 months or until the 18th birthday, whichever comes first.”
   Official Florida Driver License Handbook, Handbook p. 8

3. An adult 21 or older must certify at least 50 hours of driving practice, 10 of them at night.

   Source: Handbook p. 8

   “A parent, legal guardian, or responsible adult 21 years old or older, must certify that the driver has had at least 50 hours of driving experience, of which 10 hours were at night.”
   Official Florida Driver License Handbook, Handbook p. 8

4. A learner must drive with a licensed driver 21 or older in the front passenger seat.

   Source: PDF page 9

   “Always drive accompanied by a licensed driver, age 21+, who rides in the closest seat to the right of the driver.”
   Official Florida Driver License Handbook, PDF page 9

5. Learners may drive only in daylight for the first three months, then until 10 pm.

   Source: PDF page 9

   “Must only drive during daylight hours during the first three months. After three months, may drive until 10 pm.”
   Official Florida Driver License Handbook, PDF page 9

6. A licensed 16 year old may not drive between 11 pm and 6 am unless going to or from work or with a licensed driver 21 or older.

   Source: Handbook p. 25

   “A 16-year-old licensed driver may not drive between 11 pm and 6 am unless driving to or from work or accompanied by a licensed driver age 21 or older.”
   Official Florida Driver License Handbook, Handbook p. 25

7. A licensed 17 year old may not drive between 1 am and 5 am unless going to or from work or with a licensed driver 21 or older.

   Source: Handbook p. 25

   “A 17-year-old licensed driver may not drive between 1 am and 5 am, unless driving to or from work or accompanied by a licensed driver age 21 or older.”
   Official Florida Driver License Handbook, Handbook p. 25

8. Drivers under 18 with 6 or more points in 12 months are restricted to Business Purposes Only driving for one year.

   Source: PDF page 9

   “Drivers under the age of 18 who accumulate six or more points within a 12-month period are automatically restricted to driving for “Business Purposes ONLY” for one year.”
   Official Florida Driver License Handbook, PDF page 9

9. If you have never held a license anywhere, you must complete a TLSAE course before applying.

   Source: Handbook p. 17

   “you must complete a TLSAE course before applying for a driver license in the state of Florida.”
   Official Florida Driver License Handbook, Handbook p. 17

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Florida practice test

1. 1. Before receiving an unrestricted Florida license, how much supervised driving practice is required and how much must be at night?

   1. 30 total hours, including 5 at night
   2. 50 total hours, including 10 at night
   3. 60 total hours, including 15 at night
   4. 40 total hours, including 10 at night
   Show answer

   50 total hours, including 10 at night. Florida requires a parent, guardian, or responsible adult age 21 or older to certify at least 50 hours of driving experience, including 10 hours at night, for the under-18 licensing path. The 30, 40, and 60-hour totals alter the stated practice requirement, while the five and 15-hour night figures also miss the handbook's number. Treat the night portion as part of the 50-hour total, not as extra hours added on top. A log or certification should reflect both figures before the applicant advances.

2. 2. Without a work or adult-passenger exception, during what hours may a 16-year-old Florida licensed driver drive?

   1. 5 a.m. to 1 a.m.
   2. 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
   3. 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
   4. Any time after the learner's license is held for 12 months
   Show answer

   6 a.m. to 11 p.m.. A 16-year-old Florida licensed driver may not drive between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. unless traveling to or from work or accompanied by a licensed driver age 21 or older. Therefore the ordinary unsupervised window is 6 a.m. through 11 p.m. The 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. range belongs to the 17-year-old rule, while the 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. option is narrower than the handbook restriction. Holding a learner's license does not erase these clock limits.

3. 3. A Florida driver under 18 accumulates 6 or more points within 12 months. What happens?

   1. Nothing until 12 points
   2. The license is revoked for one year
   3. The license is automatically restricted to business purposes only
   4. A $500 fine is assessed
   Show answer

   The license is automatically restricted to business purposes only. Florida's mandatory restriction for minors says any driver under 18 who accumulates 6 or more points within a 12 month period is automatically restricted to business purposes only for one year, or until age 18, whichever comes first. Adult thresholds start at 12 points. The restriction is a limit on when and why the minor may drive, not a revocation or a fine, and additional points during the restriction extend it.

Source: the Official Florida Driver License Handbook, Driver Licenses & ID Cards. 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.