Driving Tests

How to Get an Arkansas Instruction Permit at 14 (Steps, Rules and Cost)

informational·how to guide·Published April 26, 2026

How old must I be to get an instruction permit in Arkansas?

You must be at least 14 years old to get an Arkansas instruction permit. You pass the knowledge exam and the vision test with the Arkansas State Police (ASP), and the exam costs $5 for each attempt. The permit is valid for two years and cannot be renewed. You may drive only with a licensed driver who is 21 or older in the seat beside you.

Where the Arkansas instruction permit facts come from

The age, permit rules, vision limits, exam fee and appointment steps come from the Arkansas Driver License Study Guide of the Arkansas State Police (ASP). The papers for applicants under 18 come from the ASP 1-2-3 Checklist for under 18. The license ages and fees come from the DFA Learner's and Intermediate License page and the DFA Class D fee page. Other sources: the ASP checklists for applicants 18 and older and for the skills test, the ASP-33 form, the ASP audio test instructions (2017), Act 550 of 2023 and Act 928 of 2025. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Arkansas DFA Office of Driver Services (dfa.arkansas.gov) and the Arkansas State Police before you drive.

Arkansas instruction permit rules: who can ride with you

A licensed driver who is 21 or older must sit in the seat beside you. See our free question on who must ride with a permit driver.
All passengers in the car must wear seat belts.
The permit covers a car or other four-wheel vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) under 26,001 pounds. It does not cover a vehicle made to carry 16 or more passengers or hazardous material: that needs a commercial driver's license (CDL).

Steps to get an Arkansas instruction permit

1
Get your papers ready
The papers depend on your age and citizenship. If you are under 18, a parent or legal guardian must also sign for you. The next two sections list what to bring.
2
Make an appointment
Go to the ASP scheduling site at telegov.egov.com/aspdlskills. Choose the appointment type "Driver's License/Motorcycle Instruction Permit Test". If you need an oral test, choose "Driver's License Test for Learning Differences". Not all locations offer it.
3
Pass the vision test and the knowledge exam
You must pass both to receive the permit. The knowledge exam is a multiple-choice exam on a computer kiosk. Study for it with our Arkansas permit test guide.
4
Practice with a licensed driver
The permit lets you practice driving with a licensed driver who is 21 or older beside you. Use the time to get ready for the skills (driving) test.
5
Take the skills test
Make a second appointment on the same ASP site for the driving part. You must have your permit before you book it. Bring the original permit: a photocopy or a laminated permit is not accepted.
6
Get your license at a Revenue Office
After you pass the skills test, go to any Arkansas Revenue Office to get your license.

What to bring to the knowledge exam in Arkansas

You are under 18 and a U.S. citizen

Bring an original or certified U.S. birth certificate. A hospital birth certificate or a birth registration card is not accepted, and a U.S. passport cannot be your main document. A parent or legal guardian must also sign for you.

You are under 18 and not a U.S. citizen

Bring a passport with a U.S. visa and a current I-94, a Permanent Resident Card, an Employment Authorization Card, a Naturalization Certificate or a Certificate of Citizenship. A parent or legal guardian must also sign for you.

You are 18 or older

Bring two primary documents, or one primary document and one secondary document. A U.S. passport or U.S. passport card is a primary document.

The ASP-33 form: parent signature for an Arkansas permit under 18

Arkansas law needs a parent or legal guardian to accept financial responsibility for a driver under 18. Your parent can come with you and show a state driver's license or state ID, or can sign the ASP-33 form.
You can sign the ASP-33 at the testing office in front of the examiner, with your parent or legal guardian. Your parent can also sign it with a notary. Give the notarized form to the examiner within 30 calendar days of the notary's signature. After that, you need a new form.

Arkansas permit vision test limits

Every applicant for a permit or license must pass a vision test. You need 20/40 vision without glasses or contacts for an unrestricted license, or at least 20/70 with glasses or contacts for a restricted license.
If you need a vision referral form (ASP-90), an Arkansas optometrist must complete it. ASP does not accept forms from out-of-state, virtual or online optometrists. A vision test and an ASP-90 form are valid for one year from the test date.

Arkansas instruction permit cost and license fees

Arkansas instruction permit cost and license fees
Item	Cost (USD)	What to know
Knowledge exam	$5.00 for each attempt	No limit on the number of exam fees charged. DFA adds the total to your license fee.
Learner's License	Prorated	Expires 1 month after your 16th birthday.
Intermediate License	$12.00	A 2025 law allows it for drivers 16 or older, for up to two years.
Class D License, ages 18 to 21	Prorated	Expires 1 month after your 21st birthday.
Class D License, 21 and older	$40.00	Valid for 8 years.

How long an Arkansas instruction permit lasts

The permit is valid for two years from the date you pass the knowledge exam. Our free question on how long the permit lasts covers this rule.
You cannot renew the permit, and ASP does not extend it for any reason. Pass the skills test and buy your license before the two years end. If you do not, you must take all phases of the driver's exam again.

Which license comes after the Arkansas instruction permit

The permit is the first step. After the skills test, you get a license at an Arkansas Revenue Office. The license depends on your age.
DFA lists the Learner's License for ages 14 and 15, and the Intermediate License for ages 16 and 17. The Learner's License is a restricted license: a licensed driver 21 or older must be in the car. Read the full rules in our guide to the Arkansas Learner's License.

Key takeaways

You must be at least 14 to get an Arkansas instruction permit. You pass the knowledge exam and the vision test with ASP.
Under 18, a parent or legal guardian signs for you, in the office or on a notarized ASP-33 form.
The permit lasts two years and cannot be renewed. Drive only with a licensed driver who is 21 or older beside you.
Next step: practice on the free Arkansas Class D practice test.

Arkansas instruction permit: common questions

Do I have to wait 30 days before the Arkansas driving test?

No. Act 550 of 2023 removed the 30-day wait from Arkansas law. You must still hold a valid instruction permit before the skills test, and you must book the test with ASP. Take the test and buy your license before your two-year permit ends.

Do adults need an instruction permit in Arkansas?

Yes, if you have never held a driver's license anywhere. Arkansas law says that a first-time applicant of any age must hold a valid instruction permit before the skills test, unless the DFA Office of Driver Services decides otherwise. The parent signature and the ASP-33 form apply only to applicants under 18.

Can I get a seat belt ticket while I drive with an Arkansas permit?

Yes. Arkansas law makes it illegal to drive or to be a front-seat passenger without a safety belt. The fine is not more than $25, plus any court costs or fees. With an instruction permit, all passengers in the car must also wear seat belts, so check each belt before you start.

Can I drive a pickup or an SUV with an Arkansas instruction permit?

Yes, if it is a four-wheel vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) under 26,001 pounds. You still need a licensed driver who is 21 or older beside you. A vehicle made to carry 16 or more passengers, or one that carries hazardous material, needs a commercial driver's license (CDL).