North Dakota learner’s permit requirements
Everything here comes from North Dakota Department of Transportation, Driver License Division pages, handbooks or state law, and each fact links to its source. Where North Dakota doesn’t publish something, we say so rather than guess.
Last checked October 7, 2026.
At a glance
- Minimum age
- 14 years
- Fees
- $20 total
- Supervised driving
- 50 hours, applicants under 16
- Where you take the test
- Online or in person
The knowledge test and your permit
- Permit and test fees
- $20 totalThe total is $20: the $5 knowledge test (charged per attempt) plus the $15 permit.Sources 123
- Minimum age for a permit
- 14 yearsInstruction permit at 14 with parent/guardian sponsorship; under-16 applicants must also complete driver education and at least 50 hours of supervised practice driving before the road test. The 50 hours apply only to applicants under 16; no supervised-hours requirement is stated for 16- and 17-year-olds.Sources 215
From permit to full license
- Instruction permit from age 14 (supervisor 18+ with 3 years' experience in front seat).
- Ages 14-15 must hold the permit 12 months or until 16, whichever comes first, but at least 6 months, complete driver education and 50 hours of supervised practice driving in variable conditions (rural, urban, gravel, night and winter; a parent/legal guardian signs at the road test that the hours are done) before the road test; a restricted license is available at 15 and the minimum unrestricted driving age is 16.
- Ages 16-17 must hold the permit 6 months or until 18; the manual states the 50-hour requirement only for applicants under 16.
- Under-18 licenses require parental sponsorship.
Before you go
Rules and fees change. Confirm appointments, documents and current fees on the official North Dakota Department of Transportation, Driver License Division website: dot.nd.gov.