In Idaho, you can get your drivers license at 15 years old. However, if you are under 17, you must take an approved drivers education course first.

You must be at least 14½ years old to begin drivers education. Approved courses consist of 1,800 minutes (30 hours) of classroom instruction, 360 minutes (6 hours) of in-car observation in a driver-training car, and 360 minutes (6 hours) of in-car driving lessons with a driver training instructor. Online drivers education courses do not satisfy the Idaho drivers education requirements.

17 or Older:
If you are 17 or older, drivers education is not mandatory in Idaho for your learners permit. However, it’s always a good idea for new drivers to take a drivers education course. With quality drivers education, you can:

• Learn the rules of the road and essential safe driving skills
• Have a better chance of passing your learners permit test
• Qualify for an auto insurance discount (where applicable)

Take the DriversEd.com Idaho drivers education course online at your own pace and on your own schedule. Note: this course will not satisfy the drivers ed requirement for new drivers under 17.

In order to get the Idaho instruction permit, applicants who have not completed a drivers education course 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 instruction permit test with our Idaho DMV practice permit tests. Our online practice permit tests can be purchased alone or are free when you purchase our online Idaho drivers education course.

Under 17:
In order to be eligible for the Driver Training/Supervised Instruction Permit, you must:

1. Be at least 14½ years old.
2. Be enrolled in an approved drivers education program.
3. Provide your Social Security number or a legal presence document.
4. Provide your Certified Original Birth Certificate (available from the Bureau of Vital Statistics).
5. Provide verification of school enrollment.
6. Provide acceptable photo identification.
7. Bring a parent or legal guardian to act as your liability signer if you are under 18.
8. Pass a vision test.

Your Driver Training/Supervised Instruction Permit (SIP) will have the following restrictions:

1. It must be signed by the driver training instructor, a parent or legal guardian, and the applicant.
2. During the required supervised driving period the supervising driver must be at least 21 years of age and possess a valid drivers license. The supervising driver must sit in the seat beside the permit holder. No other passengers are allowed in the front seat.
3. The SIP must be in the permit holder’s possession while driving.
4. All occupants must wear seat belts or child safety restraints.
5. The permit holder must observe all laws regarding the use of alcohol and other intoxicating substances.

17 or Older:
In order to be eligible for the instruction permit, you must:

1. You must provide proof of Idaho residency, age and identity. If you have a non-US drivers license, you must bring additional documents. View acceptable documents.
2. Bring your social security number or the original card issued by the Social Security Administration.
3. Pass a vision exam.
4. Pass the written test.
5. Pay the permit test fee.
6. If you fail a written test, you must wait 3 days to re-test. You will need to pay the fee again.

Once you pass the written test, you will be issued an instruction permit which allows you to practice driving under the supervision of a licensed driver who is at least 18 years old.

To schedule a driving test, you need to make an appointment with a certified skills tester. A list of skills testers in your area will be provided by the driver’s license office when you make application.
To be eligible for the Idaho drivers license, you must:

1. Be at least 15 years old.
2. Provide proof of identity and age (refer to the Idaho Drivers Manual-Chapter 1 for acceptable documents).
3. Provide proof that you have completed an approved driver training program and comply with the requirements of the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Program (if under 17).
4. Provide verification of school enrollment or graduation if under 18.
5. Have completed the Supervised Instruction period of 4 months without any traffic violations (if under 17).
6. Have your parents sign a statement certifying that you have accumulated at least 50 hours of supervised driving time, ten hours of which must be at night.
7. Pass the driving skills test.

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

Drivers under age 16 are restricted to driving only during daylight hours unless accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years of age and sitting beside the driver. No other passengers are allowed in the front seat. Daylight hours are defined as from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.

After June 30, 2007, licensees under the age of 17 are required—during the first six (6) months from the date the license was issued—to limit the number of passengers in the vehicle who are under the age of 17 to not more than one passenger, unless the passengers are related to the driver by blood, adoption, or marriage.