Getting an Idaho Driver's License

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

An Idaho Class D driver's license is the standard non-commercial credential for adult drivers. The licensing process runs through Idaho ITD Driver Services, with the actual counter visit at one of roughly 50 driver service offices around the state. Idaho is one of the few states that lets eligible adults choose between a 4-year and 8-year cycle at renewal time, which makes the first license worth getting right.

Eligibility

The minimum age for a full unrestricted Idaho Class D license is 17, after the applicant has completed driver education and the graduated stages: a Supervised Instruction Permit at 14 years 6 months, then a Restricted Supervised License at 15 with the permit held at least 6 months. Adult applicants 17 or older who never went through the GDL track must hold an instruction permit for at least 30 days before they can take the skills test.

Documents required

If you want a federally compliant Idaho Star Card (REAL ID), bring the four standard categories of proof:

One identity document — a U.S. birth certificate with raised seal, valid U.S. passport, or USCIS document.
Proof of your Social Security number — Social Security card, W-2, or SSA-1099.
Two proofs of Idaho residency from two different sources, dated within the last 12 months — utility bill, bank statement, lease, mortgage statement, voter registration card.
Proof of any name change since birth (marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order).

The application itself is the ITD-3187, and the field-office staff will watch you sign it at the counter. A standard Idaho license without the Star Card uses the same documents but without the strict source rules, and it cannot be used for domestic flights or to enter federal facilities once REAL ID enforcement is fully in place.

Fees and the 4-or-8-year choice

Idaho first-time license fees are modest by national standards. Adults age 21 to 62 may choose between a 4-year license (lower fee, lasts half as long) or an 8-year license (higher fee, half as many renewals). Drivers under 21 receive a 4-year license by rule; drivers 63 and over also receive a 4-year license to support more frequent vision screenings. Star Card upgrades cost a small additional fee on top of the base license fee.

Knowledge test

Idaho uses a 40-question multiple-choice knowledge test drawn from the current Idaho Driver's Manual. You may miss no more than six (i.e., score at least 34/40 — about 85%) to pass. The test is offered in English and Spanish at most driver service offices and through several authorized third-party online vendors approved by ITD. Topics emphasized in Idaho: right-of-way at uncontrolled intersections, school-bus passing rules, sharing the road with farm equipment, the move-over law for emergency and tow vehicles, and the BAC table for DUI and Excessive DUI.

Skills test

Idaho's road skills test is administered either at an ITD driver service office or by an ITD-approved third-party tester. The exam runs roughly 20 minutes and covers:

Pre-drive inspection — signals, brakes, lights, mirrors.
Backing in a straight line for at least 50 feet without crossing into another lane.
Right and left turns from the correct lane to the correct lane, with full signals.
Stopping smoothly at controlled intersections and at stop signs (no rolling stops).
Lane changes with mirror, signal, and head-check sequence.
Highway entry and merging when the route includes one.

The most common reasons applicants fail in Idaho: rolling stops at stop signs, failure to make complete head checks during lane changes, and entering a turn from the wrong lane. If you fail, you can retest after a short waiting period; the third attempt typically requires a new application fee.

License delivery

You'll receive a printed temporary license at the field office that's valid for about 30 days while the permanent card is mailed from a central production facility. The permanent card typically arrives within 2-4 weeks. If it doesn't arrive within 60 days, contact the ITD Driver Services line to confirm the mailing address and request a reissue. Once you have the card in hand, make sure your Idaho insurance policy meeting 25/50/15 is on file with the carrier shown on the registration.