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Does my teen need drivers ed to get a license in Idaho?

If your teen is under 17 and has no license from another state, yes. Idaho says a driver under 17 must complete and pass a driver-training program to get a license. It has 30 hours of classroom time, six of in-car observation and six behind the wheel. After the course, your teen needs at least six months of supervised driving before the tests.

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The rule, fact by fact

Who needs it
Under 17: complete and pass a driver-training program to get a licenseNew Idaho residents with a license from another state do not need proof of the course.
Verified. itd.idaho.gov (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Course hours
30 hours of classroom, six hours of in-car observation, six hours behind the wheelThe in-car observation happens in a driver-training car.
Same source and date as above
Valid for
Driver training permits expire at age 18, or 180 days after issue from age 17 1/2The permit is for attending a school driver-training program, and its fee is not refundable.
Same source and date as above
Cost
Driver Training Instruction Permit: $21.50The same table lists the regular Instruction Permit at $20.00.
Same source and date as above

How to get it done

  1. Step 1. Check the rule. Idaho's Young Drivers page says a person under 17 must complete and pass a driver-training program to get a license.

  2. Step 2. Choose where to take it. Most Idaho school districts offer driver training programs in cooperation with the Department of Education, and commercial schools offer courses too. Idaho also runs a Parent-Student On-Road Driver’s Training program that uses an approved online driver training course.

  3. Step 3. Get the driver training permit before the first class. A teen under 17 needs it to attend a school program. A teen under 18 also brings proof of school enrollment or completion and a liability signer.

  4. Step 4. Do the supervised driving, then take the tests. After the course, your teen needs no less than six calendar months and 50 hours of supervised driving, 10 of them at night. Knowledge or skills tests taken before the test eligibility date are invalid and must be bought again.

Before you pay

Ask the school whether its program is approved in Idaho before you pay.

Ask what the price covers, including the six hours behind the wheel. We haven't confirmed what a course costs.

The permit fee is not refundable.

Questions

How old does my teen have to be to start a course?

Public school courses are open to Idaho residents between 14 1/2 and 21, even if they are not public school students. Commercial courses are open to anyone 14 1/2 or older.

How long does the course take?

A public school class has a 30-day minimum training period. Commercial schools are not restricted to a minimum training period.

Who signs for my teen at the licensing office?

Under 18, a birth parent or legal guardian goes with your teen to the county driver's license office to sign consent for the license.

What limits does a new license have?

Under 17, a driver may carry no more than one passenger under 17 for the first six months, unless the passengers are related to the driver by blood, adoption, or marriage. Under 16, a driver may drive only in daylight unless a person 21 or older with a valid license sits in the front seat.

What to do next

Start with Idaho's Young Drivers page, then pick a school or a commercial course.

itd.idaho.gov

Sources we read