Learner's License

In order to get a learner's license, you must:

• provide the required documents
• be at least 15 years old
• take a Traffic Law & Substance Abuse Education Course
  • Ault's Driver Education Center 941.355.4202
  • Suncoast Defensive Driving (online only) 941.566.1161
  • Additional TLSAE course providers
• pass a vision & hearing test provided in our office
• parent or legal guardian must be present or provide a signed Parental Consent Form if you are under 18
• pass a test on road rules & road signs (practice test available online).
  • All knowledge exams have a sixty (60) minute time limit. Failure to successfully complete the exam in the allotted time period will result in the exam being terminated and a failure will be recorded.
  • Tests are available in Arabic, Chinese, English, Haitian Creole, Russian, and Spanish.
  • Oral Exams with an interpreter are available by appointment only for Sarasota County residents. To schedule an appointment, please call 941.861.8300, option 2.
• come to an office and take the test:
  • To ensure a testing computer is available, schedule an appointment online at one of the below Tax Collector offices (testing is not available at North Port location).
    • 101 S. Washington Blvd., Sarasota
    • 6100 Sawyer Loop Rd., Sarasota
    • 4000 S. Tamiami Trl., Venice
  • If you are under 18, you may take the test online, for a fee, available from providers approved by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Once you complete the exam through an approved provider, your completion information is automatically submitted to our office in a timely manner. Although the paper certificate is not required, you may wish to bring it or your confirmation number that is issued once you successfully complete the online test. Please note: If you take the test from an approved provider, you may be randomly selected by the state for a retest when you come to an office to get your permit. That means you may be able to take the test again at that time or you may have to reschedule on another day. Plan at least 2 hours so you have enough time for this possibility.
• pay any required fees
  • If the tester passes, there is no fee for the test. The fee for issuance of the Learner's Permit is $54.25.
  • If the tester does not pass, the fee is $16.25.

Teenage Drivers
Graduated Licensing: After holding a learner’s license for a year, a regular driver’s license can be issued. However, Florida has a graduated licensing system for up to age 18 which means that there are different rules for driving based on your age.