FL · Drivers education
Florida drivers ed guide
In Florida, nobody gets a first license without a state-approved course. Applicants under 18 complete a department-approved driver education course (DETS or a school equivalent) before the learner's license, and never-licensed applicants 18 and over take the 4-hour Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course. A driver with an eligible civil ticket can choose a Basic Driver Improvement course so adjudication is withheld and no points are added.
Checked against Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles on 2026-10-23.
Getting a Florida Teen From Learner's License to Class E
This page is for Florida parents and teens planning the road from a 15th birthday to a solo license. The big decision comes first: which approved course to take, because nothing happens until it is done. Since July 1, 20...
- Earliest age for the learner's license15
- Course a teen must finish firstFLHSMV-approved driver education that meets or exceeds DOE #1900300
- How long the learner's license must be held (under 18)12 months
Florida for First-Time Adult Drivers: TLSAE, Exams and Your Class E
This page is for anyone 18 or older in Florida who has never held a driver's license, and for new residents unsure whether the rules apply to them. Your one decision is whether you need TLSAE. If no state or country has ...
- Course for never-licensed applicants 18 and upTLSAE, at least 4 hours
- Can it be done online?Yes, when FLHSMV has approved the technology-delivered course
- State assessment fee$3 per student
Florida Ticket Options: Electing Basic Driver Improvement (BDI) School
This page is for Florida drivers holding a fresh civil moving ticket and deciding whether to pay it outright or elect school. If you qualify, the 4-hour Basic Driver Improvement (BDI) course is usually the better choice:...
- BDI course length4 hours
- What completing it doesAdjudication withheld, no points assessed
- Cut to the civil penalty18 percent