How to get your first-time Utah driver license

never licensed before

This page is for U.S. citizens
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What you need to know
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Multiple steps required
Getting your first license involves several steps
Process times vary by age

Permit holding time and required training are different depending on your age if you take a driver education course

Learner permit first
You'll need a learner permit before you can start to practice driving
Tests and practice
  1. 50-question written test to get permit
  2. An online test after you get permit
  3. Prove driving practice
  4. Behind-the-wheel driving test
Driver education may be required
  • Age 15-18, driver education is required
  • If you are 19 years old or older, if you do not take driver education, you must hold your permit for at least 3 months and prove you drove 40 hours (10 after dark)
  • Get driver education information
At least two appointments at DLD office required
  1. First appointment to get permit
  2. Second appointment to either take the behind-the-wheel driving test or, after testing at driver's ed or 3rd party tester, show results to get your license

NOTE: additional appointments may be necessary if you fail tests, do not bring correct documents, or do not meet other requirements

What you need to do

  1. Get learner permit

    • Make appointment at DLD office
    • Study for 5o-question written test (take a practice test)
    • Bring required documents to DLD appointment
    • Get permit to start practicing driving
    • Ages 15-17: You are required to hold your permit for 6 months
    • Age 18: You are not required to hold permit for 6 months
    • Age 19+: You are required to hold permit for 90 days if you do not take driver's education
    Make appointment for learner permit

  2. Take online Traffic Safety & Trends exam

    • Learner permit number required to register
    • Must pass with 100%
    Register and take exam AFTER you get learner permit

  3. Take driver education (required ages 15-18) OR hold permit for at least 3 months and prove 40 hours of practice driving (age 19 & over)

    Age 15-18: Get driver education information
    Age 19 and over: Get driver education information

  4. Practice driving with permit

    • You are required to prove 40 hours of supervised driving practice.
    • 10 hours of the practice driving must be after sunset.
    Get resources including a tracking log from Zero Fatalities

  5. Take behind-the-wheel driving skills test

    Get driving test informationAnd link for appointment

  6. Know teen driver restrictions

    • For drivers age 16 and 17, there are restrictions for nighttime driving and passengers who aren't immediate family
    Get teen driver restriction information

Parents signing for financial responsibility

  • At any time, the parent or legal guardian who signed for financial responsibility on a minor’s application can withdraw their signature until the minor is 18 years of age and for any reason. 
  • This action would invalidate the driver license, and the minor could reapply when they reach the age of 18 or if the parent/legal guardian signed a new application. 
  • There would be a licensing fee and a written knowledge test to reapply.