2026
A quick note before we start
So your teen is about to start driving. That usually comes with a mix of pride and a whole lot of nervous energy, and honestly, we get it. For more than 30 years we’ve walked thousands of Broward and Miami-Dade families through this exact stretch. Everything we tell them is right here in one place.
Quick heads up before you dive in. Florida changed its teen licensing law back in 2025. Maybe you got your own license ages ago, or your older kid already went through all this. Either way, things work differently now, and this guide follows the current rules.
What changed
Every teen under 18 who wants a learner’s permit now has to finish a 6-hour Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS) course. The old 4-hour Drug & Alcohol course? That one doesn’t count for teens anymore.
The Roadmap
Five steps from zero to license.
1
6-Hour Course + Permit Exam
2
DMV Visit → Learner’s Permit
3
Year of Practice — 50 Hours
4
The Road Test
5
The License + Rules
Realistically, plan on about 12 to 14 months from that first course to a license in hand. What makes the whole thing go smoothly or rocky? It almost always comes down to Step 3.
STEP 1
The 6-Hour Course & Permit Exam
Before any Florida teen can apply for a learner’s permit, they have to finish the state-approved 6-hour Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS) course. They can take the course at 14½, and they become eligible for the permit at 15. A lot of families like to get this out of the way early.
Press Here To Get Started With Our $150 Permit Bundle
There’s also the Class E Knowledge Exam to pass. It’s 50 questions on road signs, traffic laws, and safe driving, and your teen needs 40 right to hit the 80% they need. Here’s a nice surprise a lot of parents miss. Teens under 18 can take this official test from home, completely online. No DMV line for this one.
How we make Step 1 easy
Our $150 Permit Prep Bundle includes the full 6-hour DETS course, a practice permit test, and the official online permit exam. About 40% of unprepared kids fail that permit test the first time around. The practice test is there so your teen walks in ready and isn’t one of them.
STEP 2
The DMV Visit: Getting the Permit
With the course and exam behind you, it’s time to head to a Florida DMV. Book an appointment if you can. If you’re going as a walk-in, get there early.
The Documents Checklist
Bring ALL of this — missing one means a wasted trip.
Proof of identity (birth certificate or passport)
Proof of Social Security number
Two proofs of Florida residential address (utility bill, lease, etc. — recent)
Notarized Parental Consent Form (HSMV 71018) — required for all applicants under 18
Course completion certificate (also reported electronically, but bring the paper)
Most families who get turned away at the DMV trip up on one of two things: a parental consent form that wasn’t notarized correctly, or residency proof that’s missing or out of date. Give those two a good once-over before you leave the house.
You’ll walk out with a learner’s permit and one very excited teenager. This is where the real work begins.
STEP 3
The Year of Practice
This is where families struggle.
Before your teen can sit for the driving test, Florida asks for a few things:
Hold the learner’s permit for at least 12 months (or until age 18, whichever comes first)
Complete 50 hours of supervised driving: 40 daytime, 10 at night — certified by a parent, guardian, or adult over 21
Zero moving violation convictions during that year. A ticket extends the waiting period another full year from the conviction date
50 hours. 12 months. Zero tickets. The permit year is the foundation of how your child will drive for the rest of their life.
The honest problem nobody warns you about
On paper, the parent handles all 50 of those hours. Real life looks a little different. Here’s what we hear from Broward and Miami-Dade families all the time:
We both work full-time — when exactly are these 50 hours supposed to happen?
I’m terrified. My car doesn’t have a second brake. If she panics, all I can do is pray.
Every session ends in an argument. He doesn’t listen to me the way he’d listen to a teacher.
If any of that hits home, you’re in good company. It’s completely normal, and it’s exactly where a professional instructor comes in.
How we fit into your year
After 30-plus years, we’ve noticed teen drivers tend to fall into two camps, and each one needs something a little different. Which sounds like yours?
Path A — The Brand-New Driver
Build the Foundation First
Your teen has never been behind the wheel. Our certified instructors teach the basics in dual-brake cars, and we handle pick-up and drop-off so lessons fit around your work day.
10-Hour Foundation Package:
Defensive driving — reading other drivers, anticipating the unexpected
City practice — real Broward/Miami-Dade traffic, lane discipline, complex intersections
Highway training — merging, speed management, confidence on I-95
20-Hour Foundation Package:
Everything above, plus more precision, free driving test, parallel parking, and up to 2 hours of night classes.
From there, you take the wheel for the rest of the supervised hours. You’re building on what a pro already taught rather than starting cold, so those practice drives feel a lot calmer.
Path B — The Complete Package
We Handle the Hours
Some families just can’t make the math work. Maybe both parents work, maybe there’s no safe car to practice in, or maybe your teen does better with steady, professional structure. That’s who this is for.
50-Hour Complete Package:
This covers the whole requirement: 40 daytime hours plus 10 at night, all with a certified instructor in a dual-brake vehicle, pick-up and drop-off included. Every hour, start to finish, taken care of.
State-certified instructors
Dual-brake training vehicles
Pick-up & drop-off included
4.9★ from 450+ South Florida families
STEP 5
Road Test Day & The License
Once the 12 months and 50 hours are done and your teen has turned 16, it’s finally test time. A couple of things tend to catch parents off guard:
The certification form. A parent or guardian has to sign the Certification of Minor Driving Experience Form confirming all 50 hours, 10 of them at night. Keep the official practice log going all year and this part is a breeze.
The car matters too. Whatever vehicle your teen tests in needs valid registration, proof of insurance, and it has to pass a quick inspection by the examiner. If it doesn’t pass, there’s no test that day.
Test with us
Your teen can take the road test in the same school car they trained in. We’ve already handled the registration, insurance, and inspection. Same car, same feel, and no surprises on the day that matters most.
After they pass: the rules aren’t over
Even with a shiny new license, Florida’s Graduated Driver Licensing rules still apply:
16-year-olds may not drive between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.
17-year-olds may not drive between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.
Exceptions: driving to/from work, or accompanied by a licensed driver 21+
Have that conversation as a family before the first solo Friday night rolls around.
The Master Checklist
Print this page and stick it on the fridge.
Phase 1 — Before the Permit (age 14½+)
Complete the 6-hour DETS course
Pass practice tests until consistently scoring 90%+
Pass the official Class E Knowledge Exam (online for under-18)
Gather documents + notarize consent form (HSMV 71018)
DMV visit → vision/hearing test → PERMIT
Phase 2 — The Permit Year
Start the 50-hour log immediately (40 day / 10 night)
Build the foundation (professional instruction or supervised practice)
Log hours consistently — 1 hour/week alone won’t get there
Zero tickets (a conviction adds a full year)
Book advanced/highway training in the final stretch
Phase 3 — Test & Beyond (age 16+, 12 months later)
Complete + sign the 50-hour certification form
Confirm test vehicle: registration, insurance, inspection-ready
Pass the road test → LICENSE
Family agreement on curfews & rules
Ready to build your teen’s foundation?
Thousands of South Florida families have trusted us with this exact year of their lives. That trust is where our 4.9 stars from 450-plus reviews come from.
Call Us 954-925-6090
📍 Serving all of Broward & Miami-Dade — pick-up and drop-off included.
What families say
4.9 stars from 450+ South Florida reviews.
