How to get a driver's license in Utah

How it works

• Who does what

  In Utah, the Driver License Division (DLD) of the Utah Department of Public Safety handles driver licenses, learner permits and identification cards. The handbook says to start on the DLD website: choose Driver License Services and the license type that fits what you need, read the full page of requirements, and use the online application to schedule an appointment. Then you go to a Driver License office.

  Source: [1]

• Who needs a license

  Every resident of Utah who drives a motor vehicle on a public road must have a valid Utah driver license, learner permit or temporary driver license. The handbook says a person becomes a resident by, among other things, entering the state to make Utah home, and also by staying in the state six months or more during any calendar year. Non-residents licensed by another state or country may drive in Utah if they are at least 16. Visitors with a valid out-of-state or out-of-country license may drive in Utah for up to six months.

  Source: [1]

• Which license this guide covers

  This guide covers the regular driver license (Class D), which lets you drive personal vehicles. The DLD website also has separate service pages for Limited-Term licenses, Driving Privilege Cards and Commercial licenses. This guide does not cover commercial licenses. Which kind of card you can get depends on your lawful status; the Documents to bring section explains it.

  Source: [1] [8]

• Which path is yours

  If you are 15 to 18, driver education is required, so follow the Ages 15 to 18 steps. If you are 19 or older, driver education is optional, and the Age 18 and older section explains your two routes. If you already hold a license from another state or country, read the Moving to Utah section.

  Source: [1] [3] [4]

• Who can apply

  To get an original regular Class D license, you must be at least 16. If you are younger than 19, you must have completed an approved driver education course or have proof of a license from another state or country. The handbook says you may not have a Utah license if you are under the required age of 16, if you have a traffic citation or other warrant that has not been settled, or if you are under 18 and have not held a learner permit for six months and completed a driver education course.

  Source: [1]

• Fees

  A fee applies to the learner permit and to the license. The amounts can change, so the Fees page in the links below lists them.

  Source: [1] [2]

Ages 15 to 18: the steps to a license

1. Step 1: get a learner permit

   You must be at least 15. Gather your documents (proof of identity, proof of lawful presence if you are not a U.S. citizen, your Social Security number and proof of your Utah address) and schedule an appointment at a Driver License office; the handbook says to book it on the DLD website. At the appointment you have your photo taken, present your documents, take an eye test, pay the non-refundable fee and take the written knowledge test, which has 50 questions and is closed-book. If you are under 18, a parent or legal guardian signs for financial responsibility. If you pass the written test, you are given the learner permit the same day. If you do not pass, you schedule a retake appointment. The Documents to bring section explains the documents.

   Source: [1] [2]

2. Step 2: take driver education

   Driver education is required for applicants 15 to 18 who apply for a Utah driver license, and you must complete an approved course before you are licensed. You can take it at your local high school, a private or commercial school, or an online home study school. Your completed course results are sent to the DLD automatically. The required classroom hours are 27 at a high school, 18 at a commercial or private school, or 30 online, plus 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction. If you took a course in another state, its completion certificate must meet Utah’s required hours and a DLD 200 form must be completed. You may make up the missing hours at an approved Utah driving school. Out-of-state online or home study certificates are not accepted.

   Source: [1] [3]

3. Step 3: practice and hold the permit

   Before the driving skills test you must have completed your driver education course and 40 hours of practice driving, 10 of them after sunset. If you are 15 to 17, you must also have held your learner permit for at least six months; at 15 the holding period is six months and until age 16. Once you turn 18, you are not required to hold the permit for six months, but driver education is still required.

   Source: [2] [3]

4. Step 4: pass the Traffic Safety and Trends Exam

   If you have never been licensed before in any U.S. state or country, you must pass this additional online exam before you get your permanent license. You cannot take it until you have applied for your learner permit. You should complete it before your driving skills test. The Tests section explains the exam.

   Source: [7]

5. Step 5: pass the driving skills test

   The final step before your license is the driving skills test. You can take it at the DLD (you must be at least 16), or at a high school or with a third-party tester (you must be at least 15). The test is by appointment only. The DLD page for ages 15 to 18 has links to schedule the test and, after you have taken it, to schedule your license appointment. The Tests section explains the test.

   Source: [1] [2] [3]

Rules for young drivers

• Learner permit: who rides with you

  With a learner permit and under 18, you may drive a regular motor vehicle when a licensed parent or legal guardian, or an approved driving instructor, is in the seat next to you. The handbook’s page of new 2026 laws says a stepparent or foster parent can also supervise a minor with a learner permit. Other passengers may be in the vehicle. You must have the permit with you while you drive. Who else may sit next to you depends on your age and your permit; the Learner Permit page in the links below lists the rules for each age.

  Source: [1] [2]

• Financial responsibility

  A parent or legal guardian must sign for financial responsibility for a minor driver under 18. If the parent or legal guardian later withdraws the signature, the driver license becomes invalid and the minor must wait to reapply until age 18.

  Source: [2]

• Licensed drivers aged 16: night driving

  If you are 16 and have a driver license (not a permit), you may not drive between midnight and 5 a.m. unless one of these applies:

  • you are accompanied by a licensed driver who is 21 or older;
  • you are traveling to or from work;
  • it is an emergency situation;
  • you are doing agricultural operations; or
  • you are driving to or from school-sponsored activities.

  Source: [1] [5]

• Licensed drivers aged 16: passengers

  If you are 16 and have a driver license (not a permit), for the first six months you cannot drive with passengers who are not immediate family members (no friends), unless a licensed driver at least 21 is sitting in the passenger seat, you are doing agricultural operations, or you are responding to an emergency.

  Source: [1] [5]

• Why the limits exist

  The night-driving and passenger limits are part of Utah’s Graduated Driver License (GDL) program. UDOT reports a 69% decrease in the number of teens ages 15 to 17 killed in motor vehicle crashes since the program began in 1999.

  Source: [5]

Age 18 and older

• If you are 18

  At 18 there is no learner permit holding period and no co-signing adult, but you must complete an approved driver education course. The steps are the same as in the Ages 15 to 18 section.

  Source: [1] [2]

• If you are 19 or older: two routes

  Driver education is optional for applicants 19 and older. You choose one of two routes:

  • Option 1, no driver education: apply for a learner permit and hold it for 90 days before you can apply for your license; complete 40 hours of practice driving, 10 of them after sunset; and pass the driving skills test.
  • Option 2, driver education: apply for a learner permit and complete a driver education course (the 90-day holding period is not required); then pass the driving skills test. Check the Learner Permit and Driver Education, 19+ pages in the links below for the practice-driving rules on this route.

  Source: [1] [2] [4]

• Starting out

  Apply for your learner permit first, in the same way as in Step 1 of the Ages 15 to 18 section. If you chose not to take a driver education course, come back to the driving skills test step once you have held the permit for 90 days. The Learner Permit page in the links below lists the rules for your age.

  Source: [2] [4]

• The other tests

  If you have never been licensed before in any U.S. state or country, you must also pass the online Traffic Safety and Trends Exam before your permanent license is issued. You must pass the driving skills test too. The Tests section explains both.

  Source: [4] [7]

Moving to Utah

New Resident Guide →

• When you need a Utah license

  A person who becomes a Utah resident, for example by entering the state to make Utah home or by staying six months or more during a calendar year, must have a valid Utah driver license, learner permit or temporary driver license to drive on public roads. Your out-of-state driver license must be surrendered when you apply for a Utah driver license.

  Source: [1]

• Out-of-state and out-of-country transfers

  The DLD website has separate pages for each type of license, including pages for out-of-state transfers and out-of-country transfers. Read the page for your situation before you go. For a first Utah license, the handbook asks for proof of driving experience: evidence of completing driver education if you are under 19, or evidence of a driving privilege issued in another state or country.

  Source: [1] [8]

• Military personnel

  Non-resident military service personnel and their dependents who are temporarily assigned in Utah may drive with a valid out-of-state or out-of-country driver license. Military personnel, and the dependents who live with them, who had a valid Utah driver license when they entered the service and who are stationed or residing outside Utah may keep using it up to 90 days after discharge or the end of orders.

  Source: [1]

Documents to bring

• Originals only

  All documents must be originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. Faxed or photocopied documents are not accepted. Every document is subject to review and approval. Additional information may be required, and in some cases approval may not happen on the same day and may need another visit. The DLD images your documents, stores them in a secure database and returns them to you immediately. The Required Documents page in the links below has the current list, so check it before you go.

  Source: [1]

• Proof of identity and lawful status

  Every applicant must show acceptable proof of identity, and your lawful status decides which kind of license or ID card you can get. For a regular Class D license, the handbook lists one document that shows your identity and lawful status, such as a valid, unexpired U.S. passport, a certified copy of a birth certificate, a Permanent Resident Card, a Certificate of Naturalization or a Certificate of Citizenship. The DLD asks for a state-certified birth certificate; hospital-issued, miniature, laminated or photocopied certificates are not acceptable.

  Source: [1]

• Social Security number

  The handbook lists a signed Social Security card; a stub is not accepted. If you do not have the card, it lists some other records that show your name and full Social Security number, such as a W-2, an SSA-1099 or a pay stub, and a letter from the Social Security Administration that says you are not eligible for a number because of your lawful presence status. The Required Documents page has the current list.

  Source: [1]

• Proof of Utah residency

  You provide two documents as proof of your Utah residence and mailing address. Each must show your name and address and be dated within 90 days. The handbook’s examples include a bank statement, a utility bill, a mortgage or rental contract and a vehicle title. The Required Documents page has the current list.

  Source: [1]

• If your name is different

  Any name variation from your identity document must come with legal documents that authorize it, for example a state-certified marriage certificate, a divorce decree, an updated passport, an amended birth certificate, adoption paperwork, a naturalization certificate, or court documents that show the name change and are signed by the court.

  Source: [1]

• Limited-term license

  A limited-term license is for applicants who are not U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals or legal permanent residents but have proof of lawful presence in the United States. In place of the identity document above, the handbook asks for an unexpired Employment Authorization Document, or an unexpired foreign passport with a valid visa and I-94, verified through the SAVE system. It also asks for a federal document that shows a qualifying lawful status, verified through SAVE, and, as for a regular license, proof of your Social Security number and two proofs of Utah residency. Check the Required Documents page before you go.

  Source: [1]

• Driving Privilege Card (DPC)

  Applicants who do not meet the lawful presence requirements for a regular or limited-term license may be eligible for a driving privilege card (DPC). The DPC may be used for driving only; it is not valid identification or age verification. It expires each year on the applicant’s birthday. The handbook asks for a foreign birth certificate or an unexpired foreign passport (with a certified translation if the document is not in English), or an unexpired Employment Authorization Document, plus one supporting record, proof of a Social Security number or an ITIN, and two proofs of Utah residency. An original application also needs a fingerprint card and photo, for which an additional fee applies. Check the Required Documents page before you go.

  Source: [1]

REAL ID

• REAL ID certificates

  A limited-term license is issued to a non-U.S. citizen in the United States whose lawful status has been verified and qualifies for a REAL ID certificate. A driving privilege card may be issued to a person whose legal status is not eligible for REAL ID, or who is undocumented. By law, you may not possess more than one REAL ID-compliant certificate at a time, for example a Utah driver license and a Colorado ID.

  Source: [1]

At the Driver License office

• Book an appointment

  Using the online application and appointment scheduler gives you faster service, because people with appointments are served before walk-ins. Bring the confirmation number for your appointment, and double-check that you have all the correct documents.

  Source: [1]

• On the day

  Arrive on time for your appointment so that your processing, including the written knowledge test, can be completed. A driving skills test may need an additional appointment. If you book an appointment under the wrong service, for example a driving skills test booked under renewal, it may not be fulfilled and you may have to reschedule under the correct service.

  Source: [1]

• Paying

  A fee applies; see the Fees page in the links below. The handbook says you may pay by check, credit card or cash. Checks must be made payable to the Department of Public Safety in the correct amount.

  Source: [1]

• Health questions

  You are asked health-related questions when you apply for your license. If you have a health condition that may affect your driving, the DLD mails you a Functional Ability Evaluation (FAE) form to take to your health care professional.

  Source: [1]

The tests

• Which tests you take

  For the learner permit, you take an eye test and the written knowledge test. For your first license you also take the driving skills test, which you can take at the DLD, at a high school, or at a commercial or private school with a tester. If you have never been licensed before in any U.S. state or country, you must also pass the Traffic Safety and Trends Exam.

  Source: [2] [7]

• The written knowledge test

  All the questions are based on the Utah Driver Handbook, which is in the links below. If you have never been licensed, the test has 50 questions and is closed-book. If you have been licensed before, it has 25 questions and is open-book. You must pass with a score of 80% or better. The test is not timed, and it generally takes 30 to 45 minutes.

  Source: [1] [6]

• Test languages

  Applicants for a regular or limited-term license may be able to take the written knowledge test in their preferred language. The DLD page lists Arabic, Dari, French, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Tagalog, Tongan, Ukrainian and Vietnamese. The test has audio and text in Arabic, French, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese and Spanish, and text only in the other seven languages. If your language is not listed, you may commission a division-approved interpreter.

  Source: [6]

• The Traffic Safety and Trends Exam

  This online exam is required of all first-time drivers: applicants for an original or provisional Class D license who have never been licensed before in any U.S. state or country. It is in addition to the written knowledge test for your permit. You need 100% to pass, and you can take it as many times as needed. It has four short educational videos and 40 exam questions, in four sections of 10. It covers driving safety topics and the 5 major causes of traffic-related deaths identified by the Utah Highway Safety Office. The handbook says half of the questions relate to significant causes of traffic-related deaths. You must complete it before your permanent license is issued, and you should complete it before your driving skills test. When you pass, the DLD is notified automatically.

  Source: [1] [7]

• Taking the Traffic Safety and Trends Exam

  The exam is offered only online, on the DLD website; the link is below. You cannot take it until you have applied for your learner permit, because you need the permit number to register. You create an account and enter your last name, your permit number or driver license number, and your date of birth. You can be assisted and given help by anyone. If you have no home computer, smartphone or internet access, the DLD page says to complete the exam online at your city library.

  Source: [1] [7]

• The vision test

  The guidelines require 20/40 vision in at least one eye and a visual field of at least 90 degrees to drive a Class D vehicle. You must pass a vision test when you visit a field office, or if you are older than 65 when you apply. If you cannot pass, you will be asked to take a Certificate of Visual Examination (CVE) form to an ophthalmologist. The completed form must be presented before your application can be accepted.

  Source: [1]

• The driving skills test

  You provide the vehicle. It must be properly registered and comply with vehicle safety laws, including working safety belts. You must be at least 16 to take the test at the DLD, or at least 15 to take it with a third-party tester or at a high school. Only you and the examiner may be in the vehicle. Driving skills tests are by appointment only; schedule on the DLD website. They are not given when conditions could be unsafe, such as bad weather or a vehicle that is not registered or is unsafe. Third-party testers are certified by the DLD and charge a separate testing fee that is not part of the licensing fees. The Driving Skills Test page in the links below has the current details.

  Source: [1]

• What to bring and how to prepare your vehicle

  When you arrive for your driving skills test, present your learner permit or license certificate, your valid vehicle registration and your valid insurance. The vehicle must be registered and safe to drive. To avoid having to reschedule, make sure it has these things:

  • a rear plate that shows current registration (a front plate is not required);
  • front and back turn signal lights and working brake lights;
  • a working horn;
  • tires with no bald spots;
  • adequate brake pressure;
  • a driver’s side window that rolls down and a windshield that gives an unobstructed field of vision;
  • two rear view mirrors, one of them on the outside to the driver’s left;
  • driver and front passenger doors that open from both the inside and the outside;
  • a passenger seat that is permanently attached;
  • working safety belts; and
  • a working emergency or parking brake.

  Source: [1]

• What the examiner scores

  In addition to road rules and regulations, you are scored on:

  • general behavior and attitude;
  • proper driving techniques, posture and adequate use of lanes;
  • left, right and three-point turns, U-turns and backing;
  • starting and stopping;
  • parking on hills, between cars and parallel parking;
  • observance of traffic signs and signals, steering coordination and attention at intersections; and
  • overall ability to operate the vehicle safely and appropriately.

  Source: [1]

• Automatic failure

  If any of these happens during the driving skills test, you fail automatically:

  • you receive a traffic citation for a moving violation, disobey signs or signals, speed, roll through stops or ignore traffic laws;
  • you do not yield to pedestrians or other roadway users;
  • you are involved in an avoidable crash, or your vehicle has contact with other vehicles, objects or pedestrians;
  • you commit an unsafe act, or another driver has to take evasive action to prevent a crash;
  • you put the vehicle over sidewalks or curbs unnecessarily;
  • the examiner has to take control of the vehicle; or
  • you drive too fast or too slow.

  Source: [1]

• If you do not pass

  You can take two written knowledge tests in one day if the DLD can facilitate it. After a failed attempt, you schedule a written retest appointment. The fee covers not more than three attempts at the written test. After three failures you pay another fee, which gives you three more attempts. After a failed driving skills test, you are expected to practice before taking another. You may take only one driving skills test a day, and you may have to wait several days or weeks. If you fail the driving skills test three times, you pay another fee.

  Source: [1] [6]

After you pass

• How long your license lasts

  Drivers who have never been licensed in Utah, first-time drivers, and drivers who change from one license classification to another are issued an original driver license. If you are over 21, it expires on your birthday eight years after it is issued. A provisional license, issued to an applicant under 21, expires on your birthday five years after it is issued.

  Source: [1]

• If you are under 21

  Applicants younger than 21 are issued a provisional Class D license. A provisional license is a Utah license issued to any person under 21, and it is used for a separate point system.

  Source: [1]

• Young drivers

  If you are 16 and licensed, the Rules for young drivers section lists the night-driving and passenger limits that apply to you after you are licensed.

  Source: [5]

Keeping your license

• Renewing

  To renew your regular Utah driver license, schedule a renewal appointment on the DLD website. You may renew up to six months before the license expires. After you pay the fee and pass any required tests, you are issued a new license that expires on your birthday eight years after it is issued. A fee applies; see the Fees page in the links below. Limited-term license holders must present acceptable proof of lawful presence documents when renewing. The Driver License Services page in the links below leads to the renewal page for your type of license.

  Source: [1] [8]

• Good driver program

  If you have not received more than six reportable violations in the past eight years and your license status is valid, you are eligible for Utah’s good driver program. If the DLD has your current address, you receive an extension (online renewal) notice by mail about 90 days before your birthday.

  Source: [1]

• If your license has expired

  Schedule a renewal appointment on the DLD website. Depending on how long your license has been expired, you may have to complete the written knowledge and driving skills tests again.

  Source: [1]

• Replacing a lost license

  If you have lost your Utah driver license, schedule a duplicate license appointment on the DLD website. You must pass an eye exam and have a new photograph taken. Limited-term license holders must present acceptable proof of lawful presence documents. The replacement license has the same expiration date as the license it replaces.

  Source: [1]

• Replacing a learner permit

  If you have misplaced your learner permit or need to renew it, schedule a learner appointment.

  Source: [2]

• Changing your address

  You are required by law to notify the DLD of your new address within 10 days of moving. You can do this online. The post office will not forward mail from the DLD. If you want your new address on your license, schedule an appointment for a replacement license. All drivers who want to change their address must provide two approved forms of address change verification and pay the fee to receive the replacement; see the Fees page in the links below.

  Source: [1]

Identification card

• Utah identification card

  Only a Utah resident may obtain a Utah identification card. Utah law does not allow you to have a driver license and an identification card at the same time. The documents the handbook lists for a regular Class D license also apply to a regular identification card; see the Documents to bring section.

  Source: [1]

Official links

• Utah Driver License Division (dld.utah.gov)
• Learner Permit (dld.utah.gov)
• Driver Education, ages 15 to 18 (dld.utah.gov)
• Driver Education, 19+ (dld.utah.gov)
• Teen Driver Restrictions (dld.utah.gov)
• Written Knowledge Test (dld.utah.gov)
• Traffic Safety and Trends Exam (dld.utah.gov)
• Traffic Safety and Trends Exam (online exam) (secure.utah.gov)
• Driving Skills Test (dld.utah.gov)
• Required Documents (dld.utah.gov)
• Eye Test (dld.utah.gov)
• Fees (dld.utah.gov)
• Driver License Services (dld.utah.gov)
• Utah Driver Handbook (PDF) (dld.utah.gov)
• DLD 200 form for out-of-state driver education (PDF) (dld.utah.gov)
• Apply for a learner permit (online application and appointment) (dldapply.ps.utah.gov)
• Division-approved interpreters (dld.utah.gov)

Sources

1. Utah Driver Handbook (2026 edition, with NEW 2026 LAWS effective May 6, 2026) (dld.utah.gov) — Utah Department of Public Safety, Driver License Division
2. Learner Permit (dld.utah.gov) — Utah Department of Public Safety, Driver License Division
3. Driver Education, 15-18 Years of Age (dld.utah.gov) — Utah Department of Public Safety, Driver License Division
4. Driver Education, 19+ Years of Age (dld.utah.gov) — Utah Department of Public Safety, Driver License Division
5. Teen Driver Restrictions (dld.utah.gov) — Utah Department of Public Safety, Driver License Division
6. Written Knowledge Test (dld.utah.gov) — Utah Department of Public Safety, Driver License Division
7. Traffic Safety and Trends Exam (dld.utah.gov) — Utah Department of Public Safety, Driver License Division
8. Driver Licensing Services (service menu) (dld.utah.gov) — Utah Department of Public Safety, Driver License Division