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Arkansas

Are you struggling to prepare for the Arkansas driver's license test? If so, then our list of practice tests is for you. Our list includes the Arkansas driver's license renewal test, the Arkansas road signs test, and the Arkansas teen permit test.

PICK A Arkansas DFA PRACTICE TEST TO START:

Driver's License
Just Moved? Renewing your License? Practice here!
Driver's License
Driver's Permit
Teens! Get your practice permit test here!
Driver's Permit
Motorcycle
Your Permit to Ride starts here!
Motorcycle
CDL
Get your Commercial Endorsements practice here!
CDL
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Arkansas DFA Frequently Asked Questions

Table of Contents

  • After You Have Passed the Driving Exam (or Road Test)
  • Applying for Your Arkansas License
  • Preparing For Your AR Driving Exam (Or Road Test)
  • Preparing For Your AR Permit Test
  • Renewing Your AR License
  • Taking Your AR Driving Exam (Or Road Test)
  • Taking Your AR Permit Test
  • What If I Failed My Road Test?
  • What If I'm Moving to Arkansas or Just Visiting?
What happens after I pass my AR road test?

What happens after you pass your road test depends on your age.

  • If you're under 18: You'll be granted your Arkansas provisional license.
  • If you're 18 or older: You're granted your full Arkansas driver's license.

Once I get my AR permit, what do I need to do before I can drive with my parents?

Once you get your Arkansas instruction permit, you will be able to drive with anyone who is at least 21 years old and fully licensed.

What are the auto insurance requirements for Arkansas drivers?

Arkansas requires all motorists are required to carry:

  • Bodily injury liability insurance that covers at least:
    • $25,000 per person.
    • $50,000 per accident.
  • Property damage liability coverage for at least $25,000.
  • Underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage, for at least:
    • $25,000 per person.
    • $50,000 per accident.

Once I have my permit, who can I drive with?

After receiving your permit, you'll be required to have a fully-licensed passenger who's at least 21 years old in the front seat.

If I'm under 18, are there any limits to my driver's license?

Yes. Arkansas uses a graduated driver's license (GDL) program, which gives you certain driving privileges over a period of time.

If you're 16 years old and driving on your learner's permit, you:

  • Can only drive with a licensed driver age 21 or older.
  • Must wear seat belts at all times. (Also applies to all passengers.)
  • May NOT use a cell phone or wireless communication device at any point while driving, unless to report an emergency.

If you're 16 ½-18 years old and driving on your Arkansas intermediate license, you:

  • Must have someone at least 21 years old in the car with you, for the first six months.
  • May NOT drive between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. unless:
    • Accompanied by someone 21 or older.

OR

  • Driving to work, school, church, or because of an emergency.
  • Can only have 1 passenger who's unrelated to you, unless accompanied by someone 21 or older.
  • Are forbidden from using cell phones or any wireless communication devices while driving.
  • Are required to wear seat belts at all times. (Passengers included.)

Can I choose where I have my photo taken for my driver's license?

No. Your photo will be taken at whichever AR Department of Finance and Administration office you go to when you're issued your permit.

How To Get A Arkansas Driver’ License

Driving can be fun or it can be practical, but in order to do it at all, it has to be legal.

In the state of Arkansas, the licensing process is handled jointly by the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) and the state police. There are several different ways to get your license, but the process depends on your age and the type of vehicle you want to drive.

Graduated Driver’s License (Age 14-17)

Arkansas utilizes a graduated driver’s license (GDL) system, which starts with a number of restrictions and gives out more driving responsibilities over time.

If you’re under 18 years old, you’ll have to follow the GLD system, and the first step in the process is getting your learner’s permit.

Learner’s Permit

In Arkansas, you can apply for your learner’s permit once you turn 14 years old.

To start, schedule an appointment with your closest Department of Finance and Administration office, and:

  • Bring:
    • An original or certified birth certificate.
    • Proof of school enrollment.
  • A second, valid form of ID.
  • Pass:
    • A vision test.
    • The written knowledge exam.

You’ll also need a parent, guardian, or certified driving instructor present to sign a financial liability and consent form on your behalf.

Once the tests are passed and the paperwork filed, you’ll be issued your Arkansas learner’s permit. Restrictions while practicing on this permit include:

  • You may only drive if a fully-licensed passenger age 21 or older is in the front seat.
  • You and all passengers must wear seat belts at all times.
  • You may NOT use a cell phone or any wireless communication device unless in the case of an emergency.

Your permit will be good for 1 year, but in order to move on to the next step, you will have to:

  • Practice on your permit for at least 6 months.

AND

  • Not have any accidents or traffic violations.

Intermediate License

After at least 6 months have passed—and as long as you don’t have any accidents or violations—you can apply for your intermediate license in Arkansas.

This involves passing the Arkansas driving skills test, which is administered by the state police.

Schedule an appointment at your closest participating office, and bring your Arkansas learner’s permit.

After passing the test and paying the fee, the state will issue your intermediate license. While driving on this license, restrictions include:

  • You MUST drive with an adult in the vehicle for the first 6 months.
  • No driving between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. unless you’re driving to:
    • School.
    • Work.
    • Church.
    • A family emergency.
  • Seat belts must be worn by everyone at all times.
  • No cell phone or wireless communication device usage allowed.
  • Only one passenger under age 18 is permitted, unless you’re driving with a fully-licensed passenger who’s at least 21 years old.

Your intermediate license is valid until you turn 18 years old.

Full Arkansas Driver’s License

Once you’re 18, you’ll be eligible for your full Arkansas license.

You must apply for this credential within 30 days of your 18th birthday, and have a clean driving record for at least 12 months in order to apply.

To do so, go to your local AR DFA office, and bring:

The state will then exchange the money and paperwork for your Class-D license.

This license carries no restrictions. Congratulations!

Driver’s License (Age 18+)

If you’re applying for a first-time license in Arkansas and you’re 18 or older, the process is more streamlined. There are no restrictions or required waiting periods, and you can move through the process as quickly as you wish.

To apply, you’ll first have to schedule an appointment with the AR DFA, and:

  • Bring proof of your:
  • Age and identity.
    • Social Security number.
    • Arkansas address.
    • Legal status in the United States.
  • Pass a vision test.
  • Successfully pass the written knowledge exam.

Once this is complete, you’ll be free to schedule your driving skills test.

Driving tests are administered by the Arkansas state police. Schedule an appointment with your closest participating office, and bring:

  • Your knowledge test/permit information.
  • The Arkansas license fee.

After successfully passing the test, you’ll be given the proper documents to obtain your Arkansas license. You’ll have to bring these to the DFA to complete the process.

Transferring an Out-of-State License to Arkansas

Welcome to Arkansas!

If you’re new to the state, you have 30 days from establishing residency to apply for your new license. (You’ll also need an AR license if you’re a nonresident who’s been within state borders for at least 6 months.)

To transfer your out-of-state license, simply schedule an appointment with the Department of Finance and Administration and bring:

The state will then issue your Arkansas driver’s license.

Arkansas DFA Motorcycle Permit & License Info

Arkansas Motorcycle License

Earning a motorcycle license in Arkansas involves two steps: Getting your permit, and getting your license.

Either way, to start the process, you must be at least 16 years old.

AR Motorcycle Permit

Your first step is earning an Arkansas motorcycle permit. The process involves passing the knowledge exam.

If this is your first license of any type in Arkansas, you’ll have to pass the state’s driver’s license written exam as well as the motorcycle written test. Otherwise, you’ll simply have to pass the motorcycle knowledge test.

Schedule an appointment with a participating state police office, and:

  • Bring proof of your:
    • Age and identity.
    • Social Security number.
    • Legal presence in the United States.
  • Pass the knowledge exam.
  • Successfully pass a vision test.
  • Pay the motorcycle permit fee.

If you’re under 18 years old, you’ll also have to bring:

  • Your birth certificate.
  • Proof of school enrollment.

Once the above is complete, the state will issue your motorcycle permit. This credential is good for one year and cannot be renewed, so you must test for your motorcycle permit within that time.

Arkansas Motorcycle License

When you feel comfortable riding on your bike, you can take your motorcycle road skills test.

Schedule another appointment with the state police, and bring:

  • Your motorcycle permit.
  • Your Arkansas license, if applicable.
  • The skills test fee.

After passing, the state will issue you the proper paperwork to get your AR motorcycle license. Bring this to your closest Department of Finance and Administration office to complete the process.

Instead of taking the skills test through the state, you can also pass a Motorcycle Safety Foundation Rider Course.

After successfully passing the course, simply take your completion certificate to the DFA to get your license. You’ll have to do this within 90 days of passing the MSF course.

Arkansas CDL Requirements

Arkansas Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)

Commercial driver’s licenses in Arkansas are administered jointly by the state Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) and the state police.

To qualify for an Arkansas commercial driver’s license, you must:

  • Be at least 18 years old.
  • Already have your Arkansas driver’s license.

Before starting the process, you’ll also have to:

After that’s completed, you can continue with your CDL application.

Arkansas Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP)

The first step toward getting your commercial driver’s license is getting your commercial learner’s permit (CLP). This involves the written knowledge test portion of the process.

To apply, schedule an appointment with the state police at a participating office, and bring:

  • Your medical exam card.
  • Your Arkansas license.
  • Your CDL-1 packet.
  • Proof of your:
    • Identity and age.
    • Social Security number.
    • Legal status in the United States.
  • The CLP testing fee.

At this appointment, you’ll also have to pass:

  • A vision test.
  • The written exam.

Once the tests are passed and the paperwork is filed, you’ll be issued your commercial learner’s permit. The permit will be good for 1 year, but you’ll have to practice on it for at least 14 days before you can move on to the driving skills test.

Arkansas CDL

To turn your CLP into a CDL, you’ll have to pass the driving skills test.

Schedule another appointment, and bring:

  • Your CLP.
  • Your Arkansas license.
  • The AR commercial driver’s license fee.

After successfully passing the skills test and paying the fee, the state will issue your commercial driver’s license. Congratulations!

Arkansas DFA Handbooks

Arkansas CDL Handbook

Arkansas CDL Handbook

Arkansas CDL Handbook
Arkansas Driver's License Handbook

Arkansas Driver's License Handbook

Arkansas Driver's License Handbook
Arkansas Motorcycle Handbook

Arkansas Motorcycle Handbook

Arkansas Motorcycle Handbook