Steps to getting your PA Learners Permit and License
1. You must be 16 years old to apply for your learners permit
2. You must fill out the front of the Learners Permit application completely and
have your doctor complete the back when you get your physical.
3. Go to the Driver License Center in Somerset Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday
between 8:30 AM and 4:15 PM with the following items.
A. Completed Application
B. Original Birth Certificate – NO PHOTOCOPIES
C. Original Social Security Card – Not Laminated
D. Check or Money order for $34.50 or $35.50 as organ donor
E. If your parent does not accompany you, then you must have the parent
consent form notarized to take with you for your permit test.
4. Once at the license center you will take 2 tests the first one being the vision
test followed by the written permit test which consists of 18 questions and you
must answer at least 15 correctly.
5. You then have your permit for a minimum of 6 months if you are under 18,
before you can test for your class C license. (Permit is valid for 1 year)
A. In these 6 months you must complete at least 65 hours of practice (10
hours at night and 5 hours in poor conditions) driving with a licensed
driver 21 or older who must be sitting in the front passenger seat.
B. While under the age of 18 you may not drive with more passengers
than there are seatbelts in the vehicle you are driving.
C. Once your 6 months is up you are then eligible to take your driver’s
test.
6. If in that 6 months you took Behind the Wheel training with the school then
you can schedule your test with Mr. Correll or Mr. Oglevee.
A. To take the test at the school you must be accompanied by a parent or
guardian to sign your 65 hour certificate.
B. You must also bring your permit. If you pass the test at the school your
permit will be stamped which is valid as your license for 120 days.
Your camera card will come in about 2-3 weeks. Once you receive
your camera card you then take it to the license center with your social
security card and your stamped permit to get your photo license.
C. If you choose to go to the driver’s license center you must take the
following items with you for your test. 1. Your Permit 2.
Registration Card for the vehicle you are driving 3. Proof of insurance
for that vehicle. 4. The license of your parent or guardian who is
accompanying you. 5. Your parent or guardian can sign your 50 hour
certificate at the driver license center.
7. For the first six months after receiving their junior driver’s license, a driver is
not permitted to have more than one passenger under age 18 who is not an
immediate family member (brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister of the junior
driver and adopted or foster children living in the same household as the junior
driver) in their vehicle unless they are accompanied by a parent or legal
guardian. If they have not been convicted of a driving violation or been
partially or fully responsible for a reportable crash after six months, they may
have up to three passengers under age 18 who are not immediate family
members without a parent or legal guardian present. If they have any
convictions or are partially or fully responsible for a reportable crash while a
junior driver, they are once again restricted to one passenger.
8. During the time you have your permit or junior license you are not permitted
to drive between 11 PM and 5 AM unless you are a member of a volunteer fire
department, involved in public charitable service, or are employed. In these
cases you must carry a notarized affidavit or certificate of authorization from
your employer, fire chief, or supervisor indicating your probably schedule of
activities.
9. After you have your Junior License for 1 year, have passed drivers education,
have not been in any accidents where you were at any fault, have not violated
any of the vehicle laws, and have parent consent you may apply for your
regular driver’s license.
10. If you fail your permit test you must wait at least 1 business day before
retesting and if you fail your road test you must wait at least 7 days. You are
given 3 tries to pass your road test with each permit.
11. The Pennsylvania Drivers License if valid for 4 years.
12. If you are under 18 and your parents decide to have your license revoked they
may do so by contacting Penn Dot and requesting that your license be
suspended.