How licensing works in Louisiana
The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) licenses drivers. Applicants aged 15 and 16 must go through graduated licensing, and all license applicants complete driver education.
| Stage | Minimum age | Main rules |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary Instructional Permit (TIP) | 14 | For driver education only. Drive only with your driver education instructor during lessons or a skills test. |
| Learner's permit | 15 | Pass vision and knowledge tests. Drive with a licensed parent, guardian or adult 21 or older, or a licensed sibling 18 or older. Hold at least 180 days. |
| Intermediate license | 16 | 50 supervised hours (15 at night). No unsupervised driving 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. From 6 p.m. to 5 a.m., only one passenger under 21. |
| Full license | 17 | Intermediate limits end. A 17-year-old may also apply directly for a full license after passing vision, knowledge and road skills tests. |
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.
Holding period
- Start at 15: hold the permit at least 180 days and until you turn 16.
- Start at 16: hold the permit at least 180 days, or until you turn 17.
The Temporary Instructional Permit
You must get a TIP before your knowledge test, on-road lessons or skills test in driver education. When you finish driver education, you surrender the TIP. Converting it to a learner's permit or license has no extra cost.
The Louisiana knowledge test
The learner's permit knowledge test has 40 questions, and you need at least 80% (32 correct). You also need vision of 20/40 in one eye.
- Your driver education provider gives the knowledge and skills tests.
- Road skills tests must be done at a driving school.
- For a full license, you pass vision, knowledge and road skills tests.
- When a credential is issued to a US citizen male aged 15 to 26, he is automatically registered with Selective Service.
Rules specific to Louisiana
Who can supervise
A learner may drive with a licensed parent or guardian, a licensed adult 21 or older, or a licensed brother or sister 18 or older. A friend aged 18 to 20 who is not a sibling may not supervise.
Intermediate license limits
| Time | Rule |
|---|---|
| 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. | No unsupervised driving |
| 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. | No more than one passenger under 21 |
| Age 17 | Night and passenger limits end |
Night driving
Louisiana puts extra focus on night practice. Use your 15 night hours to practice dimming headlights, judging distance in the dark, and watching for pedestrians and animals.
At night, switch to low beams when another car approaches.
- Your car.
- The oncoming car.
- Dim before you meet.
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 |
|---|---|
| Temporary Instructional Permit age | 14 |
| Learner's permit age | 15 |
| Permit holding period | At least 180 days |
| Knowledge test | 40 questions, 80% to pass |
| Vision | 20/40 in one eye |
| Practice hours | 50, including 15 at night |
| Intermediate night limit | 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. |
| Intermediate limits end | Age 17 |
Test tips
- Get the Louisiana Driver's Guide from the OMV website and read it.
- Learn the numbers: 14, 15, 16, 17, 180 days, 50 and 15 hours, 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., 40 questions, 80%.
- Take these practice tests until you score 90% or more.
- Ask your driver education provider when you can take the test.
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 Louisiana. The general rules of the road, such as right-of-way, turns, lane markings, parking, alcohol and sharing the road, are in the national US driving study guide. Study both before your test.