Kansas Instruction Permit

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

Kansas calls its first-stage credential the Instruction Permit, and the minimum age is 14 — one of the youngest in the country. Kansas also offers a separate Farm Permit at 14 for teens whose families operate farms, with reduced training requirements. Both pathways are subject to a "no pass, no drive" school-attendance rule.

Eligibility for the standard Instruction Permit

To apply for a Kansas Instruction Permit at age 14:

Be at least 14 years old on the day of application.
Pass a vision screening at the Driver License Examination Station.
Pass the standard written knowledge test of 25 questions with at least 80%.
Have a parent or legal guardian present to sign the financial-responsibility consent.
Provide proof of school enrollment with satisfactory attendance under the "no pass, no drive" provision (or proof of high-school graduation/GED).

The application uses Form DC-78. The fee is approximately $2 for the permit itself, and the credential is valid for one year.

Documents to bring

The teen and the parent should bring:

The teen's certified U.S. birth certificate or unexpired U.S. passport.
The teen's Social Security card or a document showing the SSN.
Two proofs of Kansas residency in the parent's name.
School enrollment letter or current report card.
Photo ID for the parent or guardian who signs.

Restrictions while holding the Instruction Permit

The standard Instruction Permit is a practice credential, not a driving credential. While the teen has the permit, they may drive only:

With an adult licensed driver 21 or older in the front passenger seat.
Wearing a seat belt at all times, with all occupants belted.
With no use of a wireless device while the vehicle is moving (Kansas's hands-free rule for drivers under 18).

Kansas does not impose a formal nighttime curfew on the Instruction Permit, but supervised practice after dark is highly recommended. The state recommends a minimum of 50 hours of supervised practice, including 10 hours at night, before the teen attempts the road test for a Restricted License.

The Farm Permit at 14

Kansas's Farm Permit is a separate credential for 14-year-olds living in agricultural settings. It allows the teen to drive without a licensed adult in the vehicle, but only:

To and from school.
To and from work, including farm work.
To and from school activities or church events.
For necessary family-related driving when an adult driver is unavailable.

The Farm Permit does not allow recreational driving, driving outside school and farm purposes, or driving across state lines for non-farm reasons. The Farm Permit is issued only after passing the written test and a road test, with parental consent and proof of farm-related need. Most Farm Permit holders use it from 14 until they reach the standard Instruction Permit pathway.

The one-year holding period

The standard Instruction Permit must be held for at least one year before the teen can apply for a Restricted License at 15. During the year, the teen has to:

Maintain a clean record — any moving-violation conviction can extend the holding period.
Complete a state-approved driver education course (in some counties, school-based; otherwise commercial).
Log the supervised practice hours, including 10 night-driving hours, with parental sign-off.

What happens after the holding period

After 12 months and on or after the teen's 15th birthday, the family returns to a Driver License Examination Station for the Restricted License step. That stage requires a passed road test, the same DC-78 form, updated school-attendance verification, and the parent's renewed consent. The Restricted License is also conditional — nighttime restrictions, passenger limits — until the teen graduates to a full unrestricted Class C driver's license at 16.

Common mistakes Kansas families make

Forgetting the school-enrollment proof. Kansas's "no pass, no drive" provision applies at every step.
Using the Farm Permit for recreational trips. Misuse can lead to revocation.
Failing to log supervised hours. Some counties strictly verify the practice log at the road test.
Skipping driver education thinking the Farm Permit substitutes — the Farm Permit is a separate track and does not satisfy the Instruction Permit's driver education requirement.