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Pennsylvania

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Pennsylvania PENNDOT Frequently Asked Questions

Table of Contents

  • After You Have Passed the Driving Exam (or Road Test)
  • Applying for Your Pennsylvania License
  • Preparing For Your PA Driving Exam (Or Road Test)
  • Preparing For Your PA Permit Test
  • Renewing Your PA License
  • Taking Your PA Driving Exam (Or Road Test)
  • Taking Your PA Permit Test
  • What If I Failed My Road Test?
  • What If I'm Moving to Pennsylvania or Just Visiting?
When should my teen get car insurance?

Your teen should be insured once they're licensed and begin driving on their own (i.e., without another supervising licensed driver). Teens with learner's permits don't yet require insurance while they're driving under the supervision of a licensed adult.

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

If you have a learner's permit:

  • You may only drive between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m., unless you're traveling for work or school (you must carry written authorization/documentation with you in these cases).
  • You may NOT carry more passengers than the designated number of seatbelts in your vehicle.

If you have a junior driver's license:

  • You may NOT drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless it's for school or employment purposes, for which you'll need to carry proper documentation.
  • You can only carry as many passengers as there are seat belts in your vehicle.
  • For the first 6 months, you may only carry 1 passenger under 18 years old who is NOT an immediate member of your family. After 6 months have passed, this limit increases to 3 non-family passengers under 18 years old.
    • The only exception to these limits is if your parent/guardian is in the vehicle with you.

What happens after I pass my PA road test?

The examiner will direct you to a Photo License Center to have your photo taken for your junior driver's license.

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

You may drive only when accompanied by a qualified supervising driver (at least 21 years old).

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

Yes, you can choose to visit a Photo License Center near you. Your Driver License Center may also have a Photo License Center within it.

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

With your learner's permit in hand, you can immediately begin practicing your driving skills with your parent or supervising driver.

What score do I need on my permit test in order to pass?

You must score an 83% or better to pass your written test.

How many questions can you miss on the PennDOT written knowledge test?

You can miss 3 questions on the exam.

Teen Learners Permit

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How To Get A Pennsylvania Driver’s License

Learning to drive is exciting, but it’s also a huge responsibility. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) requires potential drivers to complete training and demonstrate knowledge and skills behind the wheel before allowing them the privilege of driving with no restrictions. This is required for new drivers, or drivers whose out-of-state licenses have expired prior to moving to Texas.

The requirements to obtain a PA driver’s license will vary slightly based on whether you are a minor or adult, as well as whether you’re applying for a standard or a REAL ID.

PA Learner’s Permit Requirements

All new Pennsylvania drivers, regardless of age, must obtain a learner’s permit before qualifying for a driver’s license. You must be at least 16 years old to be eligible for a permit.

To apply, you’ll need to:

  • Submit proof of your:
    • Name and birth date.
    • Social Security number.
    • Pennsylvania residency, if you’re 18 years old or older.
      • Though proof of residency proof isn’t required for minor applicants, you WILL need to provide it if you want a REAL ID-compliant license down the road. You can either submit it now or when you apply for your junior license.
      • PennDOT provides a full guide to acceptable identity and residency documents as well as a specific guide for REAL IDs, if you’re getting a REAL ID-compliant permit/license.
  • Provide a completed Non-Commercial Learner’s Permit Application (form DL-180), filled out by a licensed medical practitioner.
    • If you’re under 18 years old, you must also submit a Parent or Guardian Consent Form (DL-180TD) along with your application—your parent/guardian should wait to sign it at the Driver License Center.
  • Pass a knowledge exam and vision screening.
  • Pay the applicable fee based on your age:
    • Permit + first 4-year license (under 65 years old): $35.50
    • Permit + first 2-year license (65 and older): $25

If you’re under 18 years old, PennDOT encourages you to schedule your skills exam at this time for at least 6 months after the date you receive your permit. This ensures that PennDOT holds a slot for your driving test; you can always reschedule if you feel you’re not quite ready when the time comes.

Learner’s Permit Restrictions

With your Pennsylvania learner’s permit, you may only drive while supervised by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old. Additionally, if you’re under 18 years old, you must:

  • Hold your permit for at least 6 months before applying for a junior license.
  • Only drive between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m., unless you’re traveling for work or school (you must carry written authorization/documentation with you in these cases).
  • NOT carry more passengers than the designated number of seatbelts in your vehicle.

Minors under 18 years old must also complete at least 65 hours of adult-supervised driving practice with your parent or guardian before you can apply for a junior driver’s license. Of these hours, 10 must be at night and 5 must be during poor weather conditions.

Once you’ve completed your required practice hours if you’re a teen, or you’ve practiced enough to feel confident behind the wheel if you’re at least 18 years old, you can move on to applying for your next license: for minors, that’s a junior driver’s license, whereas adult applicants can skip directly to their unrestricted PA license.

Junior License Requirements for Minors

The next step for minors after acquiring a learner’s permit is to apply for a junior driver’s license. As a reminder, you must first have completed your required behind-the-wheel practice and held your permit for at least 6 months before taking your road test. This means you must be at least 16 years and 6 months old before you can apply.

When you’re ready and eligible, schedule your road test if you did not already do so after you earned your permit. At your skills test appointment, bring with you:

  • Your valid learner’s permit.
  • Your parent/guardian, along with their valid driver’s license.
  • A completed Parent or Guardian Certification Form (DL-180C) certifying your behind-the-wheel practice hours.
    • Make sure your parent/guardian waits to sign this in front of the Driver License Center agent.
  • A testing vehicle, along with its valid registration and insurance.

If you don’t pass your road test on the first try, don’t worry—simply go back and practice some more with your supervising driver. You have 3 total attempts to pass your road test before you’ll need to re-apply for your permit.

Once you pass your skills exam, you’ll have your photo taken for your junior license. You must hold your junior driver’s license for at least 1 year before you’re eligible for an unrestricted senior driver’s license. While you drive with your junior license, you must also follow these restrictions:

  • You may NOT drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless it’s for school or employment purposes, for which you’ll need to carry proper documentation.
  • You can only carry as many passengers as there are seat belts in your vehicle.
  • For the first 6 months, you may only carry 1 passenger under 18 years old who is NOT an immediate member of your family. After 6 months have passed, this limit increases to 3 non-family passengers under 18 years old.
    •  The only exception to these limits is if your parent/guardian is in the vehicle with you.

Graduating to a Senior Unrestricted License

Your junior license will automatically become a senior license once you turn 18 years old. However, if you meet certain requirements, you can upgrade to a senior license at age 17 years and 6 months. To do so, you must:

  • Complete a state-approved Driver’s Education course, to include:
    • 30 hours of classroom lessons.
    • 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training.
  • Maintained a driving record free of any violations or accidents for at least 1 year prior to applying.

If you meet the above qualifications, head to your local Driver License Center and bring:

Otherwise, when you turn 18 years old, you should receive a new camera card in the mail. Bring this card, along with your junior driver’s license, to your local Driver License Center to take a new photo and receive an unrestricted senior driver license.

Obtaining an Unrestricted PA Driver’s License—Adult Drivers

There’s no required permit holding period for new PA drivers who are at least 18 years old. Once you’ve practiced with your permit and feel confident to hit the roads, you can schedule your road test with PennDOT.

At your skills test appointment, bring with you:

  • Your valid learner’s permit.
  • Any additional identity documents, if you wish to upgrade to a REAL ID at this time.
  • A testing vehicle, along with its valid registration and insurance.

Once you pass your road exam, you’ll have your photo taken for your unrestricted PA driver’s license.

Transferring an Out-of-State Driver’s License to Pennsylvania

If you hold an out-of-state license and move to Pennsylvania, you have 60 days to apply for your PA driver’s license once you’ve established residency.

Transferring a Learner’s Permit to Pennsylvania

Out-of-state learner’s permits can’t be transferred and exchanged for a PA permit. You’ll need to follow the steps above to apply for a new Pennsylvania learner’s permit.

Transferring an Out-of-State Unrestricted License to Pennsylvania

PennDOT will accept your out-of-state driver’s license as long as it is currently valid or has expired for no longer than 6 months. Otherwise, you’ll need to start fresh by applying for a PA learner’s permit and completing all requirements outlined above for first-time Pennsylvania drivers.

To exchange your out-of-state license for a PA license, you must visit a PennDOT Driver License Center in person. Gather the following documents:

All out-of-state applicants must also undergo a vision screening, but most won’t need to repeat a written exam or driving test.

Pennsylvania PENNDOT Motorcycle Permit & License Info

To get a Class M motorcycle license in Pennsylvania, all new riders must follow the same age-based steps outlined for regular driver’s licenses above—including all permit requirements and, for teens, all graduated driver licensing steps.

Pennsylvania Class M Motorcycle Permit

To apply for your Class M permit in Pennsylvania, you’ll need to:

  • Submit a completed Motorcycle Learner’s Permit Application (form DL-5).
  • Pass the motorcycle knowledge exam.
  • Provide your required proofs of identity and residency as outlined above for standard learner’s permits.
  • Submit any other required documents listed above for applicants under 18 years old.
  • Pay the appropriate motorcycle licensing fee:
    • Permit and first 4-year license (under 65 years old): $45.50
    • Permit and first 2-year license (65 years old and up): $35

With your Pennsylvania motorcycle permit, you may only drive:

  • Between sunrise and sunset.
  • While accompanied by another Class M-licensed rider.
  • Without ANY passengers other than your supervising rider.

Remember that minors under 18 must also complete 65 hours of required skills practice. Additionally, minors must also complete an approved Motorcycle Safety Program Basic Rider Course before applying for your license. Note that 15 hours of this training can go toward your required 65 hours of on-cycle skills practice. Also note that if you’re applying for a regular license AND a Class M license at the same time, you must complete 65 hours for each vehicle type.

If you’re 18 years old or older, the Basic Rider Course isn’t a requirement, but it’s highly encouraged, and you can complete your PennDOT on-cycle road exam as part of your program. If you do this, your license skills exam is waived.

Applying for a PA Class M License

To turn your Class M motorcycle permit into a PA motorcycle license, you’ll need to either:

  • Schedule a skills exam at a designated testing center (not all PennDOT centers administer motorcycle testing); OR
  • Take your on-cycle skills test as part of your Basic Rider Course (required for minors; optional for applicants 18 years old and up).

Remember that those under 18 must also meet the eligibility requirements listed above for junior driver’s licenses before testing, including a 6-month permit holding period and 65 hours of on-cycle training.

For either testing option, you’ll need to provide:

  • A registered and inspected motorcycle, as well as a registered and inspected motor vehicle to carry the license examiner during your exam.
  • An accompanying licensed driver at least 21 years old.
  • Your glasses or contacts, if applicable.
  • All appropriate safety gear, including a helmet and eyewear.

Either at your PennDOT license testing appointment, or once you’ve passed your exam through your Basic Rider Course, you’ll need to submit:

  • Your PA motorcycle learner permit.
  • Any additional documentation for teen applicants, such as a completed Parent or Guardian Certification Form (DL-180C) certifying your behind-the-wheel practice hours.

Pennsylvania CDL Requirements

Pennsylvania CDL Requirements

To drive a commercial vehicle in Pennsylvania, you must be at least 18 years old. To drive across state lines or to carry hazardous materials (HAZMAT), you must be at least 21 years old.

Regardless of age, to get your commercial driver’s license (CDL), you must first:

  1. Have a valid PA standard driver’s license.
  2. Obtain and hold a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) for at least 2 weeks.

To get your CLP, visit your local PennDOT Driver License Center and:

You must hold your CLP for at least 15 days before you can test for your full commercial driver’s license. You may only practice while supervised by another CDL holder whose license is of the same class.

Once you’ve practiced and feel confident for your road test:

  1. Schedule your test online at one of the CDL testing locations.
  2. Bring a vehicle representative of the class and type which you’re applying to drive, along with its valid proof of registration and insurance.
  3. Provide your:
    1. Regular PA driver’s license.
    2. Commercial learner’s permit.
  4. Have your photo taken and provide your thumbprints.
  5. Pass the vision exam.
  6. Pass the CDL road skills test.

PennDOT’s CDL Manual offers a guide to your CDL skills exam.

Pennsylvania PENNDOT Handbooks

Pennsylvania CDL Handbook

Pennsylvania CDL Handbook

Pennsylvania CDL Handbook
Pennsylvania Driver's License Handbook

Pennsylvania Driver's License Handbook

Pennsylvania Driver's License Handbook
Pennsylvania Motorcycle Handbook

Pennsylvania Motorcycle Handbook

Pennsylvania Motorcycle Handbook