Teen drivers (ages 15-17)

• Must be enrolled in a certified driver education program
• Driver education course completion will be submitted electronically by school

In order to apply for an Instruction Permit (temps), teens must complete Class D Knowledge Test and Signs Test. Do the following:

• Study your Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook
• Take an online Knowledge and Road Signs Practice Test
• Complete the Wisconsin Knowledge Test
• At a DMV Service Center (walk-in only, no appointment needed)
• Note: test may take 45 minutes to complete so allow enough time to complete before DMV's close time
  OR
• Through your driver education course, if offered by your program

After passing your Knowledge Tests, you can apply for your Instruction Permit (temps) to begin practicing your driving skills.

• Complete Wisconsin Driver License Application (MV3001)
• Must be signed by the instructor and your first behind-the-wheel lesson must be conducted within 60 days of the date signed
• Must be signed by a parent, step-parent or other adult sponsor, or under certain circumstances file proof of insurance
• You must be enrolled in a school program or high school equivalency program, have graduated from high school or have been granted a declaration of high school graduation equivalency, or be enrolled in a home-based private education program, and not be a habitual truant
• You will need to bring the following documents
• Proof of U.S. citizenship, legal permanent resident status, conditional resident status or temporary visitor status
• Proof of name and date of birth
• Proof of identity
• Proof of Wisconsin residency (parent or guardian may present their Wisconsin driver license or ID card as your proof of residency)
• Provide your Social Security number (you can fulfill your proof of identity requirement by presenting your Social Security card)
• Pay the appropriate driver licensing fees

What to expect at the DMV

• You will have your photo taken
• You will need to pass a vision test
• You will leave the DMV Service Center with your driving receipt and your Instruction Permit (Temps) will arrive by mail within 10 days
• You will be able to drive with your driving receipt
• Instruction Permit (temps) will be valid for 18 months but can be renewed if additional time is needed to practice or complete the requirements necessary to get a probationary license

Restrictions of the Instruction Permit (temps)

A driver with an instruction permit may only drive when accompanied by a person who:

• Has at least two years driving experience
• Holds a valid, regular license (not a probationary or occupational license)
• Sits in the front passenger seat

AND is one of the following:

• A qualified instructor 19 years old or older
• Up to three other people may ride in the vehicle if it is equipped with dual controls
• A parent, legal guardian, or spouse 19 years old or older
• Immediate family members may ride in the back seat
• A person 21 or older
• This person must be designated in writing by a parent or legal guardian prior to accompanying a driver under age 18

Note: See the Parents Supervised Driving Program guide for step-by-step lessons to use during the supervised driving period.

Graduated Driver License (GDL) and teen driving requirements FAQs

Teen drivers can take a road test to get a Probationary Driver License.

The fee for EACH driving skills test (road test) is $15 whether you pass or fail. You will also be charged $15 for each appointment cancelled with less than 24-hour notice and each failure to appear for a scheduled road test.

You may schedule your road test if you:

• Are at least 16 years old
• Have held your Instruction Permit (Temps) for at least six months
• Have no violations within the past six months
• Have at least 50 hours of driving practice with parent or guardian (10 of the 50 hours must be at night)
• Will have completed Driver Education (both classroom and behind-the-wheel) and the course completion is on file with the DMV by the date of your road test. (Your school will submit your course completion electronically to the DMV)

If you cannot keep your road test appointment:

• You need to reschedule or cancel at least 24 hours prior to your scheduled appointment
• If you do not cancel your appointment at least 24 hours in advance or you do not show up for the road test, you will be charged $15 for the missed test.
• You will not be eligible to retest for at least 7 days, depending upon appointment availability
• You can reschedule or cancel, access the online system by clicking ‘START NOW’ below to look for another appointment. Your current appointment will not be canceled until you confirm your new appointment.

Visit the road test page for more information.

If you are having trouble scheduling a road test appointment in your preferred area, new appointment slots are added daily. Please return to the website to review what new opportunities may be available for scheduling.

This service may not be available Sundays from 6 a.m.–9 a.m. due to regular system maintenance.

After passing your road test, you can change your Instruction Permit and apply for your Probationary Driver License.

• Complete Wisconsin Driver License Application (MV3001)
• Must be signed by a parent, step-parent or other adult sponsor, or under certain circumstances file proof of insurance
• Be enrolled in a school program or high school equivalency program and are not a habitual truant or have graduated from high school graduation equivalency or are enrolled in a home-based private education program
• Pay the necessary fees
• You will leave the DMV Service Center with your driving receipt and your Probationary License will arrive by mail within 10 days
• You will be able to drive with your driving receipt

If your road test is scheduled outside of service centers hours, you will not be able to get your probationary license immediately after passing. You will either have to return to the DMV when it’s open or apply online 24 hours after passing. Check the DMV customer service centers for a complete listing of the days and times when our offices are open to the public.

Restrictions of the probationary license

Drivers between 16 - 18 years old have additional restrictions on their probationary license. These restrictions can also be called Graduated Driver License (GDL) restrictions.

Drivers under 18 have the following GDL restrictions during the first nine months or until they turn 18 after obtaining a probationary license.

From 5 a.m. to midnight, you can drive alone and go anywhere.

• Any number of immediate family members can ride along as well as one of the following people:
• One person who holds a valid, regular license with at least two years of licensed driving experience and who is:
• a qualified instructor or
• spouse 19 or older, or
• a person 21 or older
  OR
  
• One other person

From midnight to 5 a.m., you can drive alone only IF driving between home, school and/or work. The same people listed immediately above can ride along, too.

If driving anywhere else, one of the following people must be seated in the front passenger seat:

• A parent or legal guardian, or
• One person with a valid, regular license with two years of licensed driving experience and who is:
• a qualified instructor, or
• a spouse 19 or older, or
• a person 21 or older
• In addition, any number of the driver’s immediate family members and one other person may ride along.

Restrictions will be extended six months if:

• You are convicted of a moving traffic violation, or
• You violate any of the restrictions, or
• Your license is suspended or revoked for any reason

Graduated Driver License (GDL) and teen driving requirements FAQs

All Wisconsin drivers under 18 years of age need sponsorship when issued an instruction permit (temps) or probationary license.

• Who can be a sponsor and the responsibilities
• Sponsor may withdraw sponsorship which cancels the instruction permit (temps) or probationary license
• Supervised driving practice
• Before road test, teen driver must have at least 50 hours of driving experience, 10 of which must be during hours of darkness
• Mobile app to track hours of supervised driving
• Parent-teen safe driving contract
• Demerit points and teen drivers
• Cell phone usage while driving
• Additional teen driver research
• ZeroInWisconsin.gov