Learn the requirements for getting your Wisconsin driver's license and find helpful resources for learning to drive.
WI PROBATIONARY LICENSE (UNDER 18) REQUIREMENTS:
- Are at least 16 years old.
- Have passed an approved driver education course.
- Have an adult sponsor.
- Complete a Wisconsin Driver's License Application form MV3001 - including your Social Security number.
- Provide proof of U.S. citizenship, legal permanent resident status, conditional resident status, or temporary visitor status.
- Provide proof of name and date of birth.
- Provide proof of identity.
- Have held an Instruction Permit for at least six months.
- Have been violation-free for six months.
- Have 50 hours of driving experience (10 of which must be at night).
- Are enrolled in a school program or high school equivalency program and are not habitual truants, have graduated from high school or been granted a declaration of high school graduation equivalency, or are enrolled in a home-based private education program.
- Pass the driving skills test.
- Pay the necessary fees.
WI PROBATIONARY LICENSE RESTRICTIONS:
If a student is under 18, for the first nine months of holding the probationary license, the student may drive, but with the following restrictions:
- From 5 AM to midnight, a student may drive alone and travel anywhere. In addition, any number of immediate family members (including a legal guardian) and the following people can be passengers:
- One person must hold a valid regular (non-probationary) license with at least 2 years of driving experience and be at least 21 years old, or a qualified instructor, or a spouse 19 years or older, and one other person.
- From midnight to 5 AM, and if driving between home, school, and/or work, a student may drive alone. Additionally, a student may have the same passengers as listed in number one above. If driving anywhere else, students must have one of the following people in the vehicle:
- A parent or guardian.
- Any number of immediate family members and one other person.
- One person must hold a valid regular (non-probationary) license with at least 2 years of licensed driving experience, and the other person must be 21 years or older, a spouse 19 years or older, or a qualified instructor 19 years or older.
Restrictions will be extended 6 months if the student does any of the following:
- Is convicted of a moving traffic violation.
- Violates any of the restrictions.
- Has a license revoked or suspended for any reason.
Note: The terms of the passenger and time-of-day restriction stops while any operating privilege is suspended or revoked. It resumes again when the operating privilege is reinstated.
