Driving Tests

Arizona Instruction Permit at 15 and a Half: Rules and Requirements

informational·how to guide·Published July 12, 2026

How old do you have to be to get an Arizona instruction permit?

You must be at least 15 years and 6 months old. Pass the knowledge test, then the vision test and a photo in an MVD office. Under 18, a parent or guardian must sign. The permit is valid for 12 months and costs $7. A licensed driver who is 21 or older must sit beside you, and you may use a phone only in an emergency.

Where the Arizona instruction permit rules come from

Arizona sets the permit rules in A.R.S. 28-3154 and the restricted permit rules in A.R.S. 28-3155. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) explains the steps on its Class G permit and license requirements page. The fees come from the ADOT driver license fees page and the Arizona Driver License Manual (revised March 2026). The test details come from the ADOT practice test, instruction permit and road test pages. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the ADOT Motor Vehicle Division (azdot.gov/mvd) before you drive.

How to get an Arizona instruction permit

1
Check your age
You can apply for an instruction permit for a Class D or G license when you are at least 15 years and 6 months old. For a teen, it is also called the Graduated Instruction Permit (Class G Permit).
2
Pass the knowledge test
Take the non-commercial knowledge test in an MVD office. If you are under 18, you can also take it with Permit Test @ Home. You need a score of 80 percent or higher, and the questions come from the Arizona Driver License Manual. Confirm the test format with ADOT MVD before you go.
3
Bring your documents and your parent or guardian
After you pass, bring the originals of your supporting documents. If you are under 18, bring your parent or guardian to sign approval. An MVD agent or a notary public must witness the signatures. Ask ADOT MVD which originals to bring.
4
Pass the vision test and have your photo taken
You do both in an MVD office.
5
Pay the fee and get your permit
The non-Travel ID instruction permit costs $7 (U.S. dollars) as of 2026. The Arizona driver license cost guide lists the other fees.

Who signs the permit application for a driver under 18?

Your parents are married to each other

One natural parent signs.

Your parents are not married to each other but share joint custody

Both natural parents sign.

One parent has sole custody

That parent signs.

Neither parent has custody

A legal guardian or a foster parent who lives with you signs, with proof. An employer can sign when the parents' death certificates are shown.

The person who must sign cannot come with you

Bring a signed notarized application instead.

You apply for your driver license later

The same signatures are required again. The adult who signs is responsible for any negligence or willful misconduct when you drive.

Who can ride with you on an Arizona permit

You may drive on the permit only when two conditions are met. First, you have the permit with you. Second, a qualified person sits in the seat beside you: that person holds a Class A, B, C or D license and is at least 21 years old. A parent, a grandparent or a family friend can supervise you when they meet these rules. Try the free practice question on the qualified permit supervisor.

Phone rule for Arizona permit holders

On a permit, you may not use a wireless communication device while you drive, for any reason, including a hands-free call. The only exception is an emergency in which a stop is impossible or would create an additional emergency or safety hazard. An officer may not stop or cite you for this rule alone, without reasonable cause to believe there is another motor vehicle violation. For the first 6 months of a Class G license, the law adds audible turn-by-turn navigation, if you do not enter the destination or adjust the device while you drive. Try the free practice question on the permit phone rule.

When can you move from the permit to a Class G license?

You are under 18

Hold the permit for 6 months, or until you turn 18 if that comes first. The 6 months start after the permit is issued in an MVD office. At 16 or older, you can then apply for the Class G license and drive without an adult, with restrictions. The Arizona Class G teen license guide explains the practice hours and the restrictions.

You hold an instruction permit from another state

Arizona gives you credit for the months you held it. For example, after 3 months on a California permit, you take the Arizona permit test and hold the Arizona permit for 3 more months instead of 6.

Your 12 months are almost over

Apply for the Class G license in time: the permit must be valid when you apply.

Instruction permit vs restricted instruction permit (A.R.S. 28-3155)

Instruction permit vs restricted instruction permit (A.R.S. 28-3155)
Rule	Instruction permit	Restricted instruction permit
Minimum age	15 years and 6 months	15
Who can apply	Any person of that age	A student enrolled in a driver training program that ADOT approves
Tests	All parts of the examination except the driving test	All parts of the examination except the driving test
Valid for	12 months	A school year or a more restricted period
Who sits beside you	A Class A, B, C or D license holder who is 21 or older	An approved instructor with a Class A, B, C or D license
Where you may drive	Public highways	A designated highway or a designated area
Fee (as of 2026)	$7	$3

Key takeaways

You can apply for an Arizona instruction permit at 15 years and 6 months. Pass the knowledge test, then the vision test and a photo in an MVD office.
Under 18, a parent or guardian signs your application, and an MVD agent or a notary public witnesses the signatures.
The permit is valid for 12 months and costs $7. A Class A, B, C or D license holder who is 21 or older must sit beside you, and you may use a phone only in an emergency.
Under 18, hold the permit for 6 months from the day an office issues it before you apply for the Class G license.
Next step: practice on the free Arizona Instruction Permit practice test. It is in English only.

Arizona instruction permit: common questions

Can I get an Arizona permit at 15?

Not the regular instruction permit: its minimum age is 15 years and 6 months. At 15, ADOT may issue only a restricted instruction permit, and only to a student enrolled in a driver training program that ADOT approves. With that permit, you drive with an approved instructor on a designated highway or in a designated area.

Can my older brother or sister supervise my practice drives?

Only if your sibling is at least 21, holds a Class A, B, C or D license and sits in the seat beside you. A sibling who is 18, 19 or 20 cannot supervise you, even with a full license. Wait until another qualified driver can ride with you.

Does the 6-month wait start when I pass Permit Test @ Home?

No. The 6 months start after the instruction permit is issued in an MVD office. After you pass the test at home, you still go to an office for the vision test and the photo, with your documents and your parent or guardian. The sooner you finish that visit, the sooner the 6 months start.

What if I lose my Arizona instruction permit?

Get a duplicate instruction permit. It costs $2 as of 2026. You must have the permit with you whenever you drive, so do not drive on the permit until you have the duplicate.

Do adults have to hold an Arizona permit for 6 months?

No. The 6-month hold is for drivers under 18: you hold the permit for 6 months or until you turn 18. At 18 or older, ADOT's road test page asks for a passed written test, not a permit held for 6 months. While you practice on the permit, a Class A, B, C or D license holder who is 21 or older must still sit beside you.