Driving Tests

Alabama Learner's Permit Documents: Birth Certificate, DL-1/93, STAR ID

informational·how to guide·Published September 23, 2026

What documents do you need for an Alabama learner's permit?

At 15, bring four things to an Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) office: a certified U.S. birth certificate (no photocopies), your Social Security card, proof of school enrollment or graduation (the DL-1/93 form for students) and 2 proofs of principal residence. At 16 or older, you show two or three IDs, one from the primary list. Fees are $5 for the test and $36.25 for the license (no checks).

Where the Alabama permit document rules come from

The lists come from the ALEA document requirements and fees page. The DL-1/93 details come from the ALEA enrollment/exclusion form, and the STAR ID lists come from the ALEA STAR ID document list. The Alabama Driver Manual (November 2024), the ALEA STAR ID and Graduated Driver License pages, an April 2025 ALEA news release and Code of Alabama Sections 32-6-8 and 16-28-40 support the details. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (alea.gov) before you drive.

Alabama learner license documents by age

Alabama learner license documents by age
Document	Age 15	Age 16 and older
Birth certificate	Required: a certified U.S. birth certificate issued by the Bureau of Vital Statistics. No photocopies.	One choice on the primary identification list.
Identification	The certified birth certificate proves your age.	Two IDs (one from the primary list, at least one with a photo), or three non-photo IDs (one from the primary list).
Social Security card	Required.	Required (original card).
School proof	DL-1/93 form, certificate of graduation or GED certificate.	The same, if you are younger than 19 and apply for the first time.
Proof of residence	2 proofs of principal residence.	2 proofs of principal residence.

Birth certificate rules for 15-year-olds in Alabama

Alabama law says a 15-year-old proves age by filing a certified copy of the birth certificate with the state (Code of Alabama Section 32-6-8). A copy counts only when the issuing agency certified it, and that certification must be an original. If you were born outside the United States, the Alabama Driver Manual says to have the birth certificate translated into English and certified by the embassy of the country that issued it, unless you have a U.S. passport to prove your date of birth.

What is the DL-1/93 form and who fills it out?

The DL-1/93 is the ALEA Enrollment/Exclusion Form for Code of Alabama Sections 16-28-40 through 16-28-45. Under 19, you must show a current form or proof of graduation. The law tells ALEA to deny a learner permit to anyone under 19 who shows neither a diploma nor documentation of enrollment or another allowed reason. On request, the school attendance officer or chief attendance administrator fills in Parts I and II for a properly enrolled student age 15 or older. Part II also records your school disciplinary points, and a student with points that extend the permit age does not qualify yet. Read how Taylor's Law school points work.

How to get your DL-1/93 form ready before your visit

1
Get the form
Pick up a blank form at your school or at any driver license office.
2
Ask the school to fill it in
Ask your attendance officer to complete Parts I and II. Authorized personnel must complete and sign the form.
3
Check Part I
Make sure Part I is complete. Only the driver license number may stay blank, because you may not have one yet.
4
Take it to the examiner
Hand the current form to the Driver License Examiner with your other documents.
5
Appeal if the school says no
File an appeal about your enrollment status with the local school principal, under local board of education policies.

Proof of residence for an Alabama permit: bring 2 of these

A voter registration card.
A current lease or rental agreement for housing, or a residential mortgage contract.
Vehicle registration that shows your name and address.
School enrollment documentation.
A water, gas or electric bill that is less than 90 days old.

What if your documents do not match?

Your utility bills are in a parent's or spouse's name

Bring your birth certificate (parent) or marriage certificate (spouse) to verify the residence address.

Your name changed by marriage, adoption or court order

For a STAR ID, bring certified documents that show the change, such as a marriage certificate, adoption record or court order.

You do not have your birth certificate

Write to the office of vital statistics in the state where you were born. Order it early.

You lost your Social Security card

Replace it for free with Form SS-5 and a recent identity document. The limit is three replacement cards a year and 10 in your lifetime.

Do you need a STAR ID for a learner's permit?

No. A STAR ID is Alabama's version of the REAL ID, and it is not required to drive or to vote in Alabama. A gold star in the top left corner marks a card that meets federal standards. An Alabama license or ID card issued on or after April 25, 2022 without the star says "Not for Federal Identification" across the top. Since May 7, 2025, a domestic flight or entry to certain federal facilities needs a REAL ID-compliant credential, such as a STAR ID or a valid U.S. passport.

STAR ID documents: four originals

Identity and date of birth (one document): for example a valid, unexpired U.S. passport or a certified birth certificate from a State Office of Vital Statistics.
Social Security number (one document with the full number): a Social Security card, military form DD 214, a W-2 tax form from the current or previous year, or a Medicare or Medicaid card if the letter A follows the number.
Address of principal residence: any two documents from the ALEA list.
Name change: certified documents that show it, if your name differs from the name on your identity document.
ALEA does not accept photocopies of these documents.

Where to apply and what happens at the ALEA office

Walk-ins are welcome at all ALEA testing sites. If you pass the knowledge test, the examiner issues your learner license when you pay the fee, so study the Alabama knowledge test guide first. ALEA does not take checks. It accepts cash, money orders, and MasterCard, Visa or Discover with a 4% convenience fee on the total charge. A first STAR ID is issued only at ALEA Driver License exam offices; county license offices handle renewals and duplicates.

Last check before you leave for the ALEA office

ALEA refuses a document with white-out, erasures, alterations, or missing or unreadable details, and a document that is not properly signed. Check the signatures on your DL-1/93 and the date on each utility bill. Then test yourself with the free question on an acceptable identity document. Our practice tests and question pages are free and in English only.

Key takeaways

At 15, bring a certified U.S. birth certificate (no photocopies), a Social Security card, school proof and 2 proofs of residence.
Under 19, you need a current DL-1/93, a diploma, a certificate of graduation or a GED. Ask your school for the DL-1/93 early.
At 16 or older, show two IDs (one primary, one with a photo) or three non-photo IDs, plus the Social Security card.
A STAR ID is optional and not required to drive. It needs four original documents.
Next step: practice on the free Alabama learner license practice test.

Alabama permit documents: common questions

Can I use a photocopy of my birth certificate for an Alabama permit?

No. For a 15-year-old, ALEA asks for a certified U.S. birth certificate issued by the Bureau of Vital Statistics and says no photocopies. A copy is acceptable only when the issuing agency certified it. If you have only a photocopy, write to the vital statistics office in your birth state for a certified copy before your visit.

Can I get an Alabama permit under 19 if I dropped out of school?

Only with an allowed reason. Under Code of Alabama Section 16-28-40, ALEA must deny the permit unless you show a diploma or proof that you are in a GED or high school diploma option program or an approved job training program, are gainfully and substantially employed, are a parent with custody of a minor or unborn child, are your parents' sole source of transportation, certified by a physician, or are exempt because of circumstances beyond your control.

Do I need a DL-1/93 if I already graduated or have a GED?

No. A high school diploma, another certificate of graduation or a GED certificate takes the place of the DL-1/93 for an applicant under 19. Bring it to the Driver License Examiner together with your birth certificate or IDs, your Social Security card and 2 proofs of principal residence.

Does a teen with a learner's permit need a STAR ID to fly?

The ALEA STAR ID page applies the REAL ID rule for domestic flights to air travelers age 18 and over. They need a STAR ID or another accepted ID, such as a valid U.S. passport. Alabama is an optional state, and a STAR ID is not on the learner license document list, so a 15-year-old can get a permit without one.

Can I have a STAR ID license and a STAR ID ID card at the same time?

No. Each person can hold either a STAR ID driver license or a STAR ID identification card, but not both at once. If you hold both now, one is cancelled at your next card issuance.