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Under age 18 — Iowa's graduated driver's licenses (GDL)

teen driver





Instruction permit

Eligibility requirements
  • Available at age 14.
  • Written consent of parent/guardian is required. This consent may be given using one of two options: (1) the parent/guardian accompanies the teenager to the driver's license station to sign the consent form in the presence of the examiner, or (2) the parent/guardian downloads the Parent's/Guardian's Written Consent Form and signs the form in the presence of a notary public. The teenager may then present the completed and notarized form to the examiner and the parent/guardian would not have to accompany the teenager to the driver's license station.
  • Satisfactory performance in vision screening and knowledge tests.
  • Proof of identity and verification of Social Security number.

Conditions
  • Must be held for a minimum of six months.
  • All driving must be supervised by a licensed driver. May drive only with parent/guardian, immediate family member older than 21, driver education teacher, driver older than 25 with written permission of parent/guardian.
  • Number of passengers limited to number of safety belts available in vehicle.
  • Must complete 20 hours of supervised driving; minimum of two hours must be between sunset and sunrise.
  • Must drive crash-and violation-free for six consecutive months immediately preceding application for intermediate license (see box at right). The permit must not be expired or withdrawn during this six-month period.
  • Must complete Iowa approved or comparable driver education course.
    • Thirty hours of classroom instruction, which must include four hours of substance abuse education, minimum of 20 minutes on railroad crossing safety, and information on organ donation.
    • Six hours laboratory, three hours of which must be behind the wheel; may use simulators for the remaining time.
    • No parental waiver of any behind-the-wheel drive time.
  • Instruction permit will have the words "under eighteen" printed on it


Intermediate license

Eligibility requirements
  • Available at age 16.
  • Must meet all conditions of instruction permit.
  • Written consent of parent/guardian is required. This consent may be given using one of two options:  (1) the parent/guardian accompanies the teenager to the driver's license station to sign the consent form in the presence of the examiner, or (2) the parent/guardian downloads the Parent's/Guardian's Written Consent Form and signs the form in the presence of a notary public. The teenager may then present the completed and notarized form to the examiner and the parent/guardian would not have to accompany the teenager to the driver's license station.

Conditions
  • Must be held for a minimum of 12 months.
  • May drive:
    • Without supervision from 5 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.
    • Between 12:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. only with a licensed driver who is a parent/guardian, immediate family member older than 21, or designated adult older than 25.
    • With a waiver, may drive between 12:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. to and from work or school-related extracurricular activities.
  • Must complete 10 hours of supervised driving; minimum of two hours must be between sunset and sunrise. The supervision must be by a licensed driver who is a parent/guardian, immediate family member older than 21, or designated adult older than 25.
  • Number of passengers limited to number of safety belts available in vehicle.
  • Must drive crash-free and violation-free for 12 consecutive months immediately preceding application for full license (see box at right). The intermediate license must not be expired or withdrawn during this 12-month period.
  • Intermediate license will have the words "under eighteen" printed on it.
Up to age 18, all conditions of the intermediate license shall remain in effect until the holder of the intermediate license has been issued a full license.


Full license

Eligibility requirements
  • Available at age 17.
  • Must meet all conditions of intermediate license.
  • Written consent of parent/guardian is required. This consent may be given using one of two options: (1) the parent/guardian accompanies the teenager to the driver's license station to sign the consent form in the presence of the examiner, or (2) the parent/guardian downloads the Parent's/Guardian's Written Consent Form and signs the form in the presence of a notary public. The teenager may then present the completed and notarized form to the examiner and the parent/guardian would not have to accompany the teenager to the driver's license station.

Conditions
  • Full driving privileges with no restrictions.
  • For drivers under age 18 or age 21, the license shall have the words "under eighteen" or "under twenty-one," respectively, printed on it.


Remedial driver improvement

Drivers under the age of 18 may be suspended, and/or have additional restrictions, and may be subject to additional testing if the driver:
  • Commits a moving violation.
  • Is involved in a crash to which the driver contributed.

Possible restrictions include:
  • No driving between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.
  • No passengers, unless accompanied by parent/guardian.
  • No wireless communication devices. (Example: cell phone)

The license holder must begin a six-month (instruction permit holder) or 12-month (intermediate license holder) crash- and violation-free driving period from the date the traffic violation occurred or the date of the contributive crash to qualify for the next licensing level. The dates are determined by the Iowa DOT based on the crash or violation.

If a person's driving privilege is suspended, the new period begins on the date the privilege is reinstated.


Questions and answers

When did the new law go into effect?
The law went into effect Jan. 1, 1999.

At what age does the "graduated" licensing process begin, and how many licensing steps or phases are there in the system?
The process begins with an instruction permit as early as age 14. The intermediate license is available at age 16, and the full license is available at age 17. Each of these licenses requires the written consent of a parent/guardian. The law does not apply to anyone who is age 18 or older.

Is there a change in the driver education course?
The Iowa-approved driver education course remains the same — 30 hours classroom and six hours laboratory, three hours of which must be behind the wheel — and must still be offered or made available by the local school district.

Is the parent/guardian required to provide for additional behind-the-wheel driving experience?
Yes. During the instruction permit phase, a licensed parent or guardian, licensed immediate family member older than 21 or a designated licensed adult older than 25 must provide a minimum of 20 hours (including two hours between sunset and sunrise) behind-the-wheel driving experience before the person holding the instruction permit can apply for an intermediate license. A minimum additional 10 hours (including two hours between sunset and sunrise) of behind-the-wheel instruction must take place during the intermediate license phase.

Does this new law change the eligibility requirements for the special minor’s license called the school license?
Yes. The young driver must drive crash -free and violation-free for the six consecutive months immediately prior to applying for the school license.

Is there a nighttime driving restriction on the intermediate license, and if so, what about work or late-night school activities?
Yes. Driving must be supervised between 12:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. However, with a Iowa DOT waiver, the young driver may drive between home and work or school-related extracurricular activities unaccompanied during those hours. Waiver forms are available from schools, Iowa DOT driver's license stations or county treasurer driver's license issuance sites.

Is there a nighttime driving waiver available for the holder of the school license?
No. The nighttime driving restriction on the school license — 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. — remains the same. There is no exception to this restriction.

Must the young driver maintain a clean driving record?
Yes. The instruction permit holder must drive crash-free and moving violation-free for six consecutive months immediately prior to applying for an intermediate license. Before applying for the full license, the intermediate license holder must drive for 12 consecutive months without an accident or moving violation. During these periods, the instruction permit or intermediate license must not be expired or withdrawn.