Aspiring young drivers in Florida are facing a significant change to the learner’s permit process, as new state legislation takes effect on July 1, 2025.
Beginning next month, all students seeking a learner’s permit will be required to complete a state-approved Driver’s Education course. This marks a notable shift from the previous requirement of only completing a 4-hour Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course.
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The new law aims to enhance road safety by providing more comprehensive training for new drivers. However, there’s an exemption for students who act quickly: those between the ages of 14½ and 17 who complete the existing 4-hour TLSAE course prior to July 1, 2025, will be exempt from the new, more extensive Driver’s Education course requirement.
This means a window of opportunity exists for eligible students to fulfill their pre-permit educational obligations under the current, less demanding criteria.
A list of state-approved TLSAE providers is readily available through the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) website, or can be accessed via this link: https://www.flhsmv.gov/driver-licenses-id-cards/education-courses/driver-improvement-schools/traffic-law-substance-abuse-education-tlsae-find-approved-listing-tlsae-course-providers/.
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