Moving to the Emerald Coast with a teen driver: Florida permit, practice hours and curfews
Families moving to Okaloosa, Walton, Santa Rosa or Bay County with a teenager should know Florida’s teen driving rules before the first day of school. A Florida teen can get a learner’s license at 15, must hold it for 12 months or until turning 18, and needs 50 supervised driving hours, 10 of them at night, before a license at 16, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) as of Nov. 2, 2026.
Once licensed, a 16-year-old may drive alone from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. and a 17-year-old from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m.
What can a 15-year-old do with a Florida learner’s license?
A learner’s license is the first step. With it, the teen always drives with a licensed driver 21 or older in the car. For the first three months, driving is allowed in daylight only. After that, the teen can drive until 10 p.m., still with the adult.
The learner’s license has to be held for 12 months, or until the teen turns 18, before moving up.
How many practice hours does Florida require?
Fifty supervised hours, including 10 at night. A parent or guardian certifies the hours, per FLHSMV. Families who arrive mid-year can start logging hours from the first week.
When can my teen drive alone?
At 16, after passing the Class E driving skills test. Florida then sets driving hours by age:
| Age | Can drive alone | Exceptions |
|---|---|---|
| 15, learner’s license | Never alone; daylight only for 3 months, then until 10 p.m. with a licensed driver 21+ | None |
| 16 | 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. | Driving to or from work, or with a licensed driver 21+ |
| 17 | 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. | Driving to or from work, or with a licensed driver 21+ |
Source: FLHSMV, licensing requirements for teens.
- Age 15 Learner's license; always with a licensed driver 21+
- First 3 months Daylight driving only
- Months 4 to 12 Driving until 10 p.m.; log 50 supervised hours, 10 at night
- Age 16 Pass the Class E skills test; alone from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Age 17 Alone from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Where do teens take the tests on the Emerald Coast?
Driver licenses here are issued by each county tax collector, not by a separate state office. Okaloosa has offices in Shalimar, Niceville, Destin and Crestview and lets you book online, per the Okaloosa County Tax Collector. Santa Rosa County has offices in Gulf Breeze, Milton and Pace, and Bay County in Panama City, Panama City Beach, Lynn Haven and Callaway, per FLHSMV. Walton County lists DeFuniak Springs, Santa Rosa Beach and Freeport.
Not every office gives the driving skills test. Check the county tax collector’s site before booking the road test.
What does a new student need for school in Florida?
The same move that puts your teen on Florida roads puts them in a Florida school. Florida asks for a school health exam done within the last 12 months and the Florida immunization form DH 680, according to the Florida Department of Health. Each district runs its own registration:
- Okaloosa County School District: find the zoned school with its School Site Locator.
- Walton County School District: registration starts online.
- Santa Rosa County District Schools: online only, no walk-in registrations.
- Bay District Schools: student registration page.
What about the parents’ licenses?
Adults who become Florida residents have 30 days to get a Florida driver license and 10 days to title and register their cars, per FLHSMV’s new-resident page. A Class E license costs $48, and most tax collector offices add a $6.25 service fee. Military families stationed here are not required to switch.
Who do I call?
For permits, tests and licenses, your county tax collector. For the rules, FLHSMV’s teen licensing page. For school registration, your county school district.
This story is information, not legal advice.
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Questions and answers
- At what age can a teen get a learner's license in Florida?
- At 15. The teen must always drive with a licensed driver 21 or older and hold the learner's license 12 months or until 18, per FLHSMV.
- How many practice hours does a Florida teen need?
- 50 supervised hours, 10 of them at night, certified by a parent or guardian, per FLHSMV.
- What are the driving hours for a 16-year-old in Florida?
- 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. when driving alone. Driving to or from work, or with a licensed driver 21 or older, is an exception.
- What does my child need to enroll in a Florida school?
- A school health exam done within the last 12 months and the Florida immunization form DH 680, per the Florida Department of Health, plus the district's registration.