Louisiana DMV / OMV Exam FAQ 2026
Is it called the "DMV" in Louisiana?
Not officially. In Louisiana, driver's license and knowledge-test services are handled by the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV). "DMV" is used as a general term across the site because it's the phrase most people search for, but your paperwork, appointments, and office signage in Louisiana will say OMV.
How do I get my first driver's license in Louisiana?
In Louisiana you apply through the Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV), the agency most people call the Louisiana DMV. Teens go through the Graduated Driver Licensing program: get a Class E learner's permit at 15 after passing the vision screening and the 40-question knowledge test with at least 80%, hold it at least 180 days, then move up to an intermediate license at 16 by passing the road skills test. Adults 18 and older who never entered the graduated program can apply for a full Class E license or a learner's permit after completing the required driver education, then passing the vision, knowledge, and road tests.
What is the minimum age to get a learner's permit in Louisiana?
The minimum age for a Class E learner's permit in Louisiana is 15 years old. To qualify at Stage 1 of the Graduated Driver Licensing program you must complete 30 hours of classroom instruction plus 8 hours of behind-the-wheel training, and pass both the vision screening and the written knowledge exam with at least 80% accuracy. With a learner's permit you may drive only when accompanied by a licensed adult at least 21 years old, or by a sibling at least 18 years old. You must hold the permit at least 180 days and cannot advance until your 16th birthday.
What are the stages of Louisiana's graduated driver licensing (GDL) program?
Louisiana's GDL program has three stages. Stage 1 is the learner's permit at 15, which requires driver education, the vision test, and the knowledge test at 80%, and must be held for at least 180 days. Stage 2 is the intermediate license at 16, earned by passing the road skills test with at least 80% accuracy and carrying nighttime and passenger restrictions. Stage 3 is the full Class E license: you must complete Stages 1 and 2 and keep the intermediate license until your 17th birthday, or be at least 17 years old before applying for a first license.
Is driver's education required to get a license in Louisiana?
Yes. Applicants under 18 must complete 30 hours of classroom instruction plus 8 hours of behind-the-wheel training before getting a Louisiana learner's permit. First-time adult applicants who never entered the graduated program have two options: a 38-hour driver education course, or a 6-hour pre-licensing classroom course combined with an 8-hour behind-the-wheel course. Since April 1, 2024, driving schools and third-party testers in Louisiana must give the knowledge test using the electronic testing software supplied by the OMV, and the same test is used for both the 6-hour pre-licensing course and the 30-hour classroom course.
How many questions are on the Louisiana permit test?
The Louisiana learner's permit knowledge test has 40 questions. The Class D and E Driver's Guide describes them as multiple-choice questions taken directly from the information in the manual, and in most OMV offices the exam is given on a computer. Topics include road signs and signals, right-of-way, speed and following distance, parking rules, school buses and emergency vehicles, alcohol and drug laws, and Louisiana-specific rules of the road. Studying the official Class D and E Driver's Guide is the single best preparation, since every question comes from it.
What score do I need to pass the Louisiana written test?
You need a minimum score of 80% to pass the Louisiana OMV knowledge test. On the 40-question exam that means you must answer at least 32 questions correctly, so you can miss no more than 8. The same 80% standard applies whether you take the test at an OMV field office, at a driving school, or through an approved third-party tester, and the Louisiana Administrative Code sets 80% as the required minimum. The questions are drawn from the official Class D and E Driver's Guide published by the Office of Motor Vehicles.
What happens if I fail the Louisiana knowledge test, and when can I retake it?
If you answer fewer than 32 of the 40 questions correctly you do not pass, and you will need to retake the knowledge test. The Louisiana OMV does not publish a statewide mandatory waiting period or a cap on attempts in the Class D and E Driver's Guide, so confirm scheduling with the OMV office or driving school where you tested. Before trying again, review the sections you missed most often, such as road signs, right-of-way, and alcohol laws, and work through Louisiana practice tests until you consistently score above 80%.
What documents do I need to apply for a Louisiana driver's license?
Louisiana OMV requires proof of identity, verification of your Social Security number, and additional identification, along with proof that you live in Louisiana. Applicants under 18 need a parent or legal guardian to sign for them, and before an intermediate license is issued a parent or guardian must attest to the required 50 hours of behind-the-wheel experience. You also need proof of liability insurance for any vehicle you bring. Male applicants between 15 and 26 who are U.S. citizens are automatically registered with the Selective Service System when the OMV issues a credential.
Do I need a REAL ID in Louisiana?
Louisiana OMV issues both a standard Class E license and a federally compliant REAL ID credential. A REAL ID is what you need to board a domestic flight or enter certain federal facilities using your driver's license alone; a standard license still works for driving, identification, and everyday use. Because the REAL ID document checklist is stricter than the standard one and is updated from time to time, check the current document list on the official OMV site at expresslane.la.gov before your visit, and bring originals rather than photocopies so your appointment is not wasted.
How much does a Louisiana driver's license cost and how long is it valid?
The basic Class E driver's license fee in Louisiana is $32.25 for applicants up to age 69, and $18.75 for applicants 70 and older. Certain OMV field offices may also add a service fee of up to $6.00. A Class E license expires on your birthday roughly six years after it is issued, so most Louisiana drivers renew about every six years. Driver education courses, testing through a third-party provider, and duplicate or REAL ID credentials can carry separate charges, so check current fees on the OMV site before you go.
How many supervised driving hours does Louisiana require?
Louisiana requires 50 hours of behind-the-wheel driving experience before a teen can be issued a Class E intermediate license, and at least 15 of those hours must be completed at night. The practice must be supervised by a licensed parent, legal guardian, or another licensed adult at least 21 years old. Effective January 1, 2011, no intermediate license is issued unless a parent or legal guardian signs a statement attesting that the applicant completed those hours. These 50 hours are in addition to the 8 hours of formal behind-the-wheel instruction required for the permit.
What are the restrictions on a Louisiana intermediate license?
A Louisiana intermediate license, issued at 16 under Stage 2 of the graduated program, carries two key restrictions. You may not drive between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. unless a licensed adult at least 21 years old, or a sibling at least 18, is with you. Separately, between 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. you may not carry more than one passenger under 21 who is not a member of your immediate family. Note the two windows differ: the passenger limit starts at 6 p.m. while the curfew starts at 11 p.m. The intermediate license is held until your 17th birthday.
What is the vision requirement for a Louisiana driver's license?
You must pass a vision screening at the Louisiana OMV with 20/40 vision in one or both eyes. You are allowed to meet that standard with glasses or contact lenses, but if you need corrective lenses to reach 20/40, your license will carry restriction code 01, which legally requires you to wear them whenever you drive. The vision screening is required at Stage 1 of the graduated program along with the knowledge test, and OMV can require a new screening at renewal, so bring your glasses or contacts to your appointment.
What is the Louisiana road skills test and what score do I need?
The road skills test is the behind-the-wheel driving exam you take at Stage 2 of Louisiana's graduated program, at age 16 or older, or as an adult first-time applicant. You must pass it with at least 80% accuracy: the examiner deducts points for errors as you drive. Expect to demonstrate starting and stopping smoothly, correct signaling, lane changes, turns, intersections, backing, parking, and safe following distance. You must supply a safe, legally registered vehicle with valid proof of liability insurance in the car, since Louisiana law requires the insurance card to be in the vehicle at all times.
I'm moving to Louisiana with an out-of-state license — what do I do?
New residents transfer their license in person at a Louisiana OMV field office. Bring your valid out-of-state driver's license plus proof of identity, verification of your Social Security number, additional identification, and documents showing your Louisiana address. You will surrender the out-of-state license, take the vision screening at the 20/40 standard, and pay the license fee. Whether the knowledge test or the road skills test is waived depends on the class and status of the license you already hold, so confirm your specific case on the official OMV site at expresslane.la.gov before your visit.
How do I renew my Louisiana driver's license, and is it different for seniors?
A Louisiana Class E license expires on your birthday about six years after issuance, and you renew it through the Office of Motor Vehicles. Renewal generally involves confirming your identity and address, meeting the 20/40 vision standard, and paying the fee. Drivers 70 and older pay a reduced basic license fee of $18.75 instead of $32.25. Some OMV field offices assess an additional service fee of up to $6.00. Renewal channels and any online eligibility change from time to time, so check expresslane.la.gov for the options available to you before your license expires.
What is the legal blood alcohol limit (BAC) in Louisiana?
Louisiana sets three legal blood alcohol concentration limits. If you are 21 or older, it is illegal to drive with a BAC of 0.08 or more. If you are 20 or younger, the limit is 0.02 — Louisiana is not a 0.00 zero-tolerance state, but 0.02 is low enough that even one drink can put a young driver over it. Anyone operating a commercial motor vehicle is limited to 0.04. The Class D and E Driver's Guide also notes the body processes only about 0.015% of alcohol per hour, so time is the only thing that sobers you up.
What happens if I refuse a breath or blood test in Louisiana?
By driving in Louisiana you give implied consent to chemical testing (La. R.S. 32:667). Refusing the test suspends your driving privileges for one year on a first refusal, and two years on a second or subsequent refusal within ten years. If you take the test and you are 21 or older, a BAC of 0.08% up to 0.149% suspends you 180 days on a first offense (365 days on a second or subsequent violation within five years), and 0.15% or higher suspends you two years on a first offense and four years on a second. Under 21, a result of 0.02% or more brings a 180-day suspension. An ignition interlock device is required in most of these cases and is what makes you eligible for a restricted or hardship license. After a refusal or a DWI you must also file an SR-22 (or post $30,000 in cash, negotiable securities, or a surety bond) and keep it on file for three years. Note that some printings of the OMV driver's guide still show a 90-day suspension and a 0.20% threshold; those figures are out of date, so confirm the current schedule at expresslane.la.gov.
What are the penalties for a DWI in Louisiana?
Louisiana DWI penalties escalate quickly under R.S. 14:98. A first conviction (R.S. 14:98.1) carries 10 days to 6 months in jail and a fine of $300 to $1,000, plus court costs and fees that vary by parish, and the OMV suspends your license for 12 months, or two years if your BAC was 0.15% or higher. A second conviction (R.S. 14:98.2) carries 30 days to 6 months in jail, at least 48 hours of it served without parole, probation, or suspension of sentence, a fine of $750 to $1,000, and a 24-month license suspension. A third offense (R.S. 14:98.3) is a felony: a $2,000 fine, one to five years with or without hard labor, at least one year served without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence, a 36-month suspension, and seizure and sale of the vehicle at auction. A fourth or subsequent offense (R.S. 14:98.4) is a felony carrying a $5,000 fine and 10 to 30 years, at least two years of it without benefit. The amounts above are the statutory fines only; what you actually owe the court is higher and varies by parish.
What is the minimum car insurance required in Louisiana?
Louisiana law requires liability limits of 15/30/25: $15,000 for bodily injury or death of one person in one accident, $30,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more people in one accident, and $25,000 for property damage in one accident. Every vehicle used on Louisiana highways must carry this coverage or an allowable substitute, and by law the insurance card must be in the vehicle at all times. To be acceptable, your proof must show the company name, policy number, effective dates, vehicle description, name of the insured, and the NAIC number.
