ARIZONA DRIVER’S Education Online

Arizona Online Driver Education

Getting Your Arizona Driver's License: The Basics

Arizona's graduated licensing system lets teens begin the process at 15 years and 6 months with a Graduated Instruction Permit. At age 16, an eligible teen can move to a Class G graduated driver's license after meeting the permit, driving-experience, and testing requirements.

The Arizona Department of Transportation's Motor Vehicle Division, or MVD, handles the licensing process. Your path can involve supervised driving practice, an approved driver education program, or both, depending on the option you choose.

The basic progression is:

• Graduated Instruction Permit: available at 15½ after passing the required knowledge and vision tests.
• Class G graduated license: available at 16 after holding the permit for at least six months and meeting the applicable driver education or supervised-practice requirements.
• Regular Class D license: available after you turn 18. You can also continue using a Class G license after turning 18 if you choose.

Step 1: Get Your Graduated Instruction Permit at 15½

You can begin the Arizona teen licensing process when you are at least 15 years and 6 months old. You must pass the non-commercial knowledge test and then complete the remaining permit application requirements, including providing original supporting documents, obtaining parent or guardian approval, passing the vision test, and having your photo taken at an MVD or authorized location.

The Arizona knowledge test contains 30 multiple-choice questions, and you need at least 80% to pass. The questions are based on the Arizona Driver License Manual.

Arizona also offers Permit Test @ Home. Teens under 18 can take the official knowledge test online when a parent or legal guardian administers it through an AZ MVD Now account. After passing, you still need to complete the process of obtaining the instruction permit.

Once you have your instruction permit, you must have a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old seated beside you while you drive. The permit is valid for 12 months and must generally be held for at least six months before you can qualify for a graduated license.

Step 2: Complete Arizona's Driving-Experience Requirement

Arizona provides more than one way for a teen to satisfy the education and driving-experience requirements.

Under the standard practice option, your parent or guardian must certify at least 30 hours of supervised driving, including at least 10 hours at night.

A separate option allows 20 hours of supervised driving, including at least 6 hours at night, when the teen has completed the qualifying Traffic Survival School or certified defensive-driving course specified by the Arizona MVD.

Arizona also provides a driver education option through a high school or privately operated driver education program. Under the MVD's current teen-driver guide, completing an eligible driver education program and providing proof of completion within the required period can qualify the teen for the road-test-waived path.

These options are different, so make sure you know which path you are completing before relying on a course to reduce your practice requirement or waive a test.

Step 3: Qualify for Your Class G License at 16

You must be at least 16 to receive an Arizona Class G graduated driver's license. If you are under 18, you generally must have held your Graduated Instruction Permit for at least six months and have parent or legal guardian approval.

If you qualify through the supervised-practice option, you must complete the required practice hours and take the road test. Arizona's MVD also has a road-test-waived path for qualifying applicants who complete an eligible high school or privately operated driver education program and provide the required proof.

For a road test, you need an eligible vehicle with current registration and liability insurance. Applicants under 18 must also have a parent or legal guardian accompany them.

Class G License Restrictions

A Class G license comes with additional restrictions during your first six months.

Passenger Restriction

During the first six months, you generally cannot drive with more than one passenger under 18 who is not your sibling. This restriction does not apply when your siblings are the passengers or when a parent or legal guardian with a valid license is seated beside you.

Midnight-to-5-a.m. Restriction

During the first six months, you generally cannot drive between midnight and 5:00 a.m. Exceptions include having a legal guardian with a valid driver's license seated beside you or driving for certain employment, school, religious-activity, or family-emergency purposes specified by Arizona.

Cell Phone and Wireless Device Restrictions

Arizona prohibits drivers from physically holding or supporting a portable wireless communication device while driving. The law also restricts writing, sending, or reading text-based communications while driving, with limited hands-free and emergency exceptions.

For a new driver, the safest practice is simple: put the phone away before you start driving and avoid handling it while the vehicle is moving.

Violations Can Extend Your Restrictions

Violating Arizona's graduated-license restrictions can lead to penalties and extend the period during which the restrictions apply. The MVD lists different consequences for first, second, and third convictions, including longer restrictions or suspension for later convictions.

Arizona Auto Insurance Requirements

Arizona requires liability insurance for vehicles operated on its roads. The current minimum coverage is:

• $25,000 for bodily injury liability to one person
• $50,000 for bodily injury liability to two or more people
• $15,000 for property damage liability

The vehicle must be covered through an insurer authorized to do business in Arizona.

Prepare for the Arizona Permit Test

The Arizona written knowledge test contains 30 multiple-choice questions based on the Arizona Driver License Manual, and you need at least 80% to pass. Arizona also provides official practice tests based on the same manual.

Study the manual carefully and use practice questions to become familiar with the types of information covered on the examination. You can take the official permit test at an MVD office or, if eligible, through Permit Test @ Home with a parent or legal guardian.

Where Teendrivingcourse Fits Into the Arizona Process

Teendrivingcourse provides online driver education that can be used as a supplemental learning resource. Its website describes the course as an online program available from a computer with internet access and states that the course is designed to supplement state-approved driver education rather than automatically satisfy a state's licensing requirements.

For Arizona, do not assume that completing the Teendrivingcourse online program reduces the required supervised-driving hours or qualifies you for the road-test-waived driver education option. Arizona has specific requirements for the programs that qualify for those benefits.

You can use an online course to build your knowledge of traffic laws, safe-driving practices, road signs, and defensive-driving concepts while you prepare for the Arizona licensing process and complete your supervised practice.

Complete the First Six Months With Your Class G License

Your Class G license carries passenger, nighttime, and wireless-device restrictions during the first six months. Follow those restrictions and maintain a safe driving record while you gain more experience.

After you turn 18, Arizona allows you to continue using your Class G license or switch to a regular Class D license.

Preparing for the Arizona Road Test

If your licensing path requires a road test, you must meet the applicable eligibility requirements before scheduling it. For teens, that includes holding the instruction permit for at least six months.

Use your supervised practice time to build real driving skills. Practice traffic signs, lane changes, turns, stopping, following distance, parking, and other everyday driving tasks so you are prepared for the situations evaluated during the road test.