Driving Tests

Louisiana Learner's Permit Rules: Age 15, Who Can Ride With You

informational·how to guide·Published September 24, 2026

At what age can you get a learner's permit in Louisiana, and who must ride with you?

You can get a Louisiana learner's permit at age 15. First take the 38-hour driver education course with a Temporary Instructional Permit (TIP), then pass a vision test (20/40) and the knowledge test (80%). A licensed parent, guardian, adult 21 or older, or licensed sibling 18 or older must ride with you. Keep the permit at least 180 days, unless you turn 17 first.

Where the Louisiana learner's permit rules come from

The age, supervisor, 180-day and 50-hour rules come from Louisiana R.S. 32:407 and R.S. 32:405.1. The school attendance rule comes from R.S. 32:431.1. The TIP, test and document steps come from the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) permits page, the OMV New Licenses and Student/Parent Information pages, R.S. 32:402.1 and the Class D & E Driver's Guide. The phone rule comes from R.S. 32:59. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (expresslane.org) before you drive.

How to get a Louisiana learner's permit at 15

1
Sign up for driver education
The 38-hour driver education course has 30 hours of classroom lessons and 8 hours of driving lessons. You can start the classroom part up to 90 days before your 15th birthday, if you are in grade 8 or higher. Driving lessons start at 15.
2
Get a Temporary Instructional Permit (TIP)
Apply to the OMV for a Class E TIP before the knowledge test and the driving lessons. With a TIP, you drive only with your driver education instructor, in lessons or on the skills test.
3
Pass the vision test
You need 20/40 vision in one or both eyes.
4
Pass the knowledge test
The OMV says the test has 40 questions, and the passing score is 80%. Your driver education provider gives the test, and the OMV can give it too.
5
Trade your TIP for the learner's permit
After the course and the knowledge test, give the TIP to the OMV with the Certificate of Successful Completion from your driving school. The OMV issues the permit when you are at least 15.

Who can ride with a Louisiana learner's permit holder?

Who can ride with a Louisiana learner's permit holder?
Person	May ride with you as supervisor	Counts toward your 50 practice hours
Licensed parent or guardian	Yes	Yes
Licensed adult 21 or older (any relative, friend or neighbor)	Yes	Yes
Licensed brother or sister, 18 to 20	Yes	No
Cousin, friend or other relative, 18 to 20	No	No

Can an 18-year-old sibling log your 50 practice hours?

No. A licensed brother or sister of 18 to 20 may ride with you on the permit, but for the 50 practice hours the law lists only a licensed parent, guardian or adult 21 or older. Plan those hours with one of them, and remember that 15 of the 50 hours must be at night. The practice question on people who may supervise a Louisiana learner tests the supervisor rule.

Papers a minor needs for the permit

A parent with legal custody, or a legal guardian, comes to the office and signs the application. If the court awarded joint custody, only the domiciliary parent may sign.
Proof of custody or guardianship, and identification for you and for the parent or guardian.
Proof of school status: a signed statement that you are enrolled in and attending school, a home school program or a high school equivalency course, or that you have a diploma. Ask your school (or your parent, for a home school) for it. It stays valid for 90 days from the issue date.
Original documents only. The OMV does not accept photocopies.

Which path fits your age?

You are 15 or 16

You must start with a learner's permit in the graduated licensing program, after driver education and a TIP.

You are 17

You may get either a learner's permit or a full license. A full license also needs the road skills test. For your first Class E license, your parent or guardian signs a statement of 50 supervised hours, 15 of them at night.

You are 18 or older

You may start with a learner's permit or apply for a full Class E license. Take the 38-hour course, or the 14-hour pre-licensing course (6 hours of classroom and 8 hours of driving). For your first Class E license, you sign the 50-hour statement yourself.

How long must you keep a Louisiana learner's permit?

Keep it at least 180 days, unless you turn 17 before that time. You must also be 16 to get the intermediate license. Example: if you get the permit on your 15th birthday, the 180 days end at about 15 and a half, so you wait for your 16th birthday. If you get it on your 16th birthday, you can move up after 180 days. The permit can be issued for a four-year period. The practice question on the permit holding period tests the 180-day and age 16 rule.

What you need to move to the intermediate license

A signed statement from your parent or guardian that you drove at least 50 hours with a licensed parent, guardian or adult 21 or older, with at least 15 of those hours at night.
A second signed statement from your parent or guardian: during the 180 days you had no at-fault crash and no convictions for moving violations, seat belt or curfew laws, or drug or alcohol laws.
A pass on the on-road driving skills test, given by the OMV or by a licensed third-party tester. Then read the limits of the intermediate license before you drive alone.

Key takeaways

The minimum age for a Louisiana learner's permit is 15, after the 38-hour driver education course, a TIP, a 20/40 vision test and an 80% knowledge test.
A licensed parent, guardian, adult 21 or older, or licensed sibling 18 or older must ride with you.
Keep the permit at least 180 days (unless you turn 17), and be 16 for the intermediate license.
Log 50 practice hours, 15 of them at night, with a licensed parent, guardian or adult 21 or older; a parent or guardian signs the statement.
Next step: practice for the knowledge test on the free Louisiana Class E practice test.

Louisiana learner's permit: common questions

Can I drive alone with a learner's permit in Louisiana?

No. The permit lets you drive only while a licensed parent, guardian, adult 21 or older, or licensed sibling 18 or older is with you. A TIP is stricter: it covers only driving with your driver education instructor, in lessons or on the skills test.

Can I skip the learner's permit if I am 17?

Yes. At 17, you may get either a learner's permit or a full license. For a full license at 17, you must pass the vision, knowledge and road skills tests. Applicants who are 15 or 16 must start with a learner's permit.

Do I pay again when my TIP becomes a learner's permit?

No. When you turn in the TIP after the course and the knowledge test, the OMV issues the learner's permit at no added cost. You pay when you apply for the TIP: by law, the TIP fee is the same as the fee for a Class E driver's license.

Can I use my phone while driving with a learner's permit?

Not in your hand. Louisiana law R.S. 32:59 applies to every driver: you may not use a hand-held phone or other wireless device to make a call or to write, send or read a text while you drive, unless the vehicle is lawfully stopped. Calls on a hands-free phone are allowed.

Can missing school cost me my learner's permit?

Yes, if you are under 18. If your school board tells the OMV in writing that you are a dropout or often absent or late, the OMV can deny or suspend your permit until you turn 18 or meet the school rule. The law counts more than 10 unexcused absences in a row, or 15 in one semester, as a dropout.