Getting a Louisiana Driver's License

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

A Louisiana Class E driver's license is the standard adult license for everyday personal vehicles up to 26,000 pounds. It's issued by the Louisiana OMV after the applicant passes a vision screening, a written knowledge exam, and a behind-the-wheel road test. The agency processes about half a million new and replacement licenses every year across its 80 field offices.

Eligibility

The minimum age for a full unrestricted Class E license is 17, but only after the applicant has cleared Louisiana's graduated license stages: a Temporary Instructional Permit at 15, an Intermediate License at 16 with at least six months of permit experience and 50 supervised driving hours, and a clean record through the intermediate stage. Adult applicants 18 and older can move directly from a learner's permit to a full Class E license after holding the permit for the required practice period.

Documents required for a REAL ID

Louisiana issues both REAL ID-compliant licenses (marked with a small star in the upper-right corner) and standard non-compliant licenses. Federal travel rules require REAL ID for boarding domestic flights and entering federal buildings. To obtain a REAL ID, bring:

One identity document — a certified U.S. birth certificate with raised seal, valid U.S. passport, or permanent resident card.
Proof of your Social Security number — Social Security card, W-2, or SSA benefit statement.
Two proofs of Louisiana residency from two separate sources, each dated within 60 days — utility bill, bank statement, lease, mortgage statement, vehicle registration, or a voter registration card.
If your name has changed, certified marriage certificates or court orders linking each prior name to your current legal name.
A completed DPSMV1799 application form.

Fees

The Louisiana Class E first-time license fee is $32.25 for the standard six-year license, plus a $6 office handling fee in most parishes. A REAL ID upgrade carries the same base fee. Younger drivers and drivers 70+ pay a prorated fee for the shorter four-year cycle. Louisiana also charges a small convenience fee for any transaction completed at a Public Tag Agent rather than directly at an OMV office.

Knowledge test

The Louisiana written knowledge exam is a 40-question multiple-choice test drawn from the current Louisiana Class D and E Driver's Guide. Applicants must score at least 80% (32 of 40 correct) to pass. Topics emphasized in Louisiana: hurricane evacuation contraflow procedures, the move-over law for emergency and tow vehicles, school-bus passing rules on divided versus undivided highways, four-way stop right-of-way, and the BAC table including the 0.08% adult threshold and the 0.02% under-21 zero-tolerance line. The test is offered in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese at most field offices.

Road-skills test

Louisiana requires a behind-the-wheel road test for nearly every first-time licensee. The test typically runs 15-25 minutes on local streets near the OMV office and covers:

Pre-drive vehicle inspection — turn signals, brake lights, horn, windshield wipers, defroster, tires.
Three-point turn within a marked area without striking the curb.
Parallel parking between two cones at standard parking-stall spacing.
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 proper signaling.
Smooth, complete stops at controlled intersections.
Lane changes with a mirror check, signal, and head check.

The most common reasons Louisiana applicants fail: rolling stops at stop signs, failure to make complete head checks during lane changes, and pulling forward of the stop bar at a controlled intersection.

License delivery

You'll leave the OMV office with a paper temporary credential valid for 60 days. The permanent card is mailed by the OMV's central card production facility within 10-15 business days. If the permanent license doesn't arrive within 30 days, contact the OMV mailing services line — undeliverable cards return to the agency for re-mailing once the address is corrected. Once you have your Class E, you'll need to keep proof of Louisiana liability insurance in the vehicle and maintain a current vehicle registration and brake tag.