Who needs a license, license classes and the tests

Key points

1. Always carry your license when driving, and show it to any officer who asks.

   Source: Handbook p. 1

   “Always carry your license with you when driving. You are required to show your license to any law enforcement officer or any officer who may ask to see it.”
   Louisiana Class D and E Driver's Guide, Handbook p. 1

2. New residents have 30 days from establishing residency to get a Louisiana license.

   Source: Handbook p. 1

   “New residents have 30 days from the time residency is established to obtain a Louisiana license.”
   Louisiana Class D and E Driver's Guide, Handbook p. 1

3. Nonresidents with a valid license from another state may drive here for 90 days.

   Source: Handbook p. 1

   “Non-residents who possess a valid license issued by another state. You are permitted to drive in this state for a period of 90 days.”
   Louisiana Class D and E Driver's Guide, Handbook p. 1

4. Class E covers any single motor vehicle under 10,001 pounds, recreational vehicles and some farm vehicles.

   Source: Handbook p. 2

   “Permits the operation of any single motor vehicle under 10,001 pounds, recreational vehicles and certain farm use vehicles not defined as commercial vehicle.”
   Louisiana Class D and E Driver's Guide, Handbook p. 2

5. Class D requires age 17. A Class E learner's permit starts at 15.

   Source: Handbook p. 4

   “Class D Minimum seventeen (17) years of age. Class E Minimum fifteen (15) years of age for a learner's permit”
   Louisiana Class D and E Driver's Guide, Handbook p. 4

6. First time applicants must complete driver education before applying for a license.

   Source: Handbook p. 3

   “The driver education course must be completed before making application for the driver's license.”
   Louisiana Class D and E Driver's Guide, Handbook p. 3

7. The vision screening checks for the minimum standard of 20/40.

   Source: Handbook p. 8

   “The screening will determine if your vision meets minimum standards (20/40) for safe driving.”
   Louisiana Class D and E Driver's Guide, Handbook p. 8

8. You must answer 80 percent of the knowledge test questions correctly to pass.

   Source: Handbook p. 8

   “you must correctly answer 80 percent of these questions to receive a passing score.”
   Louisiana Class D and E Driver's Guide, Handbook p. 8

9. You fail the road test for any traffic violation, dangerous action, collision or refusing instructions.

   Source: Handbook p. 10

   “A violation of any traffic law Any dangerous action/incident Lack of cooperation or refusal to follow instructions Collision”
   Louisiana Class D and E Driver's Guide, Handbook p. 10

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Louisiana practice test

1. 1. What percentage must a first-time applicant answer correctly to pass Louisiana's knowledge test?

   1. 80 percent
   2. 70 percent
   3. 90 percent
   4. 100 percent
   Show answer

   80 percent. A first-time applicant must correctly answer 80 percent of the knowledge-test questions to receive a passing score. The guide does not require a perfect result, so 100 percent sets the bar higher than the stated standard. Seventy and 90 percent are not the listed threshold. The useful test-taking cue is to separate the passing percentage from the number of questions: the manual gives the percentage, and each item still comes from the guide's traffic and safety material.

2. 2. What does Louisiana's knowledge test cover for a first-time applicant?

   1. Navigation and fuel economy only
   2. Vehicle repair and engine rebuilding only
   3. Road construction employment procedures only
   4. Traffic signs and signals, safe driving practices, and Louisiana driving laws
   Show answer

   Traffic signs and signals, safe driving practices, and Louisiana driving laws. The knowledge test confirms understanding of traffic signs and signals, safe driving practices, and Louisiana laws related to driving. It is not an engine-repair exam, a road-construction employment test, or a fuel-economy assessment. Those distractors name useful subjects in other contexts but do not describe the test's stated scope. The cue is to remember the three-part coverage: controls on the road, safe operation, and Louisiana law.

3. 3. What does a Louisiana Class E license permit?

   1. Operation of any single motor vehicle under 10,001 pounds, recreational vehicles and certain farm vehicles
   2. Motorcycles only
   3. Commercial trucks
   4. Any vehicle under 26,001 pounds
   Show answer

   Operation of any single motor vehicle under 10,001 pounds, recreational vehicles and certain farm vehicles. Class E permits the operation of any single motor vehicle under 10,001 pounds, recreational vehicles and certain farm use vehicles not defined as commercial, and is the license most drivers hold. Class D covers heavier vehicles and combinations as long as the combined gross vehicle weight rating of truck and trailer is under 26,001 pounds; a Class D applicant must be at least 17.

Source: the Louisiana Class D and E Driver's Guide, Chapter 1: Getting a 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.