How To Apply For Indiana Drivers License As A Teen (Under 18)

If you are ready to apply for your driver's license in Indiana and are under the age of 18, you may be wondering what that process will look like for you. When it comes to Indiana, new teen drivers applying for their drivers license have some strict guidelines to follow. If you follow the steps below, you will get behind the wheel and gain that freedom you are looking for with your driver's license.

First Step: Enroll In Driver's Ed Course

You must be at least 15 years old to enroll in a 30-hour classroom course if you wish to obtain your probationary driver's license prior to being 16 years and 270 days of age (16 years and 9 months). Once enrolled in the classroom course and behind-the-wheel driving lessons, you will receive a Certificate of Driver Education (CDE).

You are not required to complete the classroom portion prior to receiving your CDE, but you must be enrolled in both the classroom and behind-the-wheel lessons. However, we do recommend completing the classroom course prior to taking the written test at the BMV office, as it would be great preparation for you.

Second Step: Learner's Permit

Once you have received your CDE, you will need to go to your local BMV office and complete/provide the following to take the written test:

• Be at least 15 years of age
• Present documents proving identity, residency (two unique documents with the address and name of person), and social security number
• Present your CDE
• Pass a vision screening test
• Pass the written test

If you happen to fail the written test, you must wait until the next business day before taking another written test.

Third Step: Practice Your Driving Skills

Once you have your learner's permit, you can now schedule your six hours of behind-the-wheel driving lessons, which Coastline Academy offers. These lessons are conducted in one-hour increments and you cannot do more than one lesson in a day. If you wish to obtain your probationary driver's license prior to being 16 years and 270 days of age, these driving lessons are required.

In addition to the six hours of driving lessons, you are also required to complete 50 hours of driving practice outside of the lessons with a licensed driving instructor, a certified driver rehabilitation specialist, or a licensed driver who is at least 25 years of age and who is related to you by marriage, blood, or legal status. If the licensed driver is your spouse, they have to be at least 21 years of age. Of those 50 hours, 10 of them have to be completed at night. The minimum amount of time these hours can be completed is in 30 days.

Before you can proceed to the next step, you must complete the classroom portion of Driver's Ed if you wish to obtain your probationary license prior to 16 years and 270 days of age.

Fourth Step: Behind-The-Wheel Test

Once you have completed all of the Driver's Ed requirements, including the 30-hour classroom course, six hours of driving lessons, and 50 hours of driving practice, then you are eligible to take the behind-the-wheel driving test if you are at least 16 years and 90 days of age and have held your learner's permit for 180 days (six months). To take the behind-the-wheel test, you must have/complete the following:

• Provide proof of identity, date of birth, as well as physical address and mailing address
• Provide proof of a valid social security number
• Provide a completed supervised driving log
• Provide proof of citizenship or lawful residency status
• Surrender your currently valid state-issued ID card
• Have an appropriate family member sign the financial responsibility agreement
• Pass a vision screening test
• Pass the road test

For the behind-the-wheel test, you have three attempts to pass. When you pass, you will receive your probationary driver's license. If you happen to fail, you must wait 14 days before you can make your next attempt. If you do not pass within three tries, you are required to wait two months from the date of the last failed attempt before you can attempt the test again.

Restrictions on a Probationary Driver's License

When you do obtain your probationary driver's license, there will be restrictions that come along with it. Those restrictions are:

Telecommunication Devices

You may not use any type of telecommunication device while driving except to make emergency 911 calls.

Driving Restrictions

For 180 days after getting your license, you may not drive between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. After those 180 days and until you turn 18 years old, you may not drive during the following hours:

• Saturday and Sunday, between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.
• Sunday through Thursday, after 11 p.m.
• Monday through Friday, before 5 a.m.

However, you may drive at any time if you are traveling to or from work, a school-sanctioned activity, or a religious event; or if you are accompanied by an individual in the front seat of the vehicle with valid driving privileges who is at least 25 years of age or a spouse with valid driving privileges at least 21 years of age.

Driving With Passengers

For 180 days after getting your probationary driver's license, you may not drive with any passengers unless you are accompanied in the front seat by a licensed instructor, an individual with a valid driver’s license who is at least 25 years of age, or a spouse who is at least 21 years of age. You may transport your child, stepchild, sibling, step- or half-sibling, or spouse during the hours allowed by law without another accompanying individual.

It may take some time, but it is a process designed to make sure safe drivers are getting behind the wheel of cars in Indiana, which is what we all want.

**Click here to learn how to apply for your driver's license in Indiana when over 18**

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our friendly support staff. If you want to start your driver's license journey with Coastline Academy, make sure to sign up for Drivers Ed and book your driving lesson today.