Florida Learner's Permit Rules and Restrictions
Who may sit beside you, when you may drive, what counts as a violation and what you need to move on to a license: the Florida learner's license restrictions, straight from the statutes and the FLHSMV handbook.
Dana Whitfield ·
reviewed by Mark Ellison ·
· 3 min read
A Florida learner's permit lets you practice on public roads, but with strings attached. Break them and the stop is not a warning.
The rules cover who rides with you, what time of day you may drive, and how long you must hold the permit before you can apply for the next license.
This guide lists the restrictions in plain language, and every one of them links to the law or the handbook it comes from.
In short
- You must be accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 and sits in the closest seat to your right.1
- For the first 3 months you may drive in daylight only. After that, until 10 p.m.1
- A violation is a moving violation.1
- To get a license before 18, you must hold the learner's license for 12 months with no moving conviction and log 50 hours, 10 of them at night.2
Who can ride with you
Under section 322.1615, a learner's license holder must be accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old, who holds a valid license to operate the type of vehicle, and who occupies the closest seat to the right of the driver.1
The handbook repeats this rule: the supervising driver must be 21 or older and sit in the front passenger seat.3 A friend who is 19, even with a clean license, does not qualify.
When you can drive
For the first 3 months after you get the learner's license, you may drive only during daylight hours. After those 3 months, you may drive until 10 p.m.1
Once you hold a regular license under 18, different curfews apply. Under section 322.16, a driver under 17 must be accompanied by a licensed driver aged 21 or older between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., unless driving directly to or from work. At 17, the same rule applies between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.4
What happens if you break the rules
The statute states that a violation of the learner's license conditions is a moving violation under chapter 318.1 A moving violation matters for more than the fine, because of the next section: a conviction can stop the clock on your 12 months.
Moving on to the next license
Applicants aged 16 to under 18 must have held the learner's license for at least 12 months with no moving traffic conviction. There is an exception when a conviction was handled with a traffic driving school and withheld adjudication.2
A parent or guardian must also certify that you completed at least 50 hours of behind-the-wheel driving, including at least 10 hours at night.2
The knowledge behind these rules is tested on the exam, so work through the right-of-way and licensing topics with a free practice test. New to the process? Read how to get a learner's permit in Florida first.
Common questions
Can a 20-year-old supervise my driving?
No. The supervising licensed driver must be at least 21.1
Can I drive at night on a learner's permit?
Not during the first 3 months. After that, you may drive until 10 p.m., with a qualified adult beside you.1
Do traffic tickets affect my permit?
A moving conviction can block the move to a license at 16 or 17, which requires 12 months without one.2
Sources
Rules can be amended, so confirm anything that affects a deadline with FLHSMV.
Enough reading, time to practice
10 practice questions, the solution right away, and at the end you see where you stand.