Age Requirements for Driving in Idaho

What are the age requirements?

Getting a driver's license in Idaho is not a complicated process but there are certain age requirements and several steps involved if you're under the age of 18. Driving is an exciting time that many teenagers look forward to. If you understand the Idaho driving age requirements and know what to do at each phase, the entire process should go nice and smoothly.

Idaho's Four Licensing Steps

Idaho has a Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program that applies to you if you are under the age of 17. There are four licensing steps involved, each one with its own minimum age requirement:

Step 1: Supervised Instruction Permit (SIP): Teens are eligible for a SIP once they are at least 14 ½ years old. You must have your SIP before you take drivers ed. Any teen applying for a driver's license that is under the age of 17 will start with this step.

Step 2: Drivers education: Teens must be at least 14 ½ years old. Anyone under the age of 17 that is applying for their driver's license is required to have completed drivers education. The only exception is 17-year-old teens who are transferring from another state with a valid driver's license. Idaho public schools offer drivers education programs for anyone 14 ½ to 21, even if they are not enrolled in the school, so finding a place to get your drivers ed portion completed should not be difficult.

Step 3: Underage driver's license: Teens must be at least 15 years old. There are several driving restrictions that come with this type of license. It is very important to do your best not to get any traffic violations while you have your underage driver's license.

Step 4: Unrestricted license: Teens must be at least 18 years old.

Each phase of the GDL has its own restrictions and driving age requirements that you will need to be aware of and adhere to. Each step of the GDL is designed to help the student become a safer, more responsible driver.

It is important that you do not try to rush through these steps. Idaho's driving age requirements and restrictions are set in place for a reason. If you are older than 14 ½ when you start, you will still go through each step unless you are already 18 when you begin the process.

If you are already 18 when you begin the process of getting a driver's license, you must pass the required DMV tests and then you will have a fully unrestricted driver's license.