Under 18:
If you are under 18, in order to get your instruction permit and ultimately your Wisconsin drivers license, you must take a Wisconsin DMV-approved 30-hour drivers education. Online drivers education courses do not satisfy this requirement.

18 or Older:
If you are 18 or older, drivers education is not mandatory in Wisconsin. However, it’s always a good idea for new drivers to take a Wisconsin drivers education course. With quality drivers education, you can:

Note: this course will not satisfy the Wisconsin drivers education requirement for new drivers under 18.

In order to get the learners permit and eventually the Wisconsin 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.

Apply for your instruction permit at your local DMV.

To be eligible for the WI instruction permit, you must

1. Be at least 15 years and 6 months of age.
2. Complete an application for a license - form MV3001.
3. Provide proof of name and date of birth when applying for the first permit.
4. Provide proof of identity.
5. Effective, April 1, 2007, you will need to provide documentary proof that you are a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent or conditional resident or temporary visitor.
6. Provide proof of Wisconsin residency.
7. Provide your Social Security number.
8. If under 18 years old, an applicant must be enrolled in a certified driver education program. Your license application (MV3001) must be signed by the instructor in the proper certification area and yourfirst behind the wheel lesson must be conducted within 60 days of the issuance of your permit.
9. If under 18 years old, the applicant must have the signature of a parent, step-parent, or other adult sponsor, or file proof of insurance under certain conditions.
10. If under 18 years old, be enrolled in a school program or high school equivalency program, graduated from high school or been granted a declaration of high school graduation equivalency, or be enrolled in a home-based private education program, and not be a habitually truant.
11. Pass the appropriate knowledge tests, sign and vision tests.
12. Pay the applicable fee.

Once you pass the test, you will be issued a provisional instruction permit which allows you to drive when accompanied by someone occupying the seat beside them who has at least two years licensed driving experience, who presently holds a valid regular (non-probationary) license and who is one of the following:

• a qualified instructor age 19 or older, or
• a parent, guardian or spouse, age 19 or older. In addition to the parent, guardian, or spouse, a member of your immediate family may occupy seats in the vehicle other than the front seat, or
• a person age 21 or older who is not your parent, guardian, or spouse. No other passengers are allowed. If the permit holder is under 18 years old, the licensed person is required to have written authorization from the minor's parent or guardian prior to the operation of the vehicle.

Once you have your Wisconsin provisional instruction permit, you will need to practice driving under supervision.

If you are under 18, you must hold your instruction permit for at least 6 months and you must log at least 30 hours (10 at night) of driving practice.

DriversEd.com can help make the 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.

Schedule an appointment to take the driving test at your local DMV.

To be eligible for the Wisconsin drivers license, you must:

• Be at least 16 years old.
• Have held your permit for a minimum of 6 months if you are under 18.
• Have passed a drivers education course if you are under 18.
• Have an adult sponsor (your parent or legal guardian) certify their sponsorship on your application and that you completed 30 hours (including 10 hours at night) of supervised driving practice if you are under 18.
• Provide documentary proof that you are a U.S. Citizen, lawful permanent resident or conditional resident (effective April 1, 2007).
• Provide proof of name, date of birth, identity, and Wisconsin residency.
• To prove your name and date of birth bring: A certified copy of your birth certificate or a passport, or a Wisconsin DOT photo ID card or a valid (or expired less than 4 years) driver license from another state. Note: Hospital birth certificates, notification of birth registration or baptismal certificates are not acceptable. Get a certified copy of your birth certificate at the Register of Deeds in the county where you were born. If you were born in Wisconsin, you can contact Vital Records, P. O. Box 309, Madison, WI 53701. You will be charged a fee.
• To prove your identity, bring: One other acceptable form of identification which has your name and signature or photograph (i.e., driver education course completion certificate, military or student ID card, credit card, social security card, etc.).
• To prove Wisconsin residency, bring: One other acceptable form of identification, which has your name and Wisconsin address (i.e. a bank statement that is at least 30 days old.) Note: For a list of acceptable identification documents, visit the DMV Web site.
• Pass the driving test.
• Turn in any driver license and/or identification card issued in another state.
• Not have your drivers license suspended or revoked in another state.
• Meet the physical and medical requirements for the type of driver license for which you are applying.
• Pay the applicable fee.

Once you pass the driving test, you will be issued a drivers license.

Provisional Driving Restrictions for One Year
If you are under 18 you must be accompanied and supervised by a licensed parent, guardian, a licensed driver 25 years of age or older, or a certified driving instructor when you:

• Transport passengers under 20 years of age at any time during the first 12 months.
• Drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. for the first 9 months.

Note that persons under 18 may not be employed to drive a motor vehicle. When you become 18, the provisional part of your drivers license ends. You may continue to drive as an adult using your photo license.