In Louisiana, if you have never had a drivers license before (in any state), you must take an approved drivers education course in order to be eligible for the learners permit.

If you are under 17, this course must consist of 36 hours (30 hours of classroom instruction and 6 hours of behind the wheel driving instruction).

If you are over 17, you may take either a 36 hour drivers education course or a 6 hour pre-licensing course.

Online drivers education courses do not satisfy these requirements.

In order to get the learners permit and eventually the Louisiana drivers license, everyone regardless of age must pass a written test on traffic laws and signs. Most people fail this test on their first try.

Pass the first time when you learn the rules of the road with DriversEd.com and prepare for the learners permit test with our Louisiana OMV practice permit tests. Our online practice permit tests can be purchased separately or are free when you purchase our Louisiana drivers education course.

Apply for your learners permit at an OMV in your parish.
In order to be eligible for the learners permit, you must:

1. Be at least 15 years old.
2. Prove who you are and your date of birth. One primary and two secondary documents or two primary documents are required as proof of identification. Photocopies are not acceptable. View acceptable documents.
3. Provide Social Security number.
4. Provide a Certificate of Completion from an approved drivers education course (see Step 1).
5. Pass a vision exam.
6. Pass a written test and a traffic signs test.
7. Pay a fee.

Once you pass the written test, you will be issued a learners permit (Class E Learners License/Permit).

If you are under 17, you are authorized to drive with one licensed adult at least 21 years of age or sibling at least 18 years of age. You must hold your learners license for a minimum of 180 days and cannot change to intermediate stage until 16th birthday.

Practice driving under supervision for at least 180 days if you are under 17 or at least 30 days if you are 17 or over.

DriversEd.com can help make this supervised driving period less stressful. Our Behind-the-Wheel Training Guide teaches important concepts and guides parents step-by-step through the process of teaching their teen to drive. It also comes with a FREE Passenger Side Rear-View Mirror which allows you to see exactly what your teen sees when behind the wheel.

If you are 17 or over and you have taken a 36 hour drivers education course, there is no minimum learners permit holding period.

Schedule a driving test at an OMV in your parish or a state-authorized third party tester.
In order to be eligible for the Louisiana drivers license, you must:

1. Be at least 16 years old.
2. Present your learners permit, birth certificate and Social Security card.
3. Bring a parent or legal guardian with picture I.D. In case of joint custody, only domiciliary parent may sign. If a minor is accompanied by a mother who has since re-married, the mother must present documentation to show the connection in the names, such as a certified copy of her divorce decree and new marriage license.
4. Bring a vehicle for the driving test. The vehicle must have a current safety inspection sticker, current license plate validation sticker, and current certificate of registration. You must also show proof of vehicle insurance.
5. Pass a vision test.
6. Pay a fee.
7. Pass the driving test.

Once you have passed the driving test, you will be issued a drivers license. If you are under 17, you will be issued an Intermediate License with the following restrictions:

• Prohibited from driving between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., unless accompanied by a licensed adult at least 21 years of age or sibling at least 18 years of age.
• The license must be maintained until your 17th birthday.

To be eligible for a Full License you must:

• Have complied with all the restrictions of the learners permit and intermediate license.