Adding a teen driver in Florida: licenses, curfews and insurance

GWR Insurance Group, a Gainesville, Florida insurance agency (License L136942), wrote this guide for parents of new drivers, including Gainesville and UF families.

Short answer: Florida teens can get a learner's license at 15, must hold it for 12 months (or until 18) and log 50 supervised hours, 10 of them at night, before a full license at 16. Call your insurance agent before your teen starts driving.

Call (352) 378-3395

When can a Florida teen get a learner's license?

At least 15 years old.
A signed, notarized Parental Consent Form if under 18.
Proof of completing the Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS) course.
Pass vision and hearing tests and the Class E knowledge exam (50 questions; 40 correct to pass).

What are the rules on a learner's license?

A learner's license driver must always be accompanied by a licensed driver 21 or older. Driving is limited to daylight hours for the first three months, then until 10 p.m. The learner's license must be held for at least 12 months or until the 18th birthday, whichever comes first.

When can my teen get a full license, and what are the curfews?

At 16, after holding the learner's license for a year, with a parent or adult certifying 50 hours of driving experience, 10 of them at night, and passing the driving skills test. Curfews still apply:

16-year-olds may drive only between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m.
17-year-olds may drive only between 5 a.m. and 1 a.m.
Either may drive outside those hours when going to or from work, or with a licensed driver 21 or older.

Do I have to tell my insurer about my teen?

Yes. Insurance applications ask about every driver in the household. Florida DFS warns that if an undisclosed driver has an accident, the insurer may deny the claim and cancel the policy. When a teen must be added differs by insurer, so call us when your teen gets a learner's license.

How can Gainesville and UF families manage the cost?

Ask about good-student pricing; Florida DFS notes that students who show a B average are typically rewarded with lower rates. Think about which car the teen drives, review liability limits that protect the household, and tell us if a college student keeps a car in Gainesville during the school year.

What can cost a teen their license?

Six or more points within 12 months restricts the license to business purposes only for 12 months or until age 18 (section 322.161).
Drivers under 21 with a blood alcohol level of .02 or higher face an immediate six-month suspension (section 322.2616).
A moving violation on a learner's license extends the required learner period by one year, or until 18.

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Common questions

Can a 16-year-old drive at night in Florida? Only between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m., unless driving to or from work or with a licensed driver 21 or older.

How many supervised hours does a Florida teen need? Fifty hours, including 10 at night, certified by a parent, guardian or responsible adult over 21.

When should I call my agent about a new teen driver? When your teen gets a learner's license, and before they drive alone. Insurers have different rules about when a learner must be listed.

Sources: FLHSMV: Licensing Requirements for Teens, GDL Laws and Driving Curfews · FLHSMV: Teen Drivers · Florida DFS: Personal Automobile Insurance Overview