Driving Tests

When Can a Teen Get a Full License in Nebraska? Class O After POP

informational·how to guide·Published August 30, 2026

When does my teen move from the POP to a full Class O license in Nebraska?

A Nebraska teen can get a Class O license at 17 after holding a Provisional Operator's Permit (POP) for at least 12 months with fewer than three points on the driving record in the previous 12 months. The written and drive tests are waived, so the teen can apply online or at any driver licensing office. A license issued under age 21 expires on the 21st birthday.

Where these Nebraska facts come from

The age, test, fee and vehicle rules come from the Nebraska DMV Class O license page. The POP rules come from the Nebraska DMV POP page, and the point rules from the Nebraska point system page. The expiration date, the point credit and the under-21 course come from Nebraska statutes 60-490, 60-4,188 and 60-4,130.03. Some details come from the Nebraska Driver's Manual (January 2025). This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Nebraska DMV (dmv.nebraska.gov) before you drive.

Nebraska Class O license: which tests do you take?

Nebraska Class O license: which tests do you take?
Your situation	Written test	Drive test
Under 18, POP held 12 months, fewer than 3 points in the previous 12 months	Waived	Waived
Age 18 to 21 with a POP	Waived	Waived
Age 18 or older, first license, never held a POP	Required (waived with an LPD valid or expired no more than 1 year)	Required

What does a Nebraska teen need before a Class O license?

The minimum age for a Class O license is 17. A teen under 18 must also have held a POP for at least 12 months, and the driving record must not show three or more points in the previous 12 months. A teen who meets all three rules skips the written and drive tests.
The full 12 months count, so a 17-year-old with a 9-month-old POP must wait. Our free practice question on a 17-year-old with a 9-month POP shows the rule in a short case.

What if your teen waits until 18 or older?

A person who holds a POP and waits until age 18 to 21 to apply for a Class O license also gets the written and drive tests waived (DMV). The POP expires on the 18th birthday.
A first-time applicant who is 18 or older and never held a POP takes the vision, written and drive tests. The written test is waived with a learner's permit (LPD) that is valid or expired no more than one year. At the Bellevue, Lincoln and Omaha offices, drive testing is by appointment only. If your teen is still on a POP, our guide to the Nebraska Provisional Operator's Permit lists the POP limits.

What if your teen has points on the record?

Under 18 with 3 or more points in the previous 12 months

The early Class O license is not available. The teen becomes eligible at 18, or once the record shows fewer than three points assessed in the previous 12 months.

Your teen takes a voluntary driver improvement course

A DMV-approved course of at least four hours reduces the points assessed in the previous two years by two, and this credit is allowed only once in five years. For a teen under 18 with three or more points, the course does not change the points already assessed, so it does not open the early Class O license.

Under 21 with six or more points in any 12-month period

The DMV sends a notice that orders a driver improvement course of at least four hours. If your teen does not finish it within three months of the notice, the license is suspended. This ordered course gives no two-point credit.

How many points do common teen violations add?

Convictions stay on the driving record for five years. Speeding 1 to 5 mph over the limit is 0 points for citations on or after November 14, 2020. Reading, typing or sending a written message on a handheld wireless device while driving is 3 points. A POP holder may not use any interactive wireless device while driving, and the manual lists 1 point for a POP passenger or wireless device violation. Our Nebraska teen driver points guide has the full point table.

How to apply for the Class O license

1
Check the record
Confirm that the POP is at least 12 months old and that the record shows fewer than three points in the previous 12 months. The DMV point system page links to a service where you can check the status of your driving privileges, including points.
2
Gather the papers
For a first Class O license, the DMV asks for proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful status with name, date of birth and identity, and at least two documents for your Nebraska address. You must also disclose a valid Social Security number or show an I-94 exemption.
3
Apply online or at an office
When the tests are waived, apply online or at any driver licensing office.
4
Pay the fee
The total fee depends on how many years the license is valid. The table below shows the totals by age.

How much does a teen's Class O license cost?

How much does a teen's Class O license cost?
Age when the license is issued	License valid for	Total fee (DMV)
17	More than 3 years, not more than 4 years	$24
18	More than 2 years, not more than 3 years	$19
19	More than 1 year, not more than 2 years	$15
20	1 year or less	$10
21 or older	5 years	$29

What can a teen drive with a Class O license?

A Class O license covers any motor vehicle, including a moped, an ATV and an autocycle, except a motorcycle and a commercial motor vehicle.
A moped or an autocycle on public roads needs a Class O license.
An ATV or UTV on public roads needs a farm permit or a Class O license. Where road use is allowed, it must be between sunrise and sunset at less than 30 mph.
Our free practice question on which vehicles a Class O license covers tests this rule.

Key takeaways

A Nebraska teen can get a Class O license at 17 after holding a POP for 12 months with fewer than three points in the previous 12 months.
That teen, and a POP holder who applies at 18 to 21, skips the written and drive tests and can apply online (DMV).
A first license at 18 or older with no POP needs the vision, written and drive tests.
A license issued under 21 expires on the 21st birthday, so a 17-year-old pays $24 total, not the $29 five-year fee (DMV).
Next step: review the rules of the road on the free Nebraska Class O learner's license practice test.

Nebraska Class O license: common questions

Can my teen get a Class O license at 16 in Nebraska?

No. The minimum age for a Class O license is 17. At 16, a teen can drive on a POP: alone from 6 a.m. to 12 midnight, and at any time with a parent, guardian or licensed driver who is at least 21. After 12 months on the POP with fewer than three points, the teen can move to the Class O license at 17.

Can my teen get the Class O license online?

Yes, when the tests are waived: a teen under 18 who meets the POP rules, or a POP holder who is 18 to 21. Apply at dmv.nebraska.gov/services when all eligibility requirements are met, or go to any driver licensing office. Non-U.S. citizens are not eligible for online services.

What happens to my teen's license at 21?

An operator's license issued to a person under 21 expires on the 21st birthday. At 20, your teen may apply for a new license within 60 days before that birthday, and the license may be issued within 30 days before it. The DMV mails a renewal notice at least 30 days before a license expires.

Can my teen ride a motorcycle with a Class O license?

No. A Class O license covers any motor vehicle, including a moped, an ATV and an autocycle, except a motorcycle and a commercial motor vehicle. To ride a motorcycle, your teen needs a Class M license. The minimum age for a Class M license is 17, and a teen under 18 must first hold a POP for at least 12 months, as for the Class O license.