Idaho Learner's Permit Rules: Under 17 and 17+ Permits Explained
How old must you be for a learner's permit in Idaho, and who must ride with you?
Idaho has no single learner's permit. From 14 1/2, you can get a Driver Training (DT) permit. After the course, it becomes a Supervised Instruction Permit (SIP): a licensed driver 21 or older sits beside you for at least 50 hours (10 at night) over 6 months or more. At 17, pass the knowledge test for a Class D Instruction Permit, with an adult 18 or older beside you.
Where the Idaho permit rules come from
The rules come from Idaho Code section 49-307 (driver's training and supervised instruction permits) and section 49-305 (Class D instruction permit). The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) young drivers page, the ITD Graduated Driver's License (GDL) fact sheet, the ITD fee table, the Idaho Driver's Handbook (July 2026) and House Bill 628 (2026) add the steps and the fees. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Idaho Transportation Department DMV (itd.idaho.gov/dmv) or your county driver's license office before you drive.
Idaho permits at a glance
| Permit | Age | Who rides with you | How long it lasts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driver Training (DT) permit | 14 1/2 or older | Your driver training instructor, during the course | 5 days after your 18th birthday if you got it at 14 1/2 to 17 1/2; 180 days if you got it at 17 1/2 or older. Not renewable. |
| Supervised Instruction Permit (SIP) | Under 17, after you pass the course (it is the DT permit) | A licensed driver 21 or older in the seat beside you | At least 6 months of practice. You may keep driving on an unexpired SIP after that. |
| Class D Instruction Permit (IP) | 17 or older, after the knowledge test | An adult 18 or older with a valid license in the seat beside you | Up to one year. A SIP that becomes an IP at 17 expires 5 days after your 18th birthday. |
Which permit do you get in Idaho?
Idaho law calls the first permit the Class D driver's training instruction permit. ITD calls it the Driver Training (DT) permit. Under 17, you must have it before you can attend a public or private driver training course. In a course, the DT permit lets you drive only with your driver training instructor. After you pass, the instructor gives the permit to you or your parent or guardian, and it becomes the Supervised Instruction Permit (SIP). At 17 or older, you can take driver's training with either the DT permit or the IP.
What driver training do you need under 17?
Under 17, you cannot get an Idaho license until you pass an approved driver training course and meet the SIP rules. The course has 30 hours of classroom instruction, 6 hours of in-car observation and 6 hours behind the wheel. Public school courses are open to Idaho residents from 14 1/2 to 21. Since March 17, 2026, a qualifying parent or legal guardian anywhere in Idaho may teach the two in-car parts instead of a licensed instructor. The student takes the 30 classroom hours at the same time, in an online course approved by the State Department of Education. See the steps for parent-taught driver's ed in Idaho.
Supervised Instruction Permit rules (under 17)
- A licensed driver who is 21 or older must sit in the seat beside you. The two of you must be the only people in the front seat. The practice question on who sits beside a driver under 17 checks this rule.
- Over at least 6 months, log at least 50 hours of supervised driving. Ten of those hours must be at night.
- Keep the permit with you every time you drive.
- All other people in the car must wear a seat belt or sit in a child restraint, as the law requires.
- For at least 6 months after the instructor gives the permit to your parent or guardian, you must have no moving traffic violation, no suspension and no permit violation.
- You may keep driving on an unexpired SIP after the 6 months end.
What if you break a SIP rule?
What changes at 17? The Class D Instruction Permit
If you turn 17 while you drive on a SIP, it becomes a Class D Instruction Permit (IP). At 17 or older, you can also apply for an IP directly, but you must pass the knowledge test first. A driver under 17 who finished an approved course and met the SIP rules may also apply. The IP lets you drive for up to one year with an adult 18 or older who holds a valid license in the seat beside you. The practice question on who must ride with a 17-year-old on an instruction permit covers this rule. To get a license from an IP, you take the skills test.
How to get an Idaho permit
- 1Choose your route
Under 17, choose an approved driver training course; you can start at 14 1/2. At 17 or older, you can apply for the IP and take the knowledge test.
- 2Go to a county driver's license office
You can buy a permit at any county driver's license office in Idaho. Pass the vision test and bring the documents ITD asks for.
- 3Add the under-18 items
Under 18, bring proof of school enrollment or completion, for example a Verification of Compliance (VOC) letter or a high school diploma. A birth parent or legal guardian must come with you to sign as your liability signer.
- 4Pay the fee
The fee is $21.50 for the driver training instruction permit and $20.00 for the instruction permit. The handbook lists $16.50 for the parent-led permit. The $21.50 and $16.50 fees include $6.50 for the skills test receipt. Permit fees are not refundable.
- 5Practice and log your hours
Under 17, log your 50 supervised hours on the SIP. Then pass the knowledge test and the skills test for your license.
From permit to license under 17
You can apply for a license no sooner than age 15 and no sooner than 6 months after you finish the course. When you meet all the SIP rules, you take the knowledge test and the skills test. The knowledge test has 40 questions, and you need 34 correct, per the Idaho Driver's Handbook. If you fail a test, the law says you cannot retake it within three calendar days, and you pay the test fee again. Our Idaho knowledge test guide explains the test. Permits do not come with a Star Card, Idaho's REAL ID, because they are temporary.
Key takeaways
- Idaho has no single learner's permit: the DT permit starts at 14 1/2, becomes the SIP after the course, and the IP is for age 17 or older after the knowledge test.
- On a SIP, a licensed driver 21 or older sits beside you, and no other person may sit in the front. On an IP, an adult 18 or older with a valid license sits beside you.
- Under 17, log 50 hours (10 at night) over at least 6 months with no moving violation, suspension or permit violation.
- Fees are $21.50 for the DT permit, $20.00 for the IP and $16.50 for the parent-led permit.
- Next step: practice on the free Idaho Class D practice test.
Idaho learner's permit: common questions
Can I drive alone on an Idaho permit?
No. On a SIP, a licensed driver 21 or older must sit beside you. On an IP, an adult 18 or older with a valid license must sit beside you. In a driver training course, you drive only with your instructor. If you break a SIP rule, ITD can cancel the permit and suspend your driving privileges.
Can I drive at night with an Idaho permit?
Yes, on a SIP, when your supervising driver sits beside you. Idaho law requires 10 of your 50 supervised hours to be at night. The daylight-only limit, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., is a rule for a driver under 16 who already has a license.
Does a permit holder under 18 need a parent?
Yes, for the application. A birth parent or legal guardian signs at the county driver's license office as your liability signer and takes legal responsibility for your actions as a driver. If the signer cannot come, an acceptable power of attorney may be used. At 18, you can apply for an IP without a liability signer.
Where do I get an Idaho learner's permit?
At a county driver's license office. In Idaho, the county sheriff's driver's license offices issue instruction permits, and you can buy a permit at any of them. Bring the documents ITD asks for and pass the vision test there. Under 17, you must have the DT permit before your first driver training class, so get it before the course starts.
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