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Do I Need a Driving Permit If I’m 18 ?

  • Driver's License
  • Xavier Sabastian
  • 3 minutes

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When you reach 18 in the United States, you are eligible for an adult driver’s license in any State without having to go through the “permit” period. However, you would still need to pass the written and driving tests at least once. 

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The only exception might be in the scenario where you received a permit just before turning 18 and the State mandates that you continue to drive under that permit for a predetermined amount of time before upgrading to an adult license. 

Every State has its own rules. For instance, In California, you must first pass the written test. That will give you a learner’s permit, whether you want one.  You cannot take your driving test in Georgia until you have received your instructional permit because you can only hold one type of driver’s license at a time in Georgia.

Do you need a driving permit if you are under 18?

At 18, you would not need to get a permit unless you want someone to teach you to drive. If you are at least 18 years old, the permit test can be scheduled as soon as you are ready. Before taking the driving test, if you are under 18, you must hold the permit for a year and a day. If you are under 18, you need 40 hours of driving practice after getting the driving test permit. At 18, as long as you pass the written, driving, and vision test, you can get a Class C without having a permit beforehand: 

If you are 18 years old, the behind-the-wheel exam can be taken immediately. Since many DMV offices need an appointment for a behind-the-wheel exam, this is impracticable in practice.

In most places, you must first obtain a learner’s permit before applying for a license. You must pass a written test to prove that you are familiar with fundamental traffic regulations and road rules to get permission. You can then drive with that learner’s permit if you’re with a fully licensed driver. There may be limitations on your driving time, the number of passengers you can carry, and other factors. The next step is to get a road test with an examiner from the relevant department of motor vehicles. If you pass that, you get a driver’s license. 

Some places use different types of “graduated licensing,” where your “initial” license has some restrictions. You must retake the test after a certain time. After the set period, a full license will be given to you, provided you pass.  

In most states, you can start driving at age 18 without a permit. However, depending on where you live, this criterion may change. The DMV will omit the standard classes and instructions for the learner’s permits in all states. It implies that you can skip driver’s ed and may not require any training behind the wheel. Instead of a learner’s permit, places like California will instead issue an instructional permit. 

The procedures to obtain your license are fewer when you have an instructional permit. However, you must succeed in your written test before obtaining an instructional permit. Some states completely skip this stage. You can obtain a driver’s license with no additional prerequisites if you can pass the written and driving tests on your own. 

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