LOUISIANA DRIVER’S Education Online

Louisiana Online Driver Education

Getting a Driver's License in Louisiana: The Basics

Louisiana's licensing process is different from many states because first-time drivers must complete an approved driver education or prelicensing training course before obtaining their first license. Drivers under 18 generally complete the required 38-hour driver education course, consisting of at least 30 hours of classroom instruction and 8 hours of actual driving instruction. Adults 18 and older who have not completed the under-18 driver education course must complete a prelicensing training course with at least 6 hours of classroom instruction and 8 hours of actual driving instruction, including the skills test.

That requirement is important when choosing an online course. TeenDrivingCourse is not an OMV-licensed Louisiana driver education provider and does not fulfill Louisiana's required driver education or prelicensing training requirement. It does not replace the required classroom or behind-the-wheel instruction, and it does not serve as your official Louisiana licensing course.

Instead, TeenDrivingCourse can be used as a preparation tool. You can build your knowledge of traffic laws, defensive driving, road signs, and safe driving habits before beginning your required program through a Louisiana-approved provider.

For teen drivers, the general path looks like this:

• Temporary Instructional Permit (TIP): obtained before the knowledge test, behind-the-wheel instruction, or road skills testing through the required driver education process.
• Learner's license: available at 15 after completing the required driver education course, passing the vision examination, and passing the knowledge test.
• Intermediate license: available beginning at 16 after meeting the required permit period, supervised driving hours, and testing requirements.
• Full Class E driving privileges: available after completing the intermediate licensing period and meeting the applicable requirements.

How Louisiana's Graduated License System Works

Step 1: Get Your TIP and Complete Driver Education

Louisiana begins the teen licensing process with a Temporary Instructional Permit (TIP). The TIP must be obtained before the knowledge test, behind-the-wheel instruction, or road skills testing and is used specifically during the instructional and testing process. After completing driver education, the TIP is surrendered as part of the process of obtaining the learner's license.

For drivers under 18, the required driver education course includes at least 30 hours of classroom instruction and 8 hours of actual driving instruction. Louisiana law also limits actual driving instruction to no more than four hours on a single calendar day.

Your required Louisiana driver education provider or properly licensed and contracted tester administers the applicable state testing. The knowledge test requires a passing score of at least 80 percent.

To be completely clear, TeenDrivingCourse is not an OMV-licensed Louisiana driver education course. It cannot replace the required Louisiana driver education program, its classroom or behind-the-wheel hours, or the official testing process.

Where TeenDrivingCourse can help is with preparation. Use the course to review the rules and driving concepts you'll encounter in your required program, then use your PrepWizard trial to practice answering Louisiana-specific knowledge-test questions.

Step 2: Get Your Learner's License at 15

At age 15, a teen may qualify for a Class E learner's license after completing the required driver education course and passing the applicable vision and knowledge tests. Louisiana's knowledge test covers rules of the road, signs and signals, sharing the road, distracted driving, and other required safety topics. The passing score is 80 percent.

With a learner's license, you must drive with a licensed parent or guardian, a licensed adult who is at least 21, or a licensed sibling who is at least 18. Louisiana's OMV materials also state that learner's license holders may not use a cell phone, including hands-free use, while driving.

If you begin the process at 15, the learner's license generally must be held for at least 180 days before conversion to an intermediate license, unless you reach age 17 earlier. During this period, you must complete at least 50 hours of supervised driving practice, including 15 hours at night.

Step 3: Earn Your Intermediate License at 16

Beginning at age 16, you may qualify to convert your learner's license to an intermediate license after meeting Louisiana's requirements. These include completing the required 50 hours of supervised driving, including 15 nighttime hours, holding the learner's license for the required period, passing the road skills test, and meeting the state's accident and violation requirements.

For applicants under 17, the learner's license must generally have been held for at least 180 days. During that period, the applicant must remain accident-free except where the applicant was not at fault and avoid convictions for moving violations, seat-belt or curfew violations, and certain drug- or alcohol-related violations.

Once you receive an intermediate license, you can drive without a supervising adult, but important restrictions remain in place.

Step 4: Move to Full Class E Driving Privileges

The intermediate stage is not the end of Louisiana's graduated licensing process. A driver may receive full Class E driving privileges after completing the intermediate licensing stage and remaining accident-free, except when not at fault, while avoiding the specified moving, seat-belt, curfew, drug, and alcohol violations for the required 12 consecutive months.

For a teen who receives an intermediate license at 16, this generally means reaching full Class E driving privileges at about age 17 after completing the required intermediate period.

Louisiana Teen Driving Laws You Should Know

Intermediate License Restrictions

Until you reach full Class E driving privileges, an intermediate license comes with important restrictions:

• Curfew: If you are under 17, you generally cannot drive between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. unless accompanied by a licensed parent or guardian, a licensed adult at least 21 years old, or a licensed sibling at least 18 years old.
• Passengers: Between 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., you generally cannot carry more than one passenger under 21 who is not an immediate family member unless accompanied by a qualifying adult.
• Seat belts: Everyone in the vehicle must be properly restrained before the vehicle is put into motion.

These restrictions are designed to reduce nighttime driving and limit the distractions and risks associated with carrying young passengers.

The Phone Rules

Louisiana has strict restrictions on wireless-device use for new drivers. OMV materials state that learner's license holders cannot use a cell phone while driving, including hands-free use. Louisiana law also prohibits a person from using a cellular telephone for any purpose during the first year after receiving a first Louisiana driver's license, subject to limited exceptions such as contacting public safety or using the phone while parked.

Louisiana's broader wireless-device law also restricts operating a wireless telecommunications device while driving unless the vehicle is lawfully stationary, with specified exceptions.

The safest habit is simple: keep your phone out of reach whenever the vehicle is moving.

Driver Education Is Required for First-Time Drivers

Louisiana requires first-time applicants to provide evidence of completing an approved driver education or prelicensing training course. For applicants under 18, the required driver education course includes at least 30 classroom hours and 8 hours of actual driving instruction.

For applicants age 18 or older who have not completed the under-18 driver education course, Louisiana requires a prelicensing training course consisting of at least 6 hours of classroom instruction and 8 hours of actual driving instruction, including administration of the skills test.

This means an online course that is not an approved Louisiana provider cannot substitute for the required program.

TeenDrivingCourse is not an OMV-licensed Louisiana driver education provider. Its course does not satisfy the state's required driver education or prelicensing training requirement. Instead, it can serve as supplemental preparation to help you review driving concepts before starting the official process.

Louisiana Insurance Requirements

Louisiana requires vehicle owners to carry minimum liability insurance. The state's minimum limits are:

• $15,000 for bodily injury to one person
• $30,000 for bodily injury to two or more people in one accident
• $25,000 for damage to someone else's property

These are minimum liability limits, not a recommendation for how much coverage a family should purchase. Families adding a new teen driver may want to discuss higher limits and additional coverage options with their insurance provider.

Prepare for Your Louisiana Knowledge Test with PrepWizard

The Louisiana knowledge test is based on the state's required driver knowledge and safety material, and applicants must achieve at least 80 percent to pass. The test covers areas such as rules of the road, traffic signs and signals, sharing the road, distracted driving, and other driver-safety topics.

Use PrepWizard to turn reading into active practice before your knowledge test. Review the current access and trial terms when choosing your practice option.

With PrepWizard, you can:

• Practice questions covering Louisiana traffic rules, safe-driving concepts, and road signs
• Take timed practice exams to become comfortable answering questions under pressure
• Use Focus Mode to concentrate on topics you repeatedly miss
• Monitor your practice performance as you study
• Practice from a computer, tablet, or smartphone

The goal is not to replace the official Louisiana driver education program. It is to help you arrive at that program with a stronger foundation and prepare specifically for the knowledge test's 80 percent passing requirement.

Where TeenDrivingCourse Fits in Louisiana

The most important thing to understand is that TeenDrivingCourse does not replace Louisiana's required driver education or prelicensing training.

For teen drivers, Louisiana requires an approved 38-hour driver education course with at least 30 classroom hours and 8 hours of actual driving instruction. Adults 18 and older who have not completed the teen driver education course must complete an approved prelicensing training course with at least 6 classroom hours and 8 hours of actual driving instruction.

TeenDrivingCourse can instead be used as a supplemental study resource. Its self-paced lessons can help you review traffic laws, right-of-way, hazard recognition, defensive driving, and other foundational concepts before beginning your required Louisiana program.

You can also use the included 3-day PrepWizard trial to practice Louisiana-specific knowledge-test questions and get comfortable with the 80 percent passing standard.

Think of it as preparation before the official process: Louisiana requires the approved course. TeenDrivingCourse helps you arrive prepared.