CHAPTER 1
LICENSING INFORMATION
Introduction
As more motorists share Idaho’s streets and Scenic Highways, it becomes increasingly important that you always drive courteously and safely.
Becoming a safe driver takes time and practice. By knowing and following the “rules of the road,” Idaho's traffic laws, and knowing what the signs and signals mean, you will be able to move smoothly and safely in a variety of traffic situations. You should learn and practice driving safely, defensively, and with common sense. Your life as well as the lives of your family, friends, and other drivers depends on it.
Licensing Information
Anyone who operates a motor vehicle on the public roads in Idaho is required to have a valid driver's license. You can be licensed in Idaho when you are 15 years old. However, if you are under 17 years old, you must first successfully complete an approved driver’s training program. Under Idaho’s Graduated Driver’s License Program, you must then complete a Supervised Instruction Period (SIP). After completing the SIP, you will be eligible to apply for a driver’s license. This license will be restricted to driving during daylight hours only until you are 16 years old. If you are under 16 years of age, you are only authorized to drive during daylight hours—unless you are supervised by a valid, licensed driver who is at least 21 years old and is sitting in the front seat beside you (no other passengers are allowed in the front seat). Daylight hours are defined as from “1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset”. When moving to Idaho, you will need to apply for an Idaho driver's license within 90 days of residing in Idaho, whether your out-of-state license has expired or not. If you have a Commercial Driver's License (CDL), you are required to be licensed in Idaho within 30 days of residing in Idaho.
Students attending a college or university in Idaho and members of the U.S., Military on active duty and their dependents who hold a valid drivers license from another state or country and who claim residency in that state or country, are not required to obtain an Idaho driver’s license.

Effective: July 1, 2008 Jan 1, 2010
OPERATOR LICENSE (CLASS D)
• 1-year (age 17).................................................$12.25..............................$15.00
• 3-year (under 18)...............................................20.50.................................25.00
• 3-year (age 18 to 21)..........................................20.50.................................25.00
• 1-year (age 20)..................................................12.25.................................15.00
• 4-year (age 21 and over).....................................24.50.................................30.00
• 8-year (age 21 to 62)..........................................45.00.................................55.00
Instruction Permit (IP).......................................11.50.................................15.00
Knowledge Test...................................................3.00...................................3.00
Skills Test ($6.50 to County, $17.50 to Skills Tester)................15.00.................................24.00
Duplicate License/IP/SIP*.................................11.50.................................15.00
Driver Training Instruction Permit**/SIP..........15.00................................15.00
*Supervised Instruction Permit
*Additional $3.50 admin. fee collected in advance for skills test receipt.

COMMERCIAL LICENSE (CLASS A, B, & C)
• 1-year (age 20)..................................................$12.25.............................$15.00
• 3-year (age 18-21)...............................................20.50...............................30.00
• 4-year (age 21 and over).......................................28.50...............................40.00
Instruction Permit (must have Idaho License ).........19.50....................................29.00
Knowledge Test.....................................................3.00.................................3.00
Skills Test ($10.00 to County, $60.00 to Skills Tester).................55.00...............................70.00
Endorsement Knowledge Test...............................3.00.................................3.00
Additional Endorsement......................................11.50...............................15.00
Duplicate License................................................11.50...............................15.00
License Upgrade..................................................15.50...............................25.00
Seasonal CDL (6-month).......................................27.50...............................39.00
MOTORCYCLE (In addition to above license fees)
Instruction Permit (must have Idaho License)..........11.50.............................$15.00
Duplicate Permit..................................................11.50...............................15.00
Knowledge Test.....................................................3.00.................................3.00
Skills Test (collected by skills tester)..........................5.00...............................10.00
One-Time “M” Endorsement...............................11.50...............................15.00
IDENTIFICATION CARD
ID Card (no age limit)
• Under age 18......................................................$6.50.............................$10.00
• Age 18 to 21.........................................................6.50...............................10.00
• 4-year (age 21 and over)..........................................7.50...............................10.00
• 8-year (age 21 and over)........................................15.00...............................20.00
Dubplicate ID (same fee as original)
Note: All Retest Fees are the Same as the Original Test Fees.
IDAHO DRIVER’S LICENSE / ID CARD FEE SCHEDULE
(All fees are non-refundable)
Idaho driver’s licenses, instruction permits, or identification cards are
issued through the county sheriff’s offices. You may apply at the
sheriff’s office most convenient to you. The list of Idaho Driver’s
License Office Locations and Phone Numbers is located on the web at:
http://itd.idaho.gov/dmv/driverservices/sheriff.htm.

Types of Licenses
• Class A, B, and C licenses are Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs) that allow a person to operate certain types of commercial vehicles. A commercial vehicle, for driver-licensing purposes, is a vehicle that either has a manufactured gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, is placarded for hazardous materials, or designed to carry 16 people or more. See the Commercial Driver’s License Manual for detailed information about commercial driver licensing applications and requirements.
• Class D licenses allow drivers to operate non-commercial motor vehicles.
• Class D Instruction Permits allow people to practice driving a motor vehicle for 180 days when accompanied by an adult (someone who is 18 years old, or older) who holds a valid driver’s license. These permits are available if you are at least 15 years old and have successfully completed an approved or accredited driver training program and the Graduated Driver’s Licensing Program (GDL). If you have not successfully completed driver training and the GDL Program, you must pass a written knowledge test and be at least 17 years old to be issued an instruction permit.
• Motorcycle (M) Endorsements are required on any Class D or Commercial Driver’s License when a motorcycle rider operates on public roadways. A motorcycle is defined as a motor vehicle that has a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and is designed to travel with not more than three wheels in contact with the ground. Tractors and mopeds are not classified as motorcycles. You must pass a written and a skills test or successfully complete an approved motorcycle training course before receiving a motorcycle endorsement. If you are surrendering an out-of-state license that has a motorcycle endorsement, you are still required to pass a written motorcycle knowledge test. If your out-of-state license has been expired for one year or longer, you will also be required to take the skills test. See the Motorcycle Operator’s Manual for more information about this endorsement.
• Motorcycle Instruction Permits are available for those who want to learn how to operate a motorcycle. You must have a valid Idaho driver’s license to apply for a motorcycle instruction permit. You must also take and pass a written knowledge test. Any person under 21 will be required to take a written knowledge test and successfully complete an approved motorcycle training course. (See the Motorcycle Operator’s
Manual for more information.)
Driver Training
An approved Idaho driver-training program consists of a required 1,800 minutes (30 hours) of classroom instruction, 360 minutes (6 hours) of incar observation in a driver-training car, and 360 minutes (6 hours) of behind the wheel driving with a driver training instructor. Driver training is required for anyone under 17 years old who is applying for an Idaho driver’s license.The Department of Education provides approved courses through public schools. Most Idaho school districts offer driver-training programs in cooperation with the Department of Education. The courses are open to all Idaho residents between the ages of 14 1/2 and 21, even if they are not public school students. Private driver training classes are available through commercial driver training schools. If you are under 17 years old and have completed driver training in another state (while a resident of that state) but have not been licensed in that state,
you will be required to provide acceptable proof of completion of an approved driver training course from that state. If you are not surrendering an out-of-state license, you will also be required to complete a supervised driving period prior to licensing.
Driver Training / Supervised
Instruction Permits
Anyone under 17 years of age must have a driver training permit/supervised instruction permit to attend any public school or private driver training program. While you are enrolled in a driver’s training program, these permits are valid only to operate a vehicle with a driver training instructor. When you have successfully completed a driver’s training program and the instructor has givin you the permit, you will be eligible to begin the supervised instruction period required by Idaho’s Graduated Driver’s License (GDL) program.
Anyone 17 years of age or older can obtain an instruction permit after passing a knowledge test. These permits can be used while attending any public school or private driver training program and are valid to operate a vehicle while accompanied by a licensed driver over 18 years of age.
The documents required to get a driver-training permit are the same as those required for a driver’s license and are listed on the following pages. The certified birth certificate you provide must list your mother and father for liability signer purposes. At age 18 you may apply for a Class D instruction permit without a parental liability signer.
Graduated Driver’s License Program
Anyone under 17 years of age who has not been issued a driver’s license in Idaho must successfully complete an approved driver training program and comply with the requirements of the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Program. Under the GDL Program, you will be required to complete a minimum six-month, violation-free supervised instruction period, during which you must:
• be accompanied by a supervising valid licensed driver at least 21 years old who is occupying the seat beside the driver (no other passengers are allowed in the front seat),
• assure that all occupants are wearing seat belts or child restraints if required,
• observe all laws regarding alcohol and other intoxicating substances, and
• accumulate at least 50 hours of supervised driving time, ten hours of which must be at night. If you are convicted of violating any traffic laws while you are operating under the Supervised Instruction Permit (SIP), the permit will be cancelled and you must reapply for a new SIP. Your minimum six (6) months of supervised driving begins all over again with the issuance of a new permit. Once you have successfully met the requirements of the GDL, you will be required to take and pass a skills test and a written knowledge test before receiving a driver’s license. A parent or legal guardian may accompany you during the skills test after signing a liability waiver.
Restriction Under 17 - Licensees under the age of 17 are required—during the first six months from the date the license was issued—to limit the number of passengers in the vehicle who are under the age of 17 to not more than one passenger, unless the passenger is related by blood, marriage, or adoption. This law became effective July 1, 2007 and applies to all drivers in the above category, whether or not the restriction is printed on the license. Violation of any driver license restriction may result in an automatic 30 day license suspension for drivers under the age of 17.
Documents Required for Licensing
Idaho considers new applicants to be individuals who either (1) have never been licensed in Idaho or any other state or jurisdiction, (2) are returning to Idaho after being licensed in another state or jurisdiction, (3) when surrendering a license from another jurisdiction, or (4) have let their Idaho driver’s license expire for one year or more. If you are a new applicant for a driver’s license, instruction permit, identity card, or driver training permit, you are required to provide the following to the driver’s license examiner: • Proof of Idaho Residency
• Proof of Age and Identity
• Acceptable Legal-Presence Documents
• Social Security Number
• Visual/Medical Certification (if required)
• Other State or Foreign License
• Driver Training Completion (if under 17)
• Liability Signer (if under 18)
• School Enrollment or Completion (if under 18)
For more information on these items and when they are required see below:
• Proof of Idaho Residency - You must reside inside Idaho’s borders to be issued an Idaho driver’s license or ID card. You will be required to show proof of residency with documents such as lease or rental agreements, utility bills, employment records, school enrollment records, etc. Your home address (where you live) cannot be your workplace, vacation residence, or a part-time residence.
• Proof of Age and Identity - Driver’s license examiners are required by law to verify your identity and age before issuing you a driver’s license or ID card. If you have a valid, state-issued driver’s license or state-issued ID card to surrender that meets the conditions of a primary document stated below, you do not need to provide any additional identity documents.
Note: If you do not have an acceptable driver’s license or ID card to surrender, you will be required to present a certified original birth certificate and an acceptable photo identity document (see primary and secondary document lists below).
If the documents described above cannot be obtained, the examiner will require a combination of documents from the primary and secondary document lists that provide proof of your legal name, date of birth, and identity. If you need to correct errors on another state’s driver’s license or ID card or make a name change, you will be required to provide additional certified documentation. Primary documents must contain your full legal name and date of birth. These documents must be verifiable as authentic by the agency issuing them. Photocopies or faxes of these documents will not be a accepted. The following are examples of acceptable primary documents:
1. Out-of-state driver’s license or ID card (with a photo) not expired for five years or more.
2. Idaho driver’s license or ID card not expired for five years or more.
3. Certified original birth certificate or certified abstract of birth certificate.
4. Valid Immigration and Naturalization card from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
5. U.S. military photo identification card.
6. Original naturalization/citizenship document.
7. Valid foreign passport with a valid U.S. VISA
8. U.S. passport or U.S. passport card.
9. Concealed weapons permit issued by the state of Idaho not expired for one year or more.
10. Pilot’s license with photo not expired for one year or more.
11. Veteran’s Universal Access Card, with photo.
12. Native American ID card, with photo
Secondary documents will assist in confirming your identity, and must contain your name and enough information to establish proof of all or part of what is contained on the primary document. The following are examples of acceptable secondary documents:
1. Out-of-state issued driver’s license or ID card with a photo, expired for five years or more.
2 U.S. military discharge paper (form # DD214).
3. Certified marriage certificate meeting Idaho standards with seal and document number showing that it was recorded.
4. Certified divorce document from a court or state vital statistics office.
5. Guardianship or custody documents, notarized or court certified.
6. Certified court name-change document.
7. Junior or senior high school (not college or university) photo activity card.
8. Junior or senior high school, college, or military yearbook/annual.
9. Idaho Automobile dealer/salesman photo ID card.
10. Idaho Department of Corrections photo ID card.
11. Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections photo ID card.
NOTE: Either the primary or secondary document must contain a photo of you.