Traditional Driver Education

We encourage all students, even if they are older, to participate in a driver education program to learn the fundamental skills of being a safe, responsible driver. Students 17 or older are not required to participate in a driver education program. Here are a few options:

• Purchase a Driver Training Permit and enroll in a driver education course. The student will learn driving concepts, signs, and theories while applying it with a certified driver education instructor.
• Pass a written knowledge test at their local DMV and purchase an Idaho Instruction Permit. This allows students who are not ready for a Driver’s License to have additional practice time with an adult.
• If a student is ready for their Driver’s License, they will need to schedule a Skills Test from a third-party examiner. Find a Skills Test Examiner by visiting Idaho Transportation Department’s webpage. The student will also need to take their Written Knowledge Test at the DMV. Depending on the student’s location, check with the local DMV if an appointment is required.

Anyone under the age of 17 must complete driver education if they are pursuing their driver’s license.

Public driver education courses are open to Idaho residents between the ages of 14½ – 21.

The Idaho Department of Education does not dictate how much a public-school district charges for their driver education program. The price is a local program decision. Typically, the public driver education programs are more affordable than a private driver education program because this is a service to the community, not a business. To find out the pricing, contact your local school district or private driving company.

Yes. Students do not receive their Driver Training Permit initially. Their permit is mailed to their driver education program of choice. Upon passing and completing the course, the student will receive their permit for their 6-month supervised instruction period.

Upon passing and completing the driver education course, the student will receive their permit for their 6-month supervised instruction period. This is a time in which the student drives with an adult (adult must have valid Driver’s License) attaining 40 daytime and 10 nighttime hours.

Check-out the Parent Supervised Driving Booklet. If you need a hard copy, you can request one to be sent to your driver education program.

• Restrictions under 17: Upon the date of issuance, for the first 6 months, the number of passengers allowed in the vehicle will be limited to not more than one passenger, unless the passenger is related by blood, marriage, or adoption.
• Restrictions under 16: Daylight only travel is allowed unless you have a valid licensed driver who is at least 21 years of age sitting in the front seat beside you. Daylight hours are from 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM local time.

Students under the age of 18 must have a Verification of Compliance form in order to purchase their Driver Training Permit, Instruction Permit, or Driver’s License. This is issued by the Idaho school the student is attending (Idaho Code 49-303A). The student’s administrative office will be able to assist with providing this form.

Proof of lawful presence may be required if you have not previously provided proof of U.S. citizenship. Acceptable lawful presence documents include:

• Certified original U.S. Birth Certificate
• Certification of Birth Abroad
• Original Certificate of Naturalization/Citizenship
• Permanent Resident card or Resident Alien Card
• Employment Authorization Card
• Valid Foreign passport with valid U.S. VISA and I-94 (Arrival/Departure record)

If you have a visual and/or medical condition that could affect your driving, you may be required to provide a statement from your physician certifying that you can safely operate a motor vehicle. The necessary form may be obtained from the local county DMV agent.

If you have questions regarding any physical or mental condition that may affect your ability to safely operate a motor vehicle, contact ITD. If you have had eye surgery to improve your vision, the restriction on your driver’s license may be removed with a physician’s note. Contact ITD for more information.

Lease/rental agreement, utility bills, school enrollment records, etc. If you have questions about what would qualify, contact your local DMV office.

If you are under 18 years of age, you need to have a parent or legal guardian with you to sign consent for you to be licensed. The signer assumes legal responsibility for your actions as a driver. If the liability signer is not the mother or father listed on your birth certificate, you must also provide acceptable legal documents (e.g. adoption records with updated birth certificate or court guardianship documents) to show the signer has authority to consent. The identity of the liability signer will be verified.

If the signer’s name is different from the one appearing on your birth certificate, additional documents such as a marriage license or divorce decree may be required to verify the relationship. If the liability signer cannot be present to sign the application at the county DMV, the liability signer must complete a power of attorney form giving another person authority to sign for them. If you are married, your spouse, who must be at least 18 years of age, may sign for you. As long as you are under 18 years of age, the person who signs for you may withdraw consent at any time, which will cause the department to cancel your driver’s license.

Any student who is a resident of Idaho from the ages 14 ½-21 years of age can participate in Public Driver Education Programs. Contact a district/charter school to see if their program has the availability/space and learn about their registration process, and fees. When possible and approved, homeschool students can participate in public school programs at any districts/charter schools. Student fees vary upon the driver education program.

Homeschool students also have the option of participating in Private Driver Education Programs. These driver education programs are provided by private driving businesses. The driving businesses are overseen by the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. Student fees vary upon each business.

Homeschool students are required to provide the same documentation to purchase their permit from the DMV with exception to the Verification of Compliance (VOC) form. Students enrolled in a home-education program must be enrolled for at least one school year prior to the verification of attendance request unless documentation can be provided of meeting the attendance requirement for the school year immediately prior to the year in which the student is enrolled in. If the student has been enrolled in a program for less than one year the documentation a homeschool student would need to provide is a workbook or curriculum demonstrating they are enrolled in a current program. Family members sign a liability statement and a statement the student follows the school attendance provisions of Idaho Code.

Students enrolled in a home-education program must be enrolled in the program for at least one school year prior to the verification of attendance request unless documentation can be provided of meeting the attendance requirement for the school year immediately prior to the year in which the student is enrolled in. If the student has been enrolled in a program for less than one year the documentation a homeschool student would need to provide a workbook or curriculum demonstrating they are enrolled in a current program. Family members sign a liability statement and a statement the student follows the school attendance provisions of Idaho Code.

We recommend that the student’s IEP team meet and decide what accommodations or modifications are needed for students to participate in the driver education program. Accommodations/modifications for students on an IEP depend on the individual student’s needs, which is why having the IEP team involved is important. No accommodations can be made that compromises public safety. Here is a guiding document for Participation of Students with Disabilities in Driver Education Programs.

Yes, a foreign exchange student can purchase a permit. Students under the age of 18, must participate in a driver training course. Here are the requirements for foreign exchange students:

• Passport with U.S. Visa and I-94
• J1 status needs DHS form DS-2019 F1 status needs DHS form I-120
• Letter from the Social Security Administration stating you are not eligible for a Social Security number or have never been assigned a number.
• Verification of Compliance Form (VOC), if under 18 years of age. This is issued by the Idaho school your student is attending (Idaho Code 49-303A). The student’s administrative office will be able to assist with providing this form.
• Permission from foreign exchange program to take the driver’s training course
• Statement from parent(s) stating their child can take a driver’s training course and be issued a driver’s license
• The name of the host parent listed in the foreign exchange packet
• A host parent must sign as a liability signer if the applicant is under 18.

If you have completed an equivalent to or greater than the Idaho’s requirements, it will most likely transfer.

Yes, you will be required to completed a skills test and knowledge test to obtain a driver’s license.

You will need to pass the knowledge test through your local DMV to obtain your Idaho’s driver’s license. Please check with your local DMV if you need to schedule an appointment.

Yes.

Practice driving and spending as much time as you can behind the wheel.

Passengers are not allowed during the skills test. Exceptions may be made for the following categories of passengers (These specific passengers must be 18 years of age or older with valid identification and must sign the liability waiver):

• Parent or Legal Guardian: Only one (1) parent or legal guardian may accompany a minor (17 years of age or younger) during the skills test.
• Translator: Translators are not required to be certified or have a valid driver’s license. Applicants are responsible for procuring a translator if deemed necessary.
• Law Enforcement: An officer may accompany a current inmate during a skills test.
• Missionaries: A religious missionary companion may accompany the applicant during a skills test if requested

• Proof of Identity (with photo): A state-issued (Idaho or another jurisdiction) photo ID or driver’s license, instruction permit, supervised instruction permit, passport, school ID, yearbook, etc.
• Vehicle Permission (written or verbal in person): If you are not the owner of the vehicle being used for the skills test, permission to use the vehicle must be provided to the skills test examiner either in written format or in person verbally. (Permission over the phone is not acceptable.)
• Vehicle Insurance (not expired): A paper or digital copy of valid proof of insurance must be in the vehicle during the skills test. An SR22 is not valid proof of insurance.
• Vehicle Registration (not expired): Valid, not a photo copy, must be in the vehicle during the skills test, and signed by the registrant.
• Skills Test Receipt: Only required for identity verification if no state-issued credential (Idaho or another jurisdiction) is provided as proof of identity. Photo identification is still required if a skills test receipt is provided.
• Skills Test Evaluation Form (if applicable): Form provided by ITD for use by the skills test examiner is required for a medical caution (reevaluation) or skills test requirement at the time of the skills test.

• You must be able to demonstrate the essential driving skills to safely operate a motor vehicle while abiding by Idaho traffic laws. Twelve or fewer errors is a passing score.
• The skills test includes: Commercial/residential driving, curve, intersections – (controlled, uncontrolled, railroad, roundabout), interstate (freeway), lane changes, parking lot, turns – (right, left, U-turn), and parking – (stall & curb), etc.
• You will be scored on: Acceleration/deceleration, attentiveness, stopping (complete/unnecessary), lane position, right-of-way, signaling, spacing, speed control, steering control, unnecessary stops, parking (stall & curb), traffic checks, etc.

• All of the information required to pass the knowledge test can be found in the Idaho Driver Handbook. The knowledge test consists of 40 questions; you can miss up to six questions before failing.

Yes, there are, but the accommodations can be dependent on the DMV’s office availability to offer such accommodations. The accommodations include:

• Spanish version.
• “Modified” English and Spanish version – this has simplified language but is the same question.
• SOME DMV offices may be able to accommodate having the test taken in an isolated room away from distractions.
• SOME DMV offices may be able to have a member of the staff read the test to them verbatim with no further explanation (this is the only time we would allow the test to be read to someone).

To set up any accommodations, families/students will need to contact their local DMV or call the Driver’s License Unit at (208) 334-8736, option 3.

If you fail the Written Knowledge Test, you must wait three day so retest. You will also be required to pay the knowledge test fee again.

If you fail the Skills Test, you must wait three days to retest. You will also be required to pay both test fees again (county and skills test examiner).