Driver's license guide by state

Autistic people can and do drive. In fact, according to research conducted at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), two-thirds of autistic adolescents aged 15 to 18 years old without intellectual disability are currently driving or planning to drive, and one-third of autistic individuals without intellectual disability obtain their driver's license by age 21. 

Getting a license gives individuals access to community activities, employment and social relationships. The process to get one though can seem daunting. So below we compiled a list of the basics you need to know to obtain your driver's license in your state.  For additional related information, check out Autism drives.

Click on your state to learn:

• how to access your department of motor vehicles online 
• what age you can apply to take a written test to get your driver's permit
• what age you can take a driver's test to get your driver's license

Be sure to also check out:

• Car insurance requirements in your state
• Ways to identify as autistic when driving for information on notifications on driver's license and other state programs to alert law enforcement of autism and related conditions. 

Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | District of Columbia | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Puerto Rico | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming

Alabama

• Alabama Law Enforcement Driver License Department
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years 

Alaska

• Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 14 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years 

Arizona

• Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years and 6 months
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years 

Arkansas

• Arkansas Department of Motor Vehicles
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 14 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years 

California

• California Department of Motor Vehicles
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years and 6 months
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years 

Colorado

• Colorado Department of Revenue Division of Motor Vehicles
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years 

Connecticut

• Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 16 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years 

Delaware

• Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 16 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 17 years 

District of Columbia

• District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 16 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 17 years 

Florida

• Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years 

Georgia

• Georgia Department of Driver Services
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years 

Hawaii

Hawaii County

• Hawaii Vehicle Registration & Licensing
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years and 6 months
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years

Honolulu County

• Honolulu Division of Motor Vehicles
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years and 6 months
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years

Kauai County

• Kaua'i Division of Motor Vehicles
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years and 6 months
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years

Maui County

• Maui Motor Vehicle & Licensing
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years and 6 months
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years

Idaho

• Idaho Transportation Department
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 14 years and 6 months
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 15 years

Illinois

• Illinois Secretary of State Driver Services
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years 

Indiana

• Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 15 years and 3 months

Iowa

• Iowa Department of Transportation
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 14 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years 

Kansas

• Kansas Department of Revenue Division of Vehicles
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 14 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 17 years

Kentucky

• Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 16 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years 

Louisiana

• Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 17 years 

Maine

• Department of the Secretary of State Bureau of Motor Vehicles
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years 

Maryland

• Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years and 9 months
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years and 6 months

Massachusetts

• Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 16 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years and 3 months 

Michigan

• Michigan Department of State
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 14 years and 8 months
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 14 years and 9 months 

Minnesota

• Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years 

Mississippi

• Mississippi Driver Service Bureau
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years 

Missouri

• Missouri Department of Motor Vehicles
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years 

Montana

• Montana Motor Vehicle Division
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 14 years and 6 months
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 15 years and 6 months

Nebraska

• Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 17 years

Nevada

• Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years 6 months
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years 

New Hampshire

• New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years 6 months
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 months 

New Jersey

• New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 16 years old
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 17 years old 

New Mexico

• New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 15 years 6 months 

New York

• New York State Department of Motor Vehicles
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 16 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 17 years

North Carolina

• North Carolina Department of Transportation
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years

North Dakota

• North Dakota Department of Transportation
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years 

Ohio

• Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years and 6 months
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years 

Oklahoma

• Service Oklahoma
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years 

Oregon

• Oregon Driver and Vehicle Services
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years 

Pennsylvania

• PennDot Driver and Vehicle Services
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 16 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years and 6 months 

Puerto Rico

• Departamento de Transportación y Obras Públicas
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 16 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years and 6 months 

Rhode Island

• Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 16 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 17 years 

South Carolina

• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 15 years and 6 months

South Dakota

• South Dakota Department of Public Safety
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 14 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years 

Tennessee

• Tennessee Driver Services
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years 

Texas

• Texas Department of Public Safety
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years 

Utah

• Utah Department of Public Safety
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years 

Vermont

• Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years 

Virginia

• Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years and 6 months
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years and 3 months 

Washington

• Washington State Department of Licensing
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years 

West Virginia

• West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years

Wisconsin

• Wisconsin Department of Transportation
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years

Wyoming

• Wyoming Department of Transportation
• Age eligible for a learner's permit: 15 years
• Age eligible for a driver's license: 16 years