How to Get a Driver’s License

Utah has a Graduated Driver License program, or GDL, that will give you time to learn how to drive in a controlled way. There are three stages to this program, from no license to full license.

You can begin the Utah GDL process at 15. Complete the required supervised hours and driver education and you can get your restricted license at 16. Keep it in good standing for at least 6 months, and by 17 you’ll have a full, unrestricted UT driver’s license.

The steps below have the details you’ll need to know to get your full, unrestricted Utah driver’s license

Get your Utah learner’s permit

You can start the process to get your license at 16 years of age. To get ready for driving, you can download the Utah Driver Handbook and start reading through it.

At your local driver’s license office, you’ll need to fill out an application, bring in proof of identity, and pay a fee of $19 by debit card or check.

You will be required to pass a written knowledge exam as well as a vision test. Make sure to bring any corrective lenses you may need.

The knowledge exam consists of 50 questions. Before you take it, why not go through a few practice exams? It never hurts to prepare before test day.

If you fail, you are allowed to retake the test a second time on that same day. Fail for a 3^rd time, however, and you’ll have to pay your testing fee again before you’re allowed to retake the written exam.

Once you’ve passed, you will be given an official paper which is your Utah learner’s permit. You’ll need to have that with you every time you’re behind the wheel.

You must have your UT learner’s permit for at least 6 months before you can apply for a regular license. During that time, you’ll need to have 40 hours of driving practice with 10 of those being at night. You may only drive while accompanied by a parent, guardian, or other responsible adult that has signed for financial responsibility in the front seat.

Driver’s younger than 19 years of age are required to pass a Utah Department of Public Safety approved driver education course to obtain their Utah driver’s license. Drivers’ education requirements vary. Here are your options:

• 27 hours of high school classroom instruction, or
• 18 hours of private or commercial instruction, or
• 30 hours of an approved online course, with 6 hours of additional instruction behind the wheel.

When you’re ready to enroll in driver education, find a driving school to get started.

Once you’ve completed the required amount of instruction, you can apply for your Utah driver’s license.

Get your Utah restricted driver’s license

Receiving your Utah driver’s license requires that you’ve completed certain requirements. Those are reaching the age of 16, completing your required supervised driving time, and UTDPS approved driver education course.

You will also have to have held your UT learner’s permit for at least 6 months, unless you are 18 years old, in which case there is no holding period, but you must have completed Utah DPS approved driver education. If you’re 19 years old or older, you must have held it for 3 months unless you’ve completed UTDPS approved driver education.

Now you’re ready to apply for and schedule your road test and written knowledge exam.

Driving Skills Test: You will be required to pass a driving test with a UTDPS evaluator who will make sure you can perform basic driving tasks safely.

Before you take it, you should check out The Top 10 Automatic Fails on Driver Tests, so you’ll know what not to do on test day.

Written Exam: If you are applying for your first license you will have to pass a 50-question exam.

The application fee for your license is $39 if you are under 21. $52 if you are not.

Your license will be mailed to you and will have your photograph on it. They take your picture the day you pass your driving skills test. This license will come with the following restrictions depending on your age:

• If you are 16 you will only be allowed to drive between 5:00 A.M. and midnight, unless accompanied by parent, guardian, or a licensed driver that has signed for financial responsibility. Exceptions to this are driving to or from work, a school sponsored activity, an agricultural assignment, or an emergency.
• After 6 months you are allowed to have non-immediate family members as passengers.
• If you are 17 you no longer have nighttime driving restrictions, but may still only drive while accompanied by a parent, guardian, or adult 21 or older that has signed for financial responsibility
• If you are 18 or 19 you will only be allowed to drive while accompanied by a licensed driver over 21.

Get your full unrestricted Utah driver’s license

At a certain point, the state feels that you’ve been able to receive enough supervised driving experience that you can go out on your own. Therefore, once you reach 17 and have had your restricted license for 6 months, you can get your full license.

This means that previous restrictions are lifted. However, you will not receive an updated license until that one expires. After you renew your license, you will receive your full, unrestricted license in the mail.

Whether you’ve just finished your Utah graduated licensing process, or are just starting out, you might also want to consider a telematic companion application to better understand your driving habits, and how to improve them.

The best option is the DriverZ Virtual Coach. Download it today to sharpen your S.P.I.D.E.R.Senses™ to build the driving skills that will keep you safe for a lifetime, track your supervised driving hours, and access bespoke driver training based on your specific needs.

Frequently asked questions

Here are some other details which are good to know as you start out on your UT graduated licensing journey.

Can I drive in Utah with an out-of-state learner’s permit?

As long is a driver is in possession of their learner’s permit, is at least 16 years of age, and follows all Utah learner’s permit restrictions and regulations, they are allowed to drive with an out-of-state learner’s permit.

If I complete all GDL requirements, am I eligible for an adult license before my 21st birthday?

Full adult licenses may not be issued for driver’s younger than 21 years old.

Utah Division of Public Safety information

For comprehensive information on everything related to the Utah graduated licensing program, visit the Utah Department of Public Safety You can also call 1-888-353-4224 Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Prepare for your license journey by reviewing the Utah Driver Handbook, and taking a few practice tests.