LouisianaDrivers License Guide

ContentsTable of

11

Numbers

4

Starting the Journey

Getting Your First Louisiana License

Replacing Your License

Official Forms

OMV Hours and Locations

Getting a Louisiana ID Card

Starting the Journey

Updating Your License Information

Renewing Your License

Reinstating Your License

Vehicle Safety Tips

3

9

12

15

17

20

22

23

27

28

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Starting the Journey

Obtaining your driver’s license is a big accomplishment, and driving independently is an exciting experience. Before you start getting behind the wheel on your own, you have to go through a process. The purpose of this guide is to make sure you get to through this process with as little stress or complications as possible.

This guide will provide you with all the valuable information you need to get your driver’s license as smoothly as possible. Whether you are a teenager looking to get a learner’s permit or have moved from out of state and need a Louisiana driver’s license, you can find the information you need in the guide below. There is also information on how to renew and replace your driver’s license, as well as how to obtain a Louisiana ID card.

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TEEN DRIVERSMany teenagers dream of driving a car on their own. Well, we are here to help you make that dream true! In each step moving towards obtaining your license, we will outline and help you better understand each procedure you must complete.

Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among people between 16 and 19. To avoid that, Louisiana was the second state in the country to implement the Graduated Driver License (GDL) program to improve teen driving laws, with the aim of reducing traffic crashes and fatalities involving young drivers. Therefore, you have to complete a three stage process to freely drive. As a teen driver and as a new driver, it is important that you carefully read through each step and fully understand how everything operates. This will help prevent any complications and prepare you to take on your responsibilities on the road.

Learner’s permit

With this permit, you will be able to practice driving while supervised by a licensed driver. It’s your first step to obtain your independent driving privileges and you must hold it for 180 days before continuing with the process.

Requirements

Be at least 15 years old.

Visit an OMV office.

Provide a certified birth certificate and proof of legal presence.

Provide your Social Security number. If you don’t have the original Social Security Card, you must provide one secondary document

Provide certificate of completion of the approved 38 hour driver education course or pre-licensing course (only for 18 years or older applicants).

Provide a certificate of Required School Attendan-ce from your school. If you are home schooled, you must provide the Home Study Approval Notifi-cation Letter or the Registered Non-public School Registration Confirmation Letter from the Louisia-na Department of Education. *

Pass the vision and knowledge exam.

Your parent or legal guardian must accompany you with a photo ID. *

Pay the fee(s).

*Non-applicable if you are 18 years of age or older.

Restrictions

With a learner’s permit you:

Must drive with a licensed driver who is at least 21 years of age. It may also be sibling who is a least 18 years of age.

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Have held the learner’s permit for at 180 days.

Your parent or legal guardian must accompany you with a photo ID and provide a written statement that proofs that you completed a minimum of 50 hours of behind the wheel driving experience with a licensed parent, guardian, or adult who at least 21 or older. At least 15 of the hours must be at night.

Provide a certified birth certificate.

Visit an OMV office.

Be at least 16 years old.

Provide a certificate of Required School Attendan-ce from your school. If you are home schooled, you must provide the Home Study Approval Notifi-cation Letter or the Registered Non-public School Registration Confirmation Letter from the Louisia-na Department of Education.

Surrender the learner’s permit.

Pass the road skills driving test.

Intermediate License

With this license you will have more freedom as well as responsibility to drive while you prepare for the full privilege license. You must hold this license for one year or until you turn 17 years of age before applying for your full license.

This is what you need:

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Restrictions

While holding your intermediate license:

You may not drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., unless you are accompanied by a licensed adult at least 21 years of age or a sibling at least eighteen 18 years of age.

From 6 p.m. to 5 a.m., you may not carry more than one passenger under 21 years of age, unless it is an immediate family member.

Full License

With this license you will not be restricted to drive during certain times or with a limited amount of passengers. To apply you need to have already completed the two previous steps of the GDL process or be at least 17 years of age. We will discuss this license in detail in the Getting your First Louisiana License section.

If you are already 18 and never completed the GDL, you may apply for a full license without meeting the aforementioned requirements.

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ALL DRIVERSWhen you become a driver, you not only take on the responsibility for your safety, but also for the safety of your passengers, the vehicles around you and pedestrians. Consequently, in order to best prepare yourself for that huge responsibility, you should first hold a learner’s permit to practice and enhance your driving skills. If you are already 18 years of age and did not go through the GDL process, you may hold a learner’s permit before applying for the full license to enhance your driving skills. What is a must, regardless of your age, is to complete a driver’s education course and pass the vision, knowledge and road skills tests before applying for a license.

Vision Test

The vision tests consist of an eye screening that will determine if your vision acuity meets the standards for safe driving. The standard is 20/40. If you fail the test, the OMV will provide you with a vision report which must be completed by vision specialist of your choice. If the report indicates that you need corrective lenses, your license will indicate that you have a “01” restriction.

If your vision is corrected with a laser surgery, you must visit an OMV office and pass the vision screening without glasses for your restriction to be removed.

Knowledge Test

You must also take and pass a knowledge written test on which you will proof your understanding of the traffic signs and signals, the laws related to driving, and the safe driving practices. You must answer 80 percent of the questions correctly in order to pass the knowledge test. The questions of the test are taken from the Louisiana Driver’s Guide.

Arrive to the OMV office at least one hour before the office closes, this will assure you have enough time to concentrate on each question.

Tip

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Road Test

Once you pass the other two tests, you need to take and pass a driving exam before getting your driver license. All drivers are required to take it, regardless of their age. This test will evaluate you driving skills and your ability to control a vehicle by asking you to perform some driving tasks and maneuvers.

You may take the test at the OMV or at a certified third-party tester. Keep in mind that there is a charge if you choose a third party tester. The vehicle you use to take the test must be in good and safe driving condition, pass a safety inspection and have a valid registration and plate. If you take the test at a third party provider, they may rent you a car for an additional cost. Once you pass the test, you will be issued your license.

Driving Education

When you are applying for your first Louisiana driver’s license, you must first complete a driver education course approved by the Department of Public Safety & Correction. The requirements of this course will vary upon your age, see below:

Under 18 years of age: You must complete a 38 hour driver education course which consists of 30 hours of classroom instruction and eight behind-the-wheel instruction hours. You must complete it before obtaining your learner’s permit.

18 years of age and older: You must complete a pre-licensing course which consists of six classroom instruction hours and eight hours of instruction behind the wheel.

The driver education and pre-licensing courses may be taken at a public or private institution. Browse the list of providers and contact them to choose the most convenient one.

Depending on your county, you may have to pay an additional service fee. Find them here

Learner’s permit $20.25

Handling fee $12.00

FeesYou must pay the fees for a learner’s permit in addition to a handling fee

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No matter if you completed the GDL program or not, if you are 18 years of age or older, you can obtain a driver’s license in Louisiana. If you are 17 and completed the GDL process, you can also obtain a driver’s license. Are you a new Louisiana resident? All the information that you need to get your LA license is also in a special section just for you. Now, it is only a matter gathering some documents and following the steps that best fit your situation.

If you have an out-of-country license, you can also find special instructions here.

Getting your First Louisiana License

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CURRENT LOUISIANA RESIDENTSIf you are 17 years of age or older and want to learn how to obtain a Louisiana driver license, you have come to the right place. If you are under 17, please go to our Teen Drivers section. Getting a full license for the first time and once you completed the GDL is a very simple process if you follow these steps:

Documents

Provide a certificate of Required School Attendance from your school. If you are home schooled, you must provide the Home Study Approval Notification Letter or the Registered Non-public School Registration Confirmation Letter from the Louisiana Department of Education.

Provide proof of legal residence.

Provide a certified birth certificate or a document from the ID requirements list.

Your parent or legal guardian must accompany you with a photo ID.

Provide your Social Security number. If you don’t have the original Social Security Card, you must provide one secondary document.

If you own a car, provide proof of insurance.

Have completed the driver education course.

Pay the fee(s).

Provide one primary identification document from ID requirements list.

Visit an OMV office. Take and pass the written, road and vision tests before being issued a full license.

If you are 18 or older and did not complete the GDL process, you must do the listed above with a few variations:

You do not need a parent or legal guardian approval and you are not required to provide school attendance.

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NEW LOUISIANA RESIDENTSNew to Louisiana? If you already have an out-of-state license and just moved to Louisiana, you will have to obtain a Louisiana license. It is very important to make sure that you obtain a valid driver’s license if you want to drive within the state. Applying is very easy if you follow some simple steps.

Dates

New residents are required to transfer their out-of-state driver license to Louisiana within 30 days of moving.

If you hold a current out-of state license you must:

Visit an OMV office.

Surrender your valid out-of-state license or present your official driving record.

Provide one primary identification document from ID requirements list.

Provide your Social Security number.

Provide proof of insurance if you own a car.

If you are under 17 years of age, you must provide a certificate of Required School Attendance from your school. If you are home schooled, you must provide the Home Study Approval Notification Letter or the Registered Non-public School Registration Confirmation Letter from the Louisiana Department of Education. In addition, your parent or legal guardian must accompany you with a photo ID.

Pass the vision test.

Pay the fees.

If you have never held a license before, you must follow the same procedure as current Louisiana residents.

New License (under 70) $32.25

New License (70 or older)

$18.75

Fees

Depending on your county, you may have to pay an additional service fee. Find them here.

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Renewing Your License

Having an expired license means you can no longer legally drive. This means a loss of freedom and the risk of getting a ticket, so it is best to renew your license as soon as you notice the expiration date approaching. Before you renew your license, it is best that you thoroughly comprehend the process so that you can avoid any issues.

Your driver license expires every six years by your birthday and you may renew it anytime within 180 days, prior the expiration date. Also, there’s a 10-day grace period after the expiration date to renew your license without paying additional fees or getting a traffic citation.

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Visit an OMV office.

Present one primary document and one secon-dary document or three secondary documents from the ID requirements list.

If you own a car, provide proof of insurance.

HOW TO RENEWApproximately 100 days before your license expires, the OMV will mail you a renewal invitation if you are qualified to renew online or by mail. The invitation will provide you with instructions to renew your license using the corresponding method. If you do not receive the mail invitation, you must renew in person at an OMV office.

Renew in Person

If you do not receive the renewal invitation or it indicates you must renew in person, you have to:

Renew Online

To renew online you must go the renewal application and follow the procedures on the screen. You must have a Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express credit card and your mail-in renewal invitation to renew online.

Pass the vision exam.

Take your current license.

Pay the fee (s).

The mail, telephone and online renewal methods can only be used once every other renewal period.

Tip

Renew by Telephone

To renew by telephone, you must have been pre-selected to do so. The invitation will guide you through the process. You will have to call to:

225-922-1175 (Baton Rouge Area)

225-925-6146

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Renew by Mail

You may renew by mail if your renewal invitation indicates it or if you:

Are a full time student attending classes out of state or country. You must submit a copy of your current student ID.

Are military or military dependent. You must submit a copy of the current military ID of the enlistment papers or a letter from commanding officer.

You will be able to renew online if your license has been cancelled, suspended or revoked or if it has been expired for more than 12 months.

Here is what you have to do:

You have to submit the application.

Attach one primary document and one secondary document or three secondary documents from the ID requirements list.

Attach the fees. They must be paid using a cas-hier or certified check or money order payable to the Office of Motor Vehicles.

Send all the items to:

Office of Motor Vehicles

Attention: Reconstructed License

P.O. Box 64886

Baton Rouge, La, 70896

*Depending on your county, you may have to pay an additional service fee. Find them here.

**A delinquent fee is charged if your license is expired for more than 10 days.

Renew License (under 70)

$32.25*

New License (70 or older)

Delinquent fee

$18.75

$15*

Fees

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Updating Your License Information

Life is full of changes, and some of these changes might affect your driver’s license, particularly if they have to do with your address or name. This information is essential to your identification and maintaining an adequate driving records. You are required to update the information on your driver’s license if and when it ever changes. The information below will help you prepare for any changes that you might need to make on your license.

CHANGING YOUR NAMEChanging your name will greatly affect your documents and general information in regards to your identity. If you have officially changed your name, you will be required to change your name on all of your identification documents and cards, including your driver license. Doing this is very simple.

Change your name with the Social Security Administration. You must do this prior to changing your name with the OMV.

Visit an OMV office.

Provide documentation to proof for your name change such as:

• Certified birth certificate

• Marriage license

• Divorce decree

• Court order

Present your current license.

If you own a vehicle, present proof of insurance.

If you are under 17 years of age, you must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Pass a vision test.

When you request name change, your license will be replaced a corrected one. The expiration date will remain the same.

Requirements

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Changing Your Address

In the case that you may have recently moved to a new address, it is essential that you notify the Louisiana OMV for them to update the address on your driver license. You must do this transaction in person. All you need is to stick to the process and, once you have completed every step properly, you driver license will be updated. Now, simply follow the steps below.

By law, you must notify the Louisiana OMV of any change of address within 10 days.

Visit an OMV office.

Take your current driver’s license.

If you own a car, you must show proof of insu-rance.

*Depending on your county, you may have to pay an additional service fee. Find them here.

Duplicate with expiration in four years

Duplicate with expiration in six years

$13*

$13*

Fees

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If your license is lost, stolen, destroyed, or illegible, there is no need to panic. You can always ask the Louisiana OMV for a replacement license when you need one. In any case, you may effortlessly replace it with a new duplicate license. All it requires of you is to do a few things. Just keep in mind that if you are within 90 days of renewal, you will not be able to request a duplicate, you must renew your license instead.

Replacing Your License

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Visit an OMV office.

Present one primary document and one secon-dary document or three secondary documents from the ID requirements list.

If you own a car, provide proof of insurance.

Pay the fee.

ADULTSTo replace your driver license, you must: Documents

MINORSIf you are under 18 years of age and need a duplicate you must:

Visit an OMV office.

Provide a certified copy of your birth certificate.

You parent or legal guardian must accompany you.

Present a completed Certificate of Required Attendance form. You may obtain it from the applicant’s school office.

Pay the fee.

If your license was stolen, make sure to report it with the police. If you take the police report when requesting a duplicate, the fee will be waived!

Tip

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OUT-OF-STATE REPLACEMENTIf you are temporarily out of state and your driver license is lost or stolen, you may request a duplicate by mail. Here’s what you need:

You must have a permanent residential address in Louisiana (not PO Box).

You have to submit the application.

Send one primary document and one secondary document or three secondary documents from the ID requirements list.

Send the fees. They must be paid using a cashier or certified check or money order payable to the Office of Motor Vehicles.

Send all the documents and fees to:

Office of Motor Vehicles

Attention: Reconstructed License

P.O. Box 64886

Baton Rouge, LA 70896

Duplicate with expiration in four years

Duplicate with expiration in six years

$13*

$13*

Fees

*Depending on your county, you may have to pay an additional service fee. Find them here.

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The suspension or revocation of your driver license is the consequence of traffic violations or numerous offenses on your driving record. If your license is suspended or revoked, your driving privileges are removed and you are not authorized to drive. You may be able to reinstate your license and legally drive again, depending on the circumstances surrounding the suspension or revocation.

What is the difference between a suspended and revoked license? A suspension is a temporary removal of your driving privileges while revocation is the termination of it. If your license is suspended, you must wait for the suspension period to expire and then request a reinstatement. If it is revoked, you will have to apply for a new license.

ReinstatingYour License

If you don’t know the status of your license, you may obtain a driving record.

Tip

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To get your driving privileges back, you must complete a reinstatement process. The process will depend on your type of suspension. To know your reinstatement status and other restatement information, you may call 225-925-6146 and select option 1. If you prefer to do it in person, you may also visit your local Motor Vehicle Reinstatement Office.

.08 if you are 21 years of age or older

First conviction: You may get a criminal record, may face six months in jail, $1000 fine and a license suspension for 365 days.

Fourth Conviction: You may get a felony criminal record, 30 years in prison with 30 days of mandatory jail, $5000 fine and a license revocation for three years. In addition, your vehicle may be seized and sold; you may be referred to a substance abuse treatment (six weeks inpatient and 12 months outpatient). You may also face home incarceration for five years.

.02 if you are 20 years of age and younger

Second conviction: You may get a criminal record, may face six months in jail with 48 hours of mandatory jail time, $1000 fine and a license suspension for two years.

DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED (DWI)In Louisiana the legal limit of blood alcohol concentration (BAC):

Third conviction: You may get a felony criminal record, one to five years in prison with 30 days of mandatory jail, $2000 fine and a license revocation for three years. In addition, your vehicle may be seized and sold; you may be referred to a substance abuse treatment (six weeks inpatient and 12 months outpatient). You may also face home incarceration for the rest of the sentence.

If you are caught driving under the influence you could get arrested and get your license suspended. Here are the maximum penalties for DWI offenses:

Driving Record $18

Fees

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If you are not able to obtain a driver’s license, or you are not a driver, you should consider getting a Louisiana ID card instead. Having an ID card is essential for you to prove your identity when you visit the bank, travel or need someone to identify you. If you want to obtain your first Louisiana ID card, you will need to know the proper procedures and steps to take. This section will guide you through the process in this section on how to obtain, replace, renew, and update your ID card to be well prepared for all situations.

When it comes to obtaining your ID card, the process is identical to that of obtaining your driver’s license, except for the fee which you can find below. If you would like to take a look at the steps to follow in order to obtain your ID card, please go to the Getting Your First Louisiana License section.

Getting a Louisiana ID Card

New ID card (under 60 over 15)

Renew ID Card

$18*

$18*

New ID card (15 or less) Two-year term

Duplicate ID Card

New ID card (15 or less) Four-year term

New ID Card/Duplicate (60 or older)

$11*

$13*

$13*

No fee

Fees

*Depending on your county, you may have to pay an additional service fee. Find them here

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The most important consideration to keep in mind before you begin driving any vehicle is that both you and the vehicle are well prepared for any trip you make. This means checking and making any changes to your vehicle or your behavior to make sure that you are able to drive safely at all times.

Emergency KitOne of the essentials to safe driving is having a basic emergency kit available in your vehicle at all times. This kit should include basic items such as water, extra batteries, rope, a first aid kid, matches, a whistle, etc. During winter months it is also important to carry items such as blankets, non-perishable foods, extra gloves, socks and a shovel.

Vehicle Safety Tips

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Winter DrivingOne of the most dangerous times to drive is during the winter, especially if you live in an area where it snows. Therefore, it is best to consider these tips to drive safely during the winter.

Avoid Rushing

Roads are often covered in snow and ice after it snows, so instead of driving fast and risking an accident in a rush to get to your destination, try leaving a few minutes earlier than usual. This will allow you to drive slower and help you avoid rushing other drivers by not tailgating them if they are going slower.

Do Not Panic If You Skid or Slip

In the case that your vehicle skids or slips while driving, make sure you do not panic and slam down on your brakes. Instead, all you need to do is apply slow and even pressure on your brakes until you stop. This will prevent you from spinning further out of control.

Check Your Vehicle

Before you even leave your house, make sure your vehicle’s controls, brakes, tank, tires, antifreeze, exhaust, etc. are all working properly. It is also important that you remove all ice and snow from your car before you begin driving. This prevents the snow from blocking your view while you drive.

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Drinking and DrivingEvery year, thousands are killed as a result of drinking and driving. These deaths can be very easily prevented. It only requires that you plan ahead of time by taking certain steps.

Even before you begin drinking, you should arrange for someone else to be the designated driver. In the case that your designated driver also becomes intoxicated, it is important that you arrange to take a taxi or another safe form of transportation. If you see someone who you suspect is drunk, and that person exhibits signs of intoxication while driving, such as making wide turns, weaving, swerving, braking erratically, turning abruptly, etc. call 911 and notify the proper authorities about the drunk driver. Also make sure to avoid drunk drivers on the road to ensure your own safety.

Using Your CellphoneDriving while using your cellphone is one of the most dangerous actions you can take because during the few seconds your attention is diverted to your phone, a major accident could occur. Therefore, make sure you do not text, use the internet or make calls while you drive to prevent accidents.

What to AvoidDriving is not always a relaxing experience. There are certain actions that can be both an annoyance and a danger to you while on the road driving. These issues are often avoidable if you make sure to take the necessary steps towards preventing them, as well as stopping them after you discover them.

Car Accidents

The best way to avoid car accidents is to ensure that your vehicle is safe to drive and will not cause you any problems. To do this, you only need to regularly check that your brakes are functioning properly, your tires are inflated and not worn out, and that the steering and suspensions are maintained regularly by a mechanic and will not fail while you drive, especially at high speeds.

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Wasting Gas

Due to the price of gas, you may begin to start looking for ways to save on expensive trips to the pump. Fortunately, saving on gas is possible if you take a few steps toward ensuring that you waste less gas.

Some of the ways you can start saving gas are by not using air conditioning, not leaving your engine running and avoiding driving above 60 mph. These actions are preventable and not necessary for you to drive. Therefore, you can quickly reduce the amount of gas you waste.

Another way to save on gas is to make sure that your vehicle is functioning properly. You can do this by checking that your tires are properly inflated and that you keep to car’s maintenance schedule.

Aggressive Driving

Aggressive driving and drivers should both be avoided to prevent any on-road aggression or accidents. Aggressive driving is categorized as exhibiting behaviors such as tailgating, verbal or physical harassment of another driver, preventing another driver from merging or passing, etc.

If you are an aggressive driver, you are putting others at risk every time you do any of the above behaviors. If you encounter a frustrating situation on the road, instead of becoming aggressive, take a moment to breathe and relax before moving on.

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Official Forms

Application for License or ID Card (R0814)

Application for Road Skills Test (R0508)

Bioptic Lens Vision Examination

Child Safety Seat Affidavit

Class D & E EL Road Skills Test Log (R0508)

Driver’s Condition of Behavior Report (R0705)

Medical Examination Form (R0404)

Physician’s Certification for Seat Belt Exemption (R0309)

Physician’s Certification of Mobility Impairment (R0804)

Temporarily Residing Out of State App, for Reconstructed Duplicate/Renewal License/ID Card

TPT Road Road Skills Test Form (R0708)

Vehicle Inspection Check Off List (R0508)

Vision Examination Form (R0409)

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OMV Hours and Locations

There are several options available for you in case you need to visit or contact a driver license office. Find all the OMV offices here. You may choose to see the list of locations with the directions and office hours, or a list that also includes maps. In addition, you may browse the third party tester list, the holiday schedule, office closures and the phone book here. You may also find a list of Motor Vehicle Reinstatement Offices here.

Have you ever visited the OMV and realized that you forgot a document? Save the trip, time and money by using the online services. Some transactions such as renewing your license and getting your driving record can be processed online without the need of calling or visiting the OMV. Visit the OMV Website and click on “Driver Services” to access this service.

If you need to contact the OMV for any other purposes, you can visit their main office or mail them. Find the addresses below:

OMV Location

Office of Motor Vehicles

7979 Independence Blvd.

Baton Rouge, LA 70806

OMV Mailing Address

Office of Motor Vehicles

P.O. Box 64886

Baton Rouge, LA 70896

You may also contact them by calling to:

Automated System

225-925-6146

Driver’s License and ID Issuance

225-922-1175 Baton Rouge Area

225-925-6146

You can also submit your complaints, questions or concerns here.

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