Idaho Driver's Permit Requirements
Everything you need to get your Idaho learner's permit — age, fees, documents for the written test, supervised-hours rules, and what the road test itself checks — summarized from the official DMV pages and linked to the source.
IdahoDMVIdaho Transportation Department — Idaho's Graduated Driver's Licensing (GDL) ProgramChecked 2026-07-13Official source
IdahoDMVIdaho Transportation Department — Driver License FeesChecked 2026-08-12Official source
IdahoDMVIdaho Transportation Department — Idaho's Graduated Driver's Licensing (GDL) ProgramChecked 2026-07-13Official source
IdahoDMVIdaho Transportation Department — Idaho's Graduated Driver's Licensing (GDL) ProgramChecked 2026-07-13Official source
Last verified 2026-07-13 · Source: Idaho Transportation Department — Idaho's Graduated Driver's Licensing (GDL) Program ↗
Fees and rules change — always confirm current requirements on the official page above before you go.
The Idaho licensing timeline
Each stage below carries what DMV itself publishes, the people it applies to, the page it came from, and the date we last checked it. Where The state agency publishes no figure, the card says so instead of guessing one.
1Eligibility
Minimum permit age14½IdahoDMVIdaho Transportation Department — Idaho's Graduated Driver's Licensing (GDL) ProgramChecked 2026-07-13Official source
Idaho driver training / supervised instruction permits may be issued to applicants 14 1/2 years of age and older
2Documents
DMV lists these for the knowledge-test visit:
- Certified original birth certificate
- Acceptable photo identification
- Social Security card or number for verification
- Proof of Idaho residency
- Liability signer if under 18
- Verification of school compliance if under 18
- Acceptable lawful presence documents if applicable
The knowledge test and the permit itself are handled in the same visit.
IdahoDMVIdaho Transportation Department — Idaho's Graduated Driver's Licensing (GDL) ProgramChecked 2026-07-13Official source
3Required education
Idaho's own published steps name a training requirement:
- At 14 1/2+, apply at an Idaho county driver's license office for the driver training or supervised instruction permit with your identity, Social Security, residency, school-compliance, and liability-signer documents
- If you are under 17, complete Idaho driver training and use the supervised instruction permit with a licensed driver age 21+ seated beside you
IdahoDMVIdaho Transportation Department — Idaho's Graduated Driver's Licensing (GDL) ProgramChecked 2026-07-13Official source
4Application
Permit fee$20IdahoDMVIdaho Transportation Department — Driver License FeesChecked 2026-08-12Official source
Idaho's fee table lists the Driver Training Instruction Permit / Supervised Instruction Permit at $21.50; the separate Class D Instruction Permit for applicants 17+ is $20.00
5Knowledge test
Wait before a retakeThe state agency does not publish a verified retake waitIdahoDMVID official knowledge-test sourceChecked 2026-08-12Official source
Idaho's official driver handbook states the test has 40 questions and allows six misses, requiring 34 correct answers. No official time limit was substantiated.
6Permit restrictions
Permit validityThe state agency does not publish a verified validity periodIdahoDMVIdaho Transportation Department — Idaho's Graduated Driver's Licensing (GDL) ProgramChecked 2026-07-13Official source
Restrictions Idaho puts on a new driver:
- Permit supervision: During the supervised driving period, the supervising driver must be at least age 21, hold a valid driver's license, and sit in the seat beside the permit holder
- Front seat rule: No other passengers are allowed in the front seat during supervised instruction
- Under sixteen restriction: Drivers under age 16 may drive only during daylight hours unless accompanied by a licensed driver age 21 or older seated beside the driver
- Under seventeen passenger rule: During the first 6 months after licensing, drivers under age 17 may carry no more than one passenger under age 17 unless related by blood, adoption, or marriage
- School compliance: Applicants under 18 must provide school-enrollment or completion proof plus a liability signer
IdahoDMVIdaho Transportation Department — Idaho's Graduated Driver's Licensing (GDL) ProgramChecked 2026-07-13Official source
7Supervised driving
Supervised driving for applicants under 1750 hours (10 at night)IdahoDMVIdaho Transportation Department — Idaho's Graduated Driver's Licensing (GDL) ProgramChecked 2026-07-13Official source
Before licensing, a parent or legal guardian must certify 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours at night. That is a graduated-licensing rule, and this state cuts it off at 17 rather than 18 — an applicant who is already 17 follows a different path, so check the official source below rather than assuming this figure is yours to meet.
8Road test
Minimum permit hold6 monthsIdahoDMVIdaho Transportation Department — Idaho's Graduated Driver's Licensing (GDL) ProgramChecked 2026-07-13Official source
Any violation during the supervised instruction period requires the permit holder to start and complete a new 6-month supervised instruction period
9Full licence
Unrestricted driving age15IdahoDMVIdaho Transportation Department — Idaho's Graduated Driver's Licensing (GDL) ProgramChecked 2026-07-13Official source
Applicants must be at least 15 years of age to receive an Idaho driver's license
How to get your permit in Idaho
- At 14 1/2+, apply at an Idaho county driver's license office for the driver training or supervised instruction permit with your identity, Social Security, residency, school-compliance, and liability-signer documents
- If you are under 17, complete Idaho driver training and use the supervised instruction permit with a licensed driver age 21+ seated beside you
- Finish the 6-month supervised instruction period and log 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours at night
- At 15+, pass the written knowledge and road skills tests and have a parent or legal guardian certify the required driving hours
- Follow Idaho's daylight-only rule if you are under 16 and the first-6-month passenger limit if you are under 17
What is different about Idaho
Rules that are set by Idaho rather than nationally, and where they depart from what most states do. Compared against DMV Prep's verified rules for all 51 jurisdictions — unverified figures are left out of both sides of every comparison.
- Minimum permit age: 14½ here. The most common minimum permit age is 15 (25 of 50 states we have verified).
- Passing score: 85% here. The most common passing score is 80% (15 of 26 states we have verified).
Frequently asked questions
How old do you have to be to get a permit in Idaho?
You can get a learner's permit in Idaho at 14½. Idaho driver training / supervised instruction permits may be issued to applicants 14 1/2 years of age and older.
How much does an Idaho permit cost?
The Idaho permit fee is $20. Idaho's fee table lists the Driver Training Instruction Permit / Supervised Instruction Permit at $21.50; the separate Class D Instruction Permit for applicants 17+ is $20.00.
How long do you have to hold your permit in Idaho?
Any violation during the supervised instruction period requires the permit holder to start and complete a new 6-month supervised instruction period.
How many practice driving hours does Idaho require?
Idaho requires 50 hours of supervised practice driving for applicants under 17, including 10 at night. That is a graduated-licensing rule, and this state cuts it off at 17 rather than 18 — an applicant who is already 17 follows a different path, so check the official source below rather than assuming this figure is yours to meet.
Where can I practice for the Idaho permit test?
Right here — take a free Idaho practice test, review every answer, and build readiness in your browser. The free DMV Prep app adds offline study and native reminders.
