The Alabama Learner's Permit

By Javier Marín, Editor·Last reviewed September 2026·How we check this

The Alabama learner's permit, formally a Class D Restricted license at the first stage, is the entry point into Alabama's graduated driver licensing system. Teens become eligible at age 15 with parental consent and a completed or in-progress driver-education course. The permit lets a new driver build supervised hours behind the wheel before stepping up to the Class D Restricted (Stage II) license at 16.

Who's eligible

Applicants must be at least 15 years old and:

Have written parental or legal-guardian consent.
Be enrolled in an approved 30-hour classroom driver-education program (or have completed one).
Pass the ALEA vision screening.
Pass the Alabama knowledge test.
Be enrolled in school or have a high-school diploma/GED — Alabama enforces a school attendance requirement for permit and license eligibility.

Documents to bring

Certified U.S. birth certificate (raised seal) or valid U.S. passport.
Social Security card, W-2, or SSA-1099 showing the SSN.
Two proofs of Alabama residency in the parent's name (utility bill, lease, mortgage statement, bank statement) dated within 90 days.
Driver-education enrollment letter or completion certificate.
Parental consent affidavit signed in front of the ALEA examiner.
Proof of school enrollment or graduation/GED.

The knowledge test

The same 30-question Alabama knowledge test used for adult license applicants — at least 24 correct answers (80%) to pass. Topics include signs, signals, road rules, BAC, school-bus passing, the Move-Over Law, and the state's graduated licensing rules. The most recent Alabama Driver Manual is the only authoritative study material.

Permit fee

The Alabama learner's permit fee is $5. The permit is valid for four years and can be retaken or upgraded as the holder ages into subsequent stages. There's no extra charge for the vision screening or the first knowledge test attempt.

Driving rules under the permit

While holding a Class D Restricted permit, the new driver must:

Be supervised at all times by a licensed driver age 21 or older with a valid Class D or higher license.
Have the supervising driver seated in the front passenger seat.
Drive only between 6 a.m. and midnight (no early-morning driving).
Carry the permit at all times when driving.

Texting while driving is prohibited for all Alabama drivers. Cell-phone use, including hands-free, is prohibited for permit holders under 18 except for emergencies.

Logging supervised hours

Before advancing to the Class D Restricted (Stage II) license at age 16, the permit holder must log 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours at night. The hours are recorded on the official Alabama driving log, signed by the parent or guardian, and submitted to the ALEA office at the next stage. Most driver-education programs include 6-10 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction that count toward the total.

Common reasons for delay

The parent's residency documents don't match the household address — provide proof of relationship if the teen lives with a guardian other than a parent.
The driver-education enrollment letter is missing the required state-approved program identifier.
The teen's school attendance certification is missing — Alabama blocks first-time permits for excessive unexcused absences.
The Social Security card is the only acceptable SSN proof in some scenarios; other documents like W-2s are not always accepted for first-time permits.

What's next

After the learner's permit, the next stage is the Class D Restricted (Stage II) license at age 16 with the 50 supervised hours logged and a passed road test. The full graduated-licensing sequence — permit, restricted license, full Class D — is detailed on the Alabama teen license page. For adult applicants 18 and older, the path leads directly to a full Class D after passing the road test described on the Alabama driver's license page.

For a national overview of permit rules, see our national learner's permit guide.