Kentucky learner’s permit requirements

Everything here comes from Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Department of Vehicle Regulation, Division of Driver Licensing pages, handbooks or state law, and each fact links to its source. Where Kentucky doesn’t publish something, we say so rather than guess.

Last checked September 22, 2026.

At a glance

Minimum age
15 years
Fees
$15 total
Supervised driving
60 hours (10 at night)

The knowledge test and your permit

Test format
Not publishedSources 123
Passing score
80%Sources 123
Time limit
None published
Permit and test fees
$15 total$15 permit ($18 REAL ID version) after passing the written and vision tests; no separate test fee is listed.Sources 123
Minimum age for a permit
15 yearsDrivers must be at least 15 years of age to take the vision and written knowledge tests and apply for a permit; parent/guardian signs for applicants under 18.Sources 124
Supervised driving
60 hours (10 at night)Sources 124
Hold your permit
6 months minimumSources 124
Test languages
27 languagesEnglish, Albanian, Arabic, Bosnian, Burmese, Khmer, Chinese, Croatian, Dari, Farsi, French, German, Hindi, Japanese, Kinyarwanda, Korean, Lao, Pashto, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Thai, Turkish, VietnameseSources 123
Take it online
No, in personSources 123
If you fail
If you fail the written test, you may return the next available day to retake itSources 123
Vision standard
Minimum visual acuity of 20/40 (corrected or uncorrected)applicants referred to a vision specialist may test with acuity of 20/60 or betterSources 124

From permit to full license

Three phases.

  • Permit (age 15+): must be accompanied by a licensed driver 21+ in the front seat; no driving midnight-6 a.m. for under-18s; one unrelated passenger under 20; hold 180 days and log 60 practice hours (10 at night).
  • Intermediate license (age 16+, after road test): no driving 12:00-6:00 a.m. without good cause; under-18 passenger limit of one unrelated person under 20; hold 180 days and complete the driver education requirement (e.g. Graduated Driver Licensing course).
  • Full unrestricted license at 17+ after 180 days on the intermediate license.
  • Applicants 18-20 still receive an 'under 21' permit and must hold it 180 days.

Before you go

Rules and fees change. Confirm appointments, documents and current fees on the official Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Department of Vehicle Regulation, Division of Driver Licensing website: drive.ky.gov.

Sources

  1. drive.ky.gov: GDLP
  2. wp.kentuckystatepolice.ky.gov: Kentucky Driver Manual Updated 7 23 26
  3. drive.ky.gov: First Issuance
  4. apps.legislature.ky.gov: statute

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