INDIANA  DRIVER’S EDUCATION

Summary of Indiana Graduated Licensing Law

Indiana has a two stage licensing process for minors.
  1. Driver Education Learner Permit (at least age 15) OR Validated Learner Permit (at least age 16) We recommend our DriverEdToGo Video-to use during the Learner stage. Shows the parent how to teach collision-free driving habits and provides unique teaching tools (mirrors, checklists, videos, audio instruction series, etc.).
  2. Operator License (age 16 & 30 days with driver education OR age 16 & 6 months without driver education.)

What does this mean to you?

  1. If you take a traditional course through your high school, university or a commercial driving school you are eligible to get your permit at age 15 & get your license at age 16 and 1 month as long as you held your permit a minimum of 60 days*.
  2. If you wait to get your Permit at age 16 (Intermediate License), you may get your license at age 16 and 6 months as long as you held your permit for 6 months. You will be required to take a written test to get the permit and a driving test to get your license at 16 and 6 months.

Consider The Following:

  • Traditional courses give an average of 30 hours classroom and 6 hours actual driving experience.
  • You attend at the school’s schedule, not yours.
  • The average cost for a traditional course in Indiana is $300.00 and does not prepare the teen to drive collision-free.
  • After completion of a traditional course, the parent is still responsible for preparing the teen to drive collision-free.

    The problem with this traditional driving course is the parent is not given instructional tools to make this period of time successful. Without these tools, this permit driving stage often become frustrating for both parent and teen, and is not very effective in training the teen to be collision-free.

What is the solution?

  • With the full Driver Ed Kit, the teen applies for permit at 16 and is allowed by the state to get their license at 16 and 6 months. This slight delay in licensing can make a big difference in maturity.
  • The first section of the classroom gives the teens the information required to pass the written test.
  • The Videos, Audio CDs, Parent Companion and Classroom sections all work seamlessly together. These tools give both parent and teen the goals and communication skills for each lesson to be a pleasurable experience.
  • At the end of each phase of training you move on to the next phase when both parent and teen agree they are ready.
    The phases are:
    • Parking Lot
    • Neighborhood
    • Light Traffic
    • Freeway
    • Rural
    • Heavy Traffic
  • You do all this on your own schedule during the permit period.
  • The result is both Teen and Parent are comfortable and confident in the teens driving ability.
  • Last but not least, it’s just $179.

Indiana License Chart
Learner's License
Age 15

Limited learner permit issued, at the age of 15, for the sole purpose of allowing a student driver to enroll in a BMV-approved driver education course.

  1. provide proof of identity and date of birth;
  2. show proof of enrollment in a BMV-approved driver education program by surrendering the certificate of driver education provided by the school;
  3. be able to pass the standard vision screening test; and
  4. if less than eighteen(18) years of age, have an appropriate family member or other adult sign the financial responsibility agreement portion of the application.

Extent of Driving Privileges: Operate a motor vehicle only while currently enrolled in driver education course and while participating in practice driving either (1) when accompanied by certified driving instructor in the front seat of a car equipped with dual foot controls, or (2) when accompanied by a parent or guardian in the front passenger seat who holds a valid license.

Once permit is accepted and completed by driver education instructor, may participate in practice driving if the seat beside the holder is occupied by a parent or guardian who holds a valid license.

 
Intermediate License
Age 16 - 17

Allows practice driving to qualify for an operator license. No driver education requirement.

Must be:

  1. be at least 16 years of age;
  2. provide proof of identity and date of birth;
  3. pass a written roadway knowledge test;
  4. pass the standard vision screening test;
  5. if less than 18 years of age, have an appropriate family member or other adult sign the financial responsibility agreement portion of the application.

Extent of Driving Privileges: Under 18, practice driving only while seat beside holder occupied by a parent, guardian or relative who holds a valid driver license; or 18 or over, seat beside holder occupied by any license driver.

 
Driver's License
Age 17
  1. Provide proof of identity and birth;
  2. be able to pass the standard vision screening test;
  3. successfully complete a written roadway knowledge test;
  4. (under 18) have an appropriate family member or other adult sign the financial responsibility agreement portion of the application, and
  5. unless applicant qualifies for a waiver, successfully pass a roadway skill test with a BMV driver examiner in a vehicle provided by the applicant.

16 & 30 days:

has held a valid Driver Education Learner Permit for 60 days and has successfully completed a BMV-approved driver education course.16 & 180 days (6 months):has held a valid Indiana learner permit for 60 days.