New requirements for teen drivers begin Aug. 1
New requirements for teen drivers begin July 1
Effective Aug. 1 all new teen drivers aged 15-17 must complete the following courses to receive a Florida Learner’s Permit:
• 6-hour Driver Education Course
• 4-hour Traffic Law Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE)
They also must have ID documents, proof of address, and parental consent
However, if a teen completes a Traffic Law Substance Abuse Education course online before Aug. 1, 2025, he or she will be exempt from the 6-hour course, the Lee County Tax Collector’s Office said in a release.
Teens must be 14 years old to complete the TLSAE.
A list of approved course providers can be found on the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website, https://www.flhsmv.gov/
If the teen already has a Learner’s Permit, or gets one before July 1, they are also exempt.
Teens moving to Florida with a valid out-of-state permit or license don’t need to take the new course, either.
To read the new law, visit https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/994
Source: Lee County Tax Collector
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to reflect a change announced June 25 that extended teh effective date from July 1 to Aug. 1.:
“The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has extended the deadline to complete the online Traffic Law Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course. Teens now have until August 1, 2025, to take the course and be exempt from the new 6-hour Driver Education requirement. All other details remain the same.”