Idaho DMV Exam FAQ 2026
How do I get my first driver's license in Idaho?
You apply through the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD), Division of Motor Vehicles, but the transaction happens at your county driver's license office rather than a state office. Teens under 17 must complete an approved driver training course, hold a supervised instruction period, and then pass the knowledge and skills tests, while adults 18 and older can go straight to testing. Everyone must pass a vision screening, the 40-question knowledge test, and the on-road skills test, and must present documents proving identity, Social Security number, and Idaho residency. You can study the official rules in the Idaho Driver's Handbook before you test.
What are the minimum ages for permits and licenses in Idaho?
A Driver Training Permit is available from age 14½ to under 17 for students enrolled in an approved driver training program. A Class D Instruction Permit is available at age 17 or older and requires passing the knowledge test. Anyone under 17 who has not been licensed before must go through the Graduated Driver's License (GDL) program, which includes driver training and a six-month supervised period. All applicants under 18 need a parent or guardian with verifiable custody to sign as the liability signer; at 18 no liability signer is required.
What is Idaho's Graduated Driver's License (GDL) program for teens?
The GDL program applies to anyone under 17 who has not previously been licensed in Idaho. You must complete an approved driver training program, then complete a minimum six-month, violation-free supervised instruction period. During that period you must be accompanied by a licensed driver at least 21 years old seated in the front passenger seat, with no other passengers in the front seat, and you must accumulate at least 50 hours of supervised driving, 10 of which must be at night. A traffic-law conviction during the supervised period cancels the permit and restarts the six-month clock. After completing GDL you must pass both the knowledge and skills tests.
What driving restrictions apply to young Idaho drivers?
Drivers under 16 may drive only during daylight — defined by Idaho statute as 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. — unless a licensed driver at least 21 years old is in the front passenger seat. For the first six months after license issuance, drivers under 17 may carry no more than one passenger under age 17 unless those passengers are related to the driver by blood, adoption, or marriage. Licenses issued to those 15 to 17 show "Under 18 until [date]" and expire five days after the 18th birthday. A second GDL violation brings a 30-day suspension and a third or later violation a 60-day suspension, with no restricted permit allowed.
How does an adult (18 or older) get an Idaho license?
Applicants who are 18 or older are not required to complete driver training and do not need a liability signer. You still must pass a vision screening, the 40-question knowledge test, and the on-road skills test, and you must present the required identity, Social Security, and residency documents. If you prefer to practice first, you can obtain a Class D Instruction Permit at 17 or older; it is valid for one year and requires an accompanying adult 18 or older who holds a valid driver's license. Adults typically complete the whole process in a single visit to a county driver's license office once they pass both tests.
What are the rules for a Class D Instruction Permit in Idaho?
A Class D Instruction Permit is available at age 17 or older and requires passing the knowledge test. It is valid for one year, and while driving on it you must be accompanied by an adult 18 or older who holds a valid driver's license and is seated beside you. The permit costs $20.00. The separate Driver Training Permit, for students ages 14½ to under 17, is only valid to drive with a driver training instructor while enrolled in an approved program and expires five days after the holder's 18th birthday.
What documents do I need to bring to the Idaho DMV?
To get an Idaho driver's license — including a Star Card (Idaho's REAL ID) — you must prove your identity and date of birth with a document such as a certified birth certificate or valid U.S. passport, provide evidence of your Social Security number, and show two documents proving your Idaho residential address, such as a utility bill, bank statement, or lease. If your current name differs from your identity document, bring legal proof of the change, such as a marriage certificate or court order. County DMV agents may also require a physician's medical form before issuing a license.
How many questions are on the Idaho knowledge test and what score do I need?
The Idaho knowledge test for a Class D non-commercial license consists of 40 questions, and you can miss up to six before failing — so you need 34 correct answers, which is 85 percent. The questions are taken directly from the Idaho Driver's Handbook. The test is offered in many languages, including English, Spanish, and Russian, as well as American Sign Language. New applicants, out-of-state transfers, and anyone whose Idaho license has been expired 25 months or more must take it. You can prepare with the official Idaho Driver's Handbook.
What happens if I fail the Idaho knowledge test?
If you fail the knowledge test, you must wait three days before you can retest, and you must pay the knowledge test fee again. The knowledge test fee is $5.00, and all retest fees equal the original test fees. ITD warns that most web-based practice tests are not an accurate representation of the actual Idaho knowledge test, with the exception of the official sample questions ITD publishes. Because every question is drawn from the handbook, studying the Idaho Driver's Handbook is the most reliable way to prepare.
What happens during the Idaho skills (road) test?
The skills test takes about 30 minutes and is scheduled only during daylight and acceptable weather. It begins with a vehicle knowledge and inspection portion in which you locate and demonstrate items such as the brake lights, turn signals, headlights, wipers, hazards, horn, parking brake, defroster, and all three arm signals; you may miss three or fewer to continue. On the road you are tested on residential and commercial driving, curves, various intersections, interstate driving, lane changes, turns, and parking, and you pass with 12 or fewer errors. A Critical Driving Error — such as a dangerous action or disobeying a traffic signal — ends the test immediately as an automatic fail. Valid, unexpired proof of insurance must be in the vehicle; an SR-22 is not accepted as proof.
How much does an Idaho driver's license cost?
A four-year Class D license for drivers 21 and older costs $35.00, the eight-year option for those 21 to 62 costs $60.00, and the three-year license for drivers 18 to 21 costs $30.00. A Class D Instruction Permit is $20.00, the knowledge test is $5.00, and the skills test is $35.00 ($6.50 to the county DMV and up to $28.50 to the skills test examiner). A duplicate license is $20.00. Renewing online earns a $5.00 discount on driver's licenses. All retest fees equal the original test fees.
How do I renew my Idaho driver's license?
At age 21 or older you may renew in person up to 25 months before expiration. A renewal is valid for four or eight years, or to the end of your lawful stay in the United States, and the eight-year option is available only to those between 21 and 62 years of age. A vision screening is required at every renewal, and failing it can trigger a vision exam form from an eye doctor. Renewing online earns a $5.00 discount. If your license has been expired 25 months or more, you must retake all applicable knowledge and skills tests.
What is a Star Card and do I need a REAL ID in Idaho?
Idaho's REAL ID is called the Star Card, marked with a star to show it meets federal identification standards for boarding domestic flights and entering secure federal facilities. Idaho offers both a Star Card and a standard license, so you may choose which one you want. To get a Star Card, the county DMV must verify your identity and date of birth, your Social Security number, your lawful status, and your Idaho residential address using two documents proving where you live. If your name has changed, you must also present legal documentation of each change.
I just moved to Idaho. How do I transfer my out-of-state license?
New residents transferring a valid out-of-state Class D license generally surrender it and must pass the 40-question knowledge test and a vision screening at a county driver's license office. If your out-of-state license has been expired 25 months or more, you must retake all applicable knowledge and skills tests. Foreign drivers are never exempt from the knowledge test: drivers from Germany need not surrender their license or take the skills test, drivers from Korea or Taiwan who keep their license must take the skills test, and all other foreign drivers must take the skills test. You must bring documents proving identity, Social Security number, and Idaho residency.
How does Idaho's point system and license suspension work?
Each moving violation carries one to four points. Accumulating 8 to 11 points in any 12 months brings a warning letter, 12 to 17 points in 12 months brings a 30-day suspension, 18 to 23 points in 24 months brings a 90-day suspension, and 24 or more points in 36 months brings a six-month suspension. Points can be removed once every three years by an ITD-approved Defensive Driving Course (up to three points) or a law-enforcement Traffic Safety Education Course completed within 45 days of the citation (up to four points). Neither course removes the underlying conviction. Restricted work or medical permits are applied for at ITD in Boise or from the convicting court.
What are Idaho's BAC limits and DUI penalties?
Idaho's per-se blood alcohol limits are 0.08 or more if you are 21 or older, 0.02 or more if you are under 21, and 0.04 or more while operating a commercial vehicle, and a BAC of 0.20 or more carries enhanced "excessive DUI" penalties. A first DUI conviction can bring up to six months in jail, up to a $1,000 fine, and a license suspension of at least 90 days and up to 180 days (one year if under 21), with absolutely no driving privileges for the first 30 days. A second conviction within 10 years carries mandatory jail time and a one-year suspension, and a third within 10 years is a felony. You can still be convicted below 0.08 for driving under the influence of other intoxicating substances.
What is Idaho's implied consent law?
Under Idaho Code 18-8002, anyone driving or in physical control of a motor vehicle has already consented to evidentiary testing of their blood, breath, or urine for alcohol or drugs. Refusing the test brings a license suspension plus a $250.00 civil penalty; if the court upholds the officer, a first refusal is a one-year suspension with absolutely no driving privileges, and a second refusal within 10 years is a two-year absolute suspension. These penalties are in addition to any DUI penalty. For an administrative license suspension after a failed test, you have seven days from the notice date to request a hearing.
Is driver training required in Idaho?
Driver training is required for anyone under 17 applying for an Idaho license, but is not required at age 18 or older. An approved driver training course consists of 30 hours of classroom instruction, 6 hours observing other student drivers in the car, and 6 hours of behind-the-wheel driving with an approved instructor. Completing the course is one part of the Graduated Driver's License program, which also requires the six-month supervised instruction period and at least 50 hours of supervised driving, 10 of them at night, before you take the knowledge and skills tests.
What car insurance is required in Idaho?
Idaho Code requires motor vehicle liability insurance with minimum limits of $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person in any one accident, $50,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more persons in any one accident, and $15,000 for property damage — commonly written as 25/50/15. Proof of insurance must be carried in the vehicle, on paper or electronically, and shown on request. Failure to carry insurance is a ground for suspension, and a violation of the no-insurance law requires filing proof of financial responsibility for one year. An SR-22 is a certified proof used after suspensions and is not accepted as ordinary insurance proof for the skills test.
Why is Idaho driver licensing handled at county offices?
In Idaho, the Idaho Transportation Department sets the rules, but driver's license transactions are actually carried out at county driver's license offices operated by county sheriff or DMV agents, not at central state offices. This means you visit your local county office to test, apply, and renew. The official rulebook is the Idaho Driver's Handbook, cover-dated July 2026, and a Spanish edition, the Manual del Conductor, is also published; every knowledge-test question comes from this handbook. You can read it on our site through the Idaho Driver's Handbook page, and the DMV can be reached by phone at 208-584-4343.
