Louisiana Driver's Permit Requirements
Everything you need to get your Louisiana learner's permit — age, fees, documents for the written test, supervised-hours rules, and what the road test itself checks — summarized from the official OMV pages and linked to the source.
LouisianaOMVLouisiana Office of Motor Vehicles — PermitsChecked 2026-07-18Official source
LouisianaOMVLouisiana Office of Motor Vehicles — PermitsChecked 2026-07-18Official source
LouisianaOMVLouisiana Office of Motor Vehicles — PermitsChecked 2026-07-18Official source
Last verified 2026-07-18 · Source: Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles — Permits ↗
Fees and rules change — always confirm current requirements on the official page above before you go.
The Louisiana licensing timeline
Each stage below carries what OMV itself publishes, the people it applies to, the page it came from, and the date we last checked it. Where OMV publishes no figure, the card says so instead of guessing one.
1Eligibility
Minimum permit age15LouisianaOMVLouisiana Office of Motor Vehicles — PermitsChecked 2026-07-18Official source
Louisiana's driver manual says you can apply for a learner's permit at age 15
2Documents
OMV lists these for the knowledge-test visit:
- Certified birth certificate
- Verification of Social Security Number
- Proof of address
- Custodial parent or legal guardian present with identification, if the applicant is a minor
- Certificate of Successful Completion from driver's education, presented when converting from the Temporary Instructional Permit
The knowledge test and the permit itself are handled in the same visit.
LouisianaOMVLouisiana Office of Motor Vehicles — PermitsChecked 2026-07-18Official source
3Required education
Required driver educationWe have not verified a driver-education requirement on OMV's own pagesLouisianaOMVLouisiana Office of Motor Vehicles — PermitsChecked 2026-07-18Official source
4Application
Web search: $32.25 plus up to $8 local fee depending on parish
5Knowledge test
Wait before a retakeOMV does not publish a verified retake waitLouisianaOMVLA official knowledge-test sourceChecked 2026-08-12Official source
State site states 40 questions and a 80% (or equivalent) passing score.
6Permit restrictions
Permit validityOMV does not publish a verified validity periodLouisianaOMVLouisiana Office of Motor Vehicles — PermitsChecked 2026-07-18Official source
Restrictions Louisiana puts on a new driver:
- Passenger rule: During the first year of the intermediate license, no more than one non-family passenger under 21 is allowed
- Curfew: During the intermediate-license phase, no driving is allowed from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.
- Permit supervision: Learner's-permit holders must be accompanied at all times by the supervising licensed driver required by the permit restrictions
LouisianaOMVLouisiana Office of Motor Vehicles — PermitsChecked 2026-07-18Official source
7Supervised driving
Supervised driving for applicants under 1850 hours (15 at night)LouisianaOMVLouisiana Office of Motor Vehicles — PermitsChecked 2026-07-18Official source
The Louisiana driver manual says the learner's permit must be held 180 days with 50 supervised hours, including 15 at night. That is a graduated-licensing rule — an applicant who is already 18 follows a different path, so check the official source below rather than assuming this figure is yours to meet.
8Road test
Minimum permit hold6 monthsLouisianaOMVLouisiana Office of Motor Vehicles — PermitsChecked 2026-07-18Official source
9Full licence
Unrestricted driving age16LouisianaOMVLouisiana Office of Motor Vehicles — PermitsChecked 2026-07-18Official source
Louisiana issues an intermediate license at ages 16-17; the full license follows at age 17 after completing the GDL requirements
How to get your permit in Louisiana
- Apply for the Louisiana learner's permit at age 15
- Drive only while accompanied by the supervising licensed driver required by the permit restrictions
- Hold the permit 180 days and complete 50 supervised practice hours, including 15 at night
- Move into the intermediate-license phase at age 16+ and follow the first-year passenger and late-night restrictions
- Qualify for the full Louisiana license at age 17 after completing the GDL requirements
Frequently asked questions
How old do you have to be to get a permit in Louisiana?
You can get a learner's permit in Louisiana at 15. Louisiana's driver manual says you can apply for a learner's permit at age 15.
How much does a Louisiana permit cost?
The Louisiana permit fee is $32.25. Web search: $32.25 plus up to $8 local fee depending on parish.
How long do you have to hold your permit in Louisiana?
You must hold your Louisiana permit for at least 6 months before the driving test.
How many practice driving hours does Louisiana require?
Louisiana requires 50 hours of supervised practice driving for applicants under 18, including 15 at night. That is a graduated-licensing rule — an applicant who is already 18 follows a different path, so check the official source below rather than assuming this figure is yours to meet.
Where can I practice for the Louisiana permit test?
Right here — take a free Louisiana practice test, review every answer, and build readiness in your browser. The free DMV Prep app adds offline study and native reminders.
