Pennsylvania learner’s permit requirements
Everything here comes from Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Driver and Vehicle Services pages, handbooks or state law, and each fact links to its source. Where Pennsylvania doesn’t publish something, we say so rather than guess. Last checked September 22, 2026.
The knowledge test and your permit
- Time limit
- None published
- Permit and test fees
- $45.50 totalThe total is $45.50: the $6 learner's permit plus the $39.50 four-year photo license, both paid when applying. There is no separate knowledge-test fee.Source: pa.gov, pa.gov, pa.gov
- Minimum age for a permit
- 16 yearsYou cannot apply for your permit before your 16th birthday; the DL-180 medical form may be completed up to 6 months before the 16th birthday.Source: pa.gov, pa.gov, pacodeandbulletin.gov
- Supervised driving
- 65 hours (10 at night)Source: pa.gov, pa.gov, pacodeandbulletin.gov
- Hold your permit
- 6 months minimumSource: pa.gov, pa.gov, pacodeandbulletin.gov
- Test languages
- 30 languagesEnglish, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, French, Hindi, Korean, Russian, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, Burmese, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Nepali, Polish, Somali, Urdu, Albanian, Amharic, Bosnian, Khmer, Dari, Farsi, Mandingo, Pashto, Portuguese, Punjabi, Swahili, TurkishSource: pa.gov, pa.gov, pa.gov
- If you fail
- If you fail the Knowledge Test you may retake it the following business dayIf you fail the Knowledge Test you may retake it the following business day; you may take the Knowledge Test only one time on any day regardless of test location.Source: pa.gov, pa.gov, pa.gov
- Vision standard
- 20/40 or better combined vision without corrective lenses20/40 or better combined vision without corrective lenses; otherwise corrective lenses bringing combined vision to 20/40 or better (67 Pa. Code § 83.3)Source: pa.gov, pa.gov, pacodeandbulletin.gov
From permit to full license
Junior learner's permit at 16 (supervisor 21+, or parent/guardian/spouse 18+, in front seat; passengers limited to seat belts). Must hold the permit 6 months and certify 65 hours of practice including 10 hours at night and 5 hours in bad weather before the road test. Junior driver's license: no driving 11 p.m.-5 a.m. (work/volunteer exceptions), no more than one passenger under 18 who is not immediate family for the first 6 months, then three. Unrestricted license at 18, or at 17.5 with an approved driver education course and 12 months crash/violation free (per PUB 178). All drivers: no hand-held phone or other mobile device use while driving, even when stopped in traffic (Paul Miller's Law, in force June 5, 2025; $50 fine from June 5, 2026).
Before you go
Rules and fees change. Confirm appointments, documents and current fees on the official Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Driver and Vehicle Services website: pa.gov.
Sources
- https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/penndot/documents/public/dvspubsforms/bdl/bdl-manuals/pa-drivers-manual-non-commercial/english/pub%2095.pdf
- https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dmv/driver-services/pennsylvania-drivers-manual/online-drivers-manual/testing
- https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/penndot/documents/public/dvspubsforms/bdl/bdl-publications/pub%20178.pdf
- https://www.pa.gov/services/dmv/get-a-learners-permit
- https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/penndot/documents/public/dvspubsforms/bdl/bdl-fact-sheets/fs-dlf.pdf
- https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?file=%2Fsecure%2Fpacode%2Fdata%2F067%2Fchapter83%2Fs83.3.html
- https://www.pa.gov/agencies/penndot/traveling-in-pa/safety/traffic-safety-driver-topics/distracted-driving