New Florida Law Updates Permit Requirements for Teens
Starting July 1, 2025, Florida teens seeking a learner's permit will be required to take a new driver's education course called Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS).
This updated requirement, signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis, applies to teens ages 15 to 17. Previous steps teens needed to complete to earn a Florida permit included passing the Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course, the Florida permit exam and a vision and hearing test.
The new Driver Education Traffic Safety course will replace TLSAE for applicants under age 18. It will be available as a self-paced online course or as a semester-long classroom program for students in grades nine to 12.
Can Teens Still Qualify for a Permit with a TLSAE Certificate?
Yes. Permit applicants under 18 who complete the TLSAE course before July 1 are eligible to use their certificate until it expires. To satisfy current state requirements for a learner's permit before the new law takes effect, teens ages 15 to 17 can take the 4-hour TLSAE course 100% online.
Where Can I Learn More About the New Course?
The Florida Department of Education provides an outline of the DETS course that describes the primary topics and learning objectives.
The course will educate students about:
- The meaning and responsibilities of a driver license
- Laws governing the operation of a motor vehicle
- Florida's Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws
- Vehicle control and traffic procedures
- Sharing the road with other vehicles and vulnerable road users
- Defensive driving techniques
- Physical and mental factors that impact driving ability
- The effects of drugs and alcohol on driving ability
The classroom-based DETS course offered by high school driver's ed programs takes one semester to complete. Online versions of the course must be at least six hours long and meet or exceed the Department of Education's requirements for the classroom version.
Is the TLSAE Course Going Away?
The new Driver Education Traffic Safety course will not entirely replace the TLSAE course. TLSAE is still required for drivers 18 and up, and court-ordered TLSAE training is mandatory after certain drug- or alcohol-related driving offenses.
FirstTimeDriver will continue to offer Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education in both English and Spanish.
What Are the Education Requirements for New Drivers Ages 18 and Up?
According to the new law, Florida driver license applicants ages 18 and up must complete the Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education course unless they have previously been licensed in another jurisdiction or have completed a Florida Department of Education driver education course.
However, the law update does not require applicants over age 18 to take the new Driver Education Traffic Safety course. After taking the TLSAE course (or providing proof of exemption), applicants can satisfy state requirements for a Class E license by passing the Knowledge Exam and Driving Skills Test.