How licensing works in Kansas
The Kansas Department of Revenue's Division of Vehicles licenses drivers. Kansas lets teens start at 14, with limits that ease as they get older.
| Stage | Minimum age | Main rules |
|---|---|---|
| Instruction permit | 14 | Pass the written test. Parent application if under 16. Drive only with a licensed adult 21 or older (1 year of experience) in the front seat. Valid one year. |
| Restricted license at 15 | 15 | One year on a permit and approved driver's education. Drive only to and from work, farm work, school and religious activities, or with a licensed adult. No non-sibling minor passengers. |
| Restricted license at 16 | 16 | 50 supervised hours (10 at night). Drive 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. One non-sibling minor passenger. |
| Full privileges | 16½ or older | Age restrictions end after age 16 and six months of holding a restricted license. |
New drivers are most likely to crash in their first months of driving alone, and night driving and carrying friends make that risk higher. Graduated licensing rules give you time to build skill in safer conditions, so you gain experience before the limits come off.
Practice hours
A 16-year-old needs 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 at night. A 15-year-old needs 25 hours first, then another 25 (10 at night) before moving to the age 16 to 17 rules.
Phones for young drivers
Permit holders and restricted drivers under 17 may not use any wireless communication device while driving, except to report illegal activity or call for emergency help.
The Kansas written test
The written test has 25 questions on Kansas traffic laws and road signs, taken from the Kansas Driving Handbook.
- You can take it online at ks.knowtodrive.com.
- If you fail, you can retest the next working day after paying a re-exam fee.
- You get four chances to pass.
- The handbook is also available in Spanish.
Rules specific to Kansas
Phones and texting
All Kansas drivers are banned from writing, sending or reading texts and other written messages while driving. Using GPS and checking weather reports are allowed.
Alcohol
Drivers under 21 can be arrested at a BAC of 0.02%. Adults are over the limit at 0.08%. Refusing a chemical test brings a one-year suspension the first time, rising to 10 years for a fourth refusal.
Seat belts and child seats
Kansas has a primary seat belt law. Children under 4 ride in a child safety seat. Children 4 to 8 use a safety seat or booster unless they are taller than 4 feet 9 inches or weigh more than 80 pounds. Children under 14 should ride in the rear seat.
School, church and day care buses
Stop for any school, church or day care bus stopped to load or unload children, whether you are meeting it or behind it. Stay stopped until the stop arm is pulled in and the red lights turn off. On a divided highway, traffic on the other side does not have to stop.
Move Over law
On a multi-lane road, move to a lane not next to a stopped emergency or construction vehicle with flashing lights. If you cannot, slow down and use caution.
Default speed limits
| Where | Limit unless posted |
|---|---|
| School zones and business districts (when marked) | 20 mph |
| Urban districts | 30 mph |
| County or township roads | 55 mph |
| State or federal highways | 65 mph |
| Separated multilane highways | 75 mph |
Three moving violations within 12 months can lead to a suspension.
Key numbers to remember
Many test questions ask for an exact age, time or number. Use this table as a quick review before you practice.
| Rule | Number |
|---|---|
| Permit age | 14 |
| Supervisor | 21 or older with 1 year of experience |
| Written test | 25 questions |
| Chances to pass | 4 |
| Restricted license | 15 |
| Age 16 driving hours | 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| Practice hours at 16 | 50, including 10 at night |
| Urban district speed | 30 mph |
Test tips
- Read the Kansas Driving Handbook all the way through.
- Learn the numbers: 14, 15, 16, 21, 50 and 10 hours, 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Take these practice tests until you score at least 22 of 25.
- Take the real test online or at a driver's license office.
On test day
Give yourself plenty of time on the day of your test. Get a good night's sleep, eat something before you go, and arrive early so you do not feel rushed.
- Bring every document on the official checklist, plus your glasses or contact lenses if you need them to see.
- Turn off your phone and put it away before the test starts.
- Read each question all the way through, then read every answer before you choose.
- If you are not sure, first rule out the answers you know are wrong.
- Change an answer only if you are sure you misread the question.
If you do not pass, do not give up. Look at the topics you missed, study those parts of the handbook again, and take more practice tests before you try again.
Keep studying
This guide covers rules that are special to Kansas. The general rules of the road, such as right-of-way, turns, lane markings, parking and sharing the road, are in the national US driving study guide. Study both before your test.