The day has finally arrived—your teen is ready to start driving. While this milestone is exciting, it can also feel overwhelming for parents navigating the requirements, paperwork and training involved. To help make the process smoother, we spoke with Flagler County Tax Collector Shelly Edmonson and her team for expert advice about how best to guide your teen toward getting their license.
📝 Step One: Gather the Right Documents
Before your teen can take their learner’s permit test, they must meet Real ID compliance—a federal security standard for state-issued driver’s licenses. This means bringing the right documents to your local licensing office.
✅ Required documents for US Citizens:
· U.S. birth certificate or passport
· Social security number
· Two proofs of address
· Parents should also have their own address documents
📢 "Sometimes a report card is used for proof of address. Parents should also have their own documentation ready." said Cordella Justice, Motorist Services Director.
📚 Step Two: Pass the TLSA and the Learner’s Permit Exam
Once the documents are in order, your teen will need to complete the written test and complete the online Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSA) course. Some schools offer online driver’s education courses that will satisfy the TLSA requirement, or students may opt to prepare for the online exam on their own.
📢 "My son is taking driver’s ed now, and my daughter just finished," said Edmonson. "In high school, they get half credit for it, and it also includes the drug and alcohol course. But it’s not mandatory—you can study the handbook and take the test without it."
🖥️ The written test can be taken online, under a parent’s supervision.
🛑 The test consists of 50 questions covering road signs, traffic laws and safe driving practices. Once your teen passes the exam, along with a vision and hearing test, they’ll receive a learner’s permit.
🚦 Step Three: Learner’s Permit Guidelines
With a learner’s permit in hand, teens can begin practicing driving under supervision. However, there are restrictions in place to ensure their safety:
🔹 For the first three months, they may only drive during daylight hours. 🔹 After three months, they can drive until 10 p.m. 🔹 A licensed driver age 21 or older must always be in the passenger seat.
📌 In addition to following these rules, teens must complete at least 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours at night, before they can apply for a full license.
🚘 Step Four: Taking the Road Test
Once your teen has had their learner’s permit for at least a year (or turns 18), they can take their driving test.
📢 "They have to bring their own vehicle, and it must have proper registration and insurance," said Renee Flynt, Chief Deputy Tax Collector. "Preferably, it should be the car they’ve been practicing in—don’t switch to a different vehicle at the last minute."
📍 In Flagler County, driving tests are given at the Bunnell location.
✅ Things to remember for the road test:
· The test is conducted in your own vehicle, which must be properly registered and insured.
· It’s best for them to use the same vehicle they’ve been practicing in.
· The test evaluates basic driving skills, parking, lane changes and overall road safety.
⚠️ Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Parents can help their teens succeed by avoiding these common mistakes:
🚫 Forgetting required documents: "When they turn 15, that’s all they need," Edmonson said. "But if they forget something, it can delay the process."
👀 Skipping the vision check: "Sometimes kids don’t realize they have distance vision issues until they take the test," Justice said. "It’s disappointing to pass the exam but then not meet the vision requirement."
🚙 Not practicing enough: Encourage your teen to practice in different conditions, such as night driving and bad weather.
📋 More Than Just a License
Beyond learning to drive, 16- and 17-year-olds will also be asked to make decisions about voter registration and organ donation when getting their license.
📢 "The organ donation question is mandatory," Flynt said. "It’s a good idea for parents to discuss it ahead of time so teens are prepared to answer."
🗳️ Teens can also pre-register to vote, even if they aren’t old enough to cast a ballot yet.
🎉 A Smooth Path to the Open Road
Helping your teen earn their driver’s license is an important step in their journey toward independence. By staying organized, encouraging practice and making sure they understand the rules, you can help set them up for success—and safer roads for everyone.
Need more information? Visit www.flaglertax.gov or review the Florida Driver License Handbook.
