Alabama learner’s permit requirements
Everything here comes from Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Driver License Division pages, handbooks or state law, and each fact links to its source. Where Alabama doesn’t publish something, we say so rather than guess.
Last checked September 22, 2026.
At a glance
- Minimum age
- 15 years
- Fees
- $41.25 total
- Supervised driving
- 50 hours
- Where you take the test
- In person
The knowledge test and your permit
- Time limit
- None published
- Permit and test fees
- $41.25 totalTeens and adults pay a $5 knowledge-test fee (per attempt, no checks) plus $36.25 for the learner license; some counties may charge slightly more by local law.Sources 123
- Minimum age for a permit
- 15 yearsLearner license (Class D with 'Y' restriction) at age 15; a 15-year-old must be accompanied by a licensed driver 21+ or a licensed/certified driving instructor.Sources 214
- Test languages
- 12 languagesEnglish, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Thai, VietnameseSources 123
- Vision standard
- Medical rule: visual acuity of at least 20/60 in at least one eye and horizontal field of vision of 110…degrees; applicants with uncorrected acuity less than 20/40 in each eye but at least 20/50 in one eye are referred to a vision specialist and may receive restrictions. Screening standard applied at the counter is not published by ALEA.Sources 214
From permit to full license
- Stage I learner license at 15 (supervised by parent/guardian or licensed driver 21+ in front seat).
- Stage II restricted license at 16 after holding Stage I at least 6 months (if under 18) and either 50 hours of behind-the-wheel practice or an SDE-approved driver education course; no driving midnight-6 a.m. unless with parent/guardian, no more than one non-family passenger, no handheld devices.
- Stage III unrestricted license at 17 after 6 months in Stage II (or at 18).
Before you go
Rules and fees change. Confirm appointments, documents and current fees on the official Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Driver License Division website: alea.gov.