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New Florida requirements for teen drivers 15-17 in effect July 1

Cars pass a panther crossing sign along Corkscrew Road, Lee County Florida. This area is the proposed area for the Kingston development, prime panther habitat.
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
New rules for new teen drivers go into effect in Florida as of July 1.

Effective July 1, 2025, all new teen drivers ages 15-17 must complete the following courses to receive a Florida learner’s permit:

  • 6-hour Driver Education Course
  • 4-hour Traffic Law Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE)
  • Real ID documents, proof of address, and parental consent

However, if the new driver completes a Traffic Law Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course online before July 1, 2025, he or she will be exempt from the six-hour course. (Teens must be 14 years old to complete the TLSAE.)

A list of approved course providers can be found on the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website.

If the child already has a learner’s permit or gets one before July 1, they are also exempt. Teens moving to Florida with a valid out-of-state permit or license don’t need to take the new course, either.

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