The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles website can be difficult to navigate, especially for first-time drivers. With that in mind, we have produced this web page, which was specifically designed to give minors all the information they will need in order to start driving. If at any point, you have questions that would require more detail, there are links to additional resources provided at the bottom of this page. In January, 2011, Louisiana changed its driver education system. It is now one among many graduated driver programs, which are becoming more and more popular in the United States. Each state has its own particular standards, educational requirements, and so on, but the basic idea is the same. There are now three major steps to take for new drivers who want an unrestricted license.
The first of these is the Class E Learner’s Permit. In order to qualify for a Permit, you need to be at least 15, and you need to have completed a driver education course. When arranging for a class, be sure that the course is approved by the Department of Education or the Department of Public Safety & Corrections.
You must also prepare the necessary identifying documentation to bring to a Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles location. While there are a number of acceptable combinations of various types of documentation, most minors choose to bring in: a) their birth certificate; b) their social security card; and c) their school identification. For more details regarding documentation, follow the instructions at the end of this page.
You will also need to bring a parent or guardian who will sign the application with you. This is an absolute must, as someone is required to take financial responsibility for your actions on the road. The individual must be able to trust that you will take your new responsibilities seriously.
Once at the location, you will be asked to complete a written exam. If you do not pass the exam, your test fee will be forfeit, and you will be required to come back to take the test on another date. The questions will be taken from the Louisiana Driver’s Guide, which can be found at one of the links provided below.
The Learner’s Permit can be taken to a Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles location as soon as you have turned 16 and have held the Learner’s Permit for one year. In addition, your parent must sign a statement that attests you have completed at least 50 hours of driving under his or her supervision and that 15 hours occurred while at night. At this point, the Learner’s Permit is upgraded to an Intermediate License, and minors can drive without adult supervision between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m. All other times of the night require supervision. There is a $13 charge for upgrading the Learner’s Permit.
One year later, at 17, you will become eligible for an unrestricted driver’s license, which allows unsupervised driving at all hours of the day and night.
For more information on identifying documentation and what you need to bring with you to Office of Motor Vehicle Locations, navigate to the Louisiana Driver’s Manual and scroll down to page 5. There, you will find a list of the accepted documentation you may choose to use to obtain a Learner’s Permit, Intermediate License, and Driver’s License.
You will need a web browser to use the map tool to locate the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles Location Nearest You. Or you could use the local listings directory.