What Type of License Do You Need and What are the Exam Requirements for Each?

Source: Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. 

Non-Commercial Driver Licenses

• Class E:Any non-commercial motor vehicles with Gross Vehicle Weight Rating less than 26,001 pounds, including passenger cars, 15-passenger vans including the driver, trucks or recreational vehicles and two or three-wheel motor vehicles 50 cc or less, such as mopeds or small scooters (see below). Farmers and drivers of authorized emergency vehicles who are exempt from obtaining a commercial driver license must obtain a Class E driver license.
  • • Class E Exam Requirements – Minimum Age 16
      • Road rules
      • Road signs
      • Driving
      • Vision
      • Hearing
    • Note: A new resident exchanging a valid out-of-state driver license for a Florida driver license will be required to pass the vision and hearing tests only. If you are under 18 and are not married, your license application must be signed by a parent or legal guardian. Step-parents may not sign for you unless they have legally adopted you.
    • Note: Teens applying for a Class E driver license will be required to:
      • hold learner’s license for 12 months;
      • not incur any traffic convictions; and
      • be certified by a parent or guardian to have at least 50 hours of behind-the-wheel training, with at least 10 driving hours conducted at night.
    • Teens issued a traffic citation can elect to attend a traffic driving school to avoid a conviction.
  • Learner’s License:Any of the vehicles listed under Class E being driven by a person 15 years of age, or persons learning to drive.
    • Class E Learner’s License Exam – Minimum Age 15
      • Road rules exam
      • Road signs exam
      • Vision exam
      • Hearing exam
    • If you are under 18 and are not married, your license application must be signed by a parent or legal guardian. Step-parents may not sign for you unless they have legally adopted you.
  • Motorcycle Endorsement:All first-time customers who wish to add a motorcycle endorsement to a driver license must complete a department-approved Motorcycle Safety Education Course.
    • Motorcycle Endorsement Requirements – Minimum age 16
  • Moped: For individuals with a Class E driver license or higher, a motorcycle endorsement is not required. Note: Passengers under 16 years of age must wear approved protective headgear. A Moped tag is required. Personal Injury Protection insurance is not required.
  • Scooters 50 cc or less: Scooter being driven must be street legal (i.e. require proper operating equipment, such as brake lights, headlight, mirror per S. 316 F.S., and tag, title and registration) and must be operated by an individual with a Class E driver license or higher.

Commercial Driver Licenses

• Class A: Commercial motor vehicles – trucks or truck combinations weighing with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, provided that the towed vehicle is more than 10,000 pounds.
  • • Class A Exam Requirements – Minimum age 18.
      • General Knowledge test
      • Combinations vehicle test
      • Air brakes
      • Applicable endorsement exams
      • Vision – 20/40 in each eye
      • Hearing – must hear a whisper
      • Pre-trip
      • Basic skills
      • Driving
    • Note: Drivers under 21 years of age will be restricted to Intrastate operation only.
  • Class B: Commercial motor vehicles– straight trucks with a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more.
    • Class B Exam Requirements
      • General Knowledge test
      • Air brakes if applicable
      • Vision – 20/40 in each eye
      • Hearing – must hear a whisper
      • Pre-trip (not required for Class C)
      • Basic skills (not required for Class C)
      • Driving
    • Note: Drivers under 21 years of age will be restricted to Intrastate operation only.
  • Class C:Vehicles transporting placardable amounts of hazardous materials, or vehicles designed to transport more than 15 persons including the driver with a GVWR of less than 26,001 pounds.
    • Class C Exam Requirements
      • General Knowledge test
      • Air brakes if applicable
      • Vision – 20/40 in each eye
      • Hearing – must hear a whisper
      • Pre-trip (not required for Class C)
      • Basic skills (not required for Class C)
      • Driving
    • Note: Drivers under 21 years of age will be restricted to Intrastate operation only.

For more information on commercial driver licenses, please refer to the department’s handbook.