GDL Requirements and Restrictions

Requirements to get an Instruction Permit for an applicant under 18 years of age:
​● Be at least 15 ½ years old;

● Have completed or be enrolled in an approved behind-the-wheel driver education course which begins within 60 days of the date your driver education instructor certifies your driver license application;

● Have your adult sponsor sign the driver license application;

● Present proof of citizenship or legal immigration status; name and date of birth; identity; ● Pass the knowledge test, highway signs test and vision screening;

RESTRICTIONS OF THE INSTRUCTION PERMIT
A driver under 18 may only drive when accompanied by a person with two years driving experience who holds a valid, regular license (it cannot be a probationary or occupational license) and who sits in the front passenger seat and is one of the following:

● A qualified instructor 19 years old or older. Up to three other people may ride in the vehicle if it is equipped with dual controls.
● A parent, legal guardian or spouse 19 years old or older. Immediate family members may ride in the back seat.
● A person 21 or older. This person must be designated in writing by a parent or legal guardian prior to accompanying the teenage driver. Requirements to get a Probationary License for an applicant under 18 years of age:
● Hold the Instruction Permit for a minimum of six months before applying for a Probationary License;
● Be violation free in the six months prior to applying for the Probationary License;
● Accumulate a minimum of 30 hours of behind-the-wheel driving experience, 10 of which must be driving experience at night. You may document the hours on a driving log sheet available on the DMV web site and in the Wisconsin Motorists’ Handbook;
● Present proof of completion of an approved driver-education training course;
● Have your parent or adult sponsor certify on the driver application the completion of 30 hours of driving experience (10 at night);
● Pass the driving skills test;
● Pay the necessary fees.

RESTRICTIONS OF THE PROBATIONARY LICENSE
Drivers under 18 have the following restrictions during the first 9 months after obtaining a Probationary License: From 5 a.m. to midnight, you can drive alone and go anywhere. Any number of immediate family members can ride along as well as the following people:

● ONE person who holds a valid, regular license with at least 2 years of licensed driving experience and who is: - a qualified instructor or spouse 19 or older, OR - a person 21 or older
● ONE other person From midnight to 5 a.m., you can drive alone only IF driving between home, school and/or work. The same people listed immediately above can ride along, too. If driving anywhere else, one of the following people must be seated in the front passenger seat:
● A parent or legal guardian
● ONE person with a valid, regular license with two years of licensed driving experience and who is: - a qualified instructor or spouse 19 or older, OR - a person 21 or older.
● In addition, any number of the driver’s immediate family members and one other person may ride along. Restrictions will be extended 6 months if:
● You are convicted of a moving traffic violation, OR
● You violate any of the restrictions, OR
● Your license is suspended or revoked for any reason.

Remember to pick a licensed driving school.

If you need a driving school in the Milwaukee, Racine, Oak Creek,  or South Milwaukee area visit one of our driving school websites and enroll in a program today! All programs cover the y-turn, parallel park, and lane changes. We operate driving schools for teens and adults.