Kansas Driver's License FAQs

You can begin with an instruction permit at 14, qualify for a restricted license at 15 through the approved pathway, receive less-restricted privileges at 16, and qualify for a non-restricted license at 17.

Approved driver education is required if you want the age-15 restricted license. It is not required for the age-16 less-restricted pathway, although completing an approved course can provide testing benefits.

It should not be treated as an approved Kansas driver education course unless the specific course has current Kansas approval. Use an approved Kansas program when you need driver education to satisfy a licensing requirement.

No. Kansas requires the instruction permit used for this requirement to have been issued by the driver licensing office; time on a driver education DE-99 permit does not count toward the one-year period.

The age-15 restricted-license pathway requires at least 25 hours before the restricted license. You must then complete 25 additional hours, including at least 10 nighttime hours, for a total of 50 hours before moving to the less-restricted stage at 16.

A licensed adult at least 21 years old must occupy the front seat beside you while you drive with an instruction permit.

Driving is generally limited to qualifying work, school, religious activities, or trips with a qualifying adult. A 15-year-old restricted-license holder may not transport non-sibling minor passengers.

Yes, but only for the specific purposes allowed by the restricted license, such as qualifying work, school, or religious activities. Other driving generally requires a qualifying adult supervisor.

At 16, you can move to less-restricted privileges after satisfying the applicable requirements, including the 50-hour supervised-driving affidavit and maintaining the required driving record.

With the less-restricted privileges, you can generally drive alone from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Additional trips for work, authorized school activities, and qualifying religious activities are permitted, and a qualifying adult can accompany you at other times.

During the applicable six-month restriction period, you may have no more than one non-sibling passenger under 18.

No. Wireless communication device use is prohibited for these young-driver stages except for limited emergency-related purposes.

It is a special permit for eligible teens ages 14 through 16 who live or work on a qualifying farm. It allows limited driving connected with farm work and school under separate restrictions.

A qualifying driver education completion certificate can be accepted in place of certain written and driving examinations at the applicable licensing stages. The Kansas Division of Vehicles should determine whether your specific certificate qualifies.

You can qualify for a non-restricted license at 17 after completing the applicable graduated-driver requirements. Once issued, the GDL restrictions no longer apply.