For Star Card or Real ID requirements, click here.

Proof of Idaho Residency — You must reside inside Idaho’s borders to be issued an Idaho driver’s license or ID card. Proof of residency can be shown with documents such as lease or rental agreements, utility bills, school enrollment records, etc. Your home address (where you live) cannot be your workplace, vacation residence, a part-time residence, P.O. Box, mail drop, or general delivery (that have been mailed to the applicant.) Please check with our office to determine the acceptability of your documents.

Proof of Age and Identity – Driver’s license examiners are required by law to verify your identity and age before issuing you a driver’s license or ID card. If you have a valid, state-issued driver’s license or a state-issued ID card to surrender that meets the conditions of a primary document stated below, you do not need to provide any additional identity documents.

Note: If you do not have an acceptable driver’s license or ID card to surrender, you will be required to present a certified original birth certificate and an acceptable photo identity document (see primary and secondary document lists below).

If the documents described above cannot be obtained, the examiner will require a combination of documents from the primary and secondary document lists that provide proof of your legal name, date of birth, and identity (including a picture.)

Primary documents verify your age and identity, and must contain your full legal name and date of birth. These documents must be verifiable as authentic (the examiner must be able to contact the issuing agency to determine authenticity). The following are examples of primary documents:

Secondary documents will assist in confirming your identity, and must contain your name and enough information to establish proof of all or part of what is contained on the primary document. The following are examples of secondary documents:

Either the primary or secondary document must contain a photo of you.

Lawful Presence — Individuals who are not lawfully present (legally living in the U.S. in accordance with immigration laws) in the United States are not eligible for an Idaho driver’s license or identification card. Proof of lawful presence may be required if you have not previously provided proof of U.S. citizenship. Acceptable lawful presence documents include:

Social Security Card—Bring your social security number or the original card issued by the Social Security Administration. Your social security number will be verified. It will not be printed on your Idaho driver’s license or ID card.

If you do not have a Social Security Number, you may still apply for a driver’s license or ID card if you provide a letter from the Social Security Administration stating that you do not have a Social Security Number. You will be required to provide proof of lawful presence in the United States.

Physical Certification—If your ability to operate a motor vehicle is affected by any physical or mental condition which brings about momentary or prolonged lapses of consciousness or control (examples: epilepsy or seizures, crippling arthritis, paralysis, Parkinson’s, heart trouble, insulin-dependent diabetes, Alzheimer’s, strokes, multiple sclerosis) you will be denied a license/permit until you provide a written certification from a physician that you can safely operate a motor vehicle.

Liability Signer—If you are under 18 years old, you need to have a birth parent (listed on birth certificate) or legal guardian with you to sign consent for you to be licensed. The identity of the liability signer will be verified.

School Enrollment or Completion—If you are under 18 years old, you will need to provide acceptable proof of enrollment and attendance in or graduation from a recognized high school or equivalent program.

Driver Training Completion—If you are under 17 years old, you must provide proof that you have completed an approved driver training program and met the requirements of the Supervised Instruction Permit under Idaho’s Graduated Driver’s License Program.

One License Law – When applying for an Idaho Class D driver’s license, you must surrender any driver’s license or ID card issued to you from another state, U. S. Territory, Puerto Rico, or the District of Columbia. You do not need to surrender a driver’s license issued in a foreign country. However, once you are issued an Idaho driver’s license, you are not allowed to use or show your foreign license for the purpose of operating a motor vehicle. If you are applying for an Idaho Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), you must surrender any license(s) issued to you by any jurisdiction(s).

If your driver’s license has been expired for 25 months or more, you will be required to take the written knowledge test and the skills test.

If your CDL is expired for 25 months or more and you wish to retain CDL privileges, you will need to take the written knowledge test for class D, all written tests pertinent to the CDL, and a skills test in the class of vehicle that matches the class of CDL you are applying for.

Vision Screening – Your vision will be tested and you must meet a minimum standard of 20/40 vision in at least one eye, with or without corrective lenses. If you wear glasses or contacts during the screening, a lens restriction will be placed on your driver’s license. If the lens restriction is placed on your driver’s license, you must always wear your glasses or contacts when operating a vehicle or you could be cited and lose your driving privileges for a period of time.

Written Knowledge Test—If your Idaho driver’s license has been expired for more than 25 months, you will be tested on your knowledge of Idaho traffic laws, highway signs by shape and symbol, traffic signals, pavement marking, and equipment required on motor vehicles.

Skills Test – A skills test is required for any applicant:

A skills test may also be required for any applicant:

The Star Card is optional, but will soon be a requirement to fly or enter a federal building or military base in the United States. These are Idaho-issued credentials that comply with federal REAL ID security standards.

Click Here to build a checklist of documents you need to obtain your Star Card.

Learn more: Star Card Brochure

Click Here for frequently asked questions regarding the Star Card.

Beginning May 3, 2023, a Star Card or other federally-approved credentials will be required for federal security checks such as at TSA airport security, military bases, or federal courthouses. If you choose not to get a Star Card, the following approved documents are currently accepted instead:

• • U.S. passport or passport card
  • DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
  • U.S. military ID (active duty or retired military and their dependents, and DoD civilians)
  • Permanent resident card
  • Border crossing card
  • DHS-designated enhanced driver’s license
  • Airline or airport-issued ID (if issued under a TSA-approved security plan)
  • Federally recognized, tribal-issued photo ID
  • HSPD-12 PIV card
  • Foreign government-issued passport
  • Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
  • Transportation worker identification credential
  • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
  • U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential

Vision Screening – Your vision will be tested and you must meet a minimum standard of 20/40 vision in at least one eye, with or without corrective lenses. If you wear glasses or contacts during the screening, a lens restriction will be placed on your driver’s license. If the lens restriction is placed on your driver’s license, you must always wear your glasses or contacts when operating a vehicle or you could be cited and lose your driving privileges for a period of time.

Written Knowledge Test—If you are a new applicant for an Idaho driver’s license, you will be tested on your knowledge of Idaho traffic laws, highway signs by shape and symbol, traffic signals, pavement marking, and equipment required on motor vehicles.

Skills Test – A skills test is required for any applicant:

A skills test may also be required for any applicant:

For Star Card or Real ID requirements, click here.

Proof of Idaho Residency — You must reside inside Idaho’s borders to be issued an Idaho driver’s license or ID card. Proof of residency can be shown with documents such as lease or rental agreements, utility bills, school enrollment records, etc. Your home address (where you live) cannot be your workplace, vacation residence, a part-time residence, P.O. Box, mail drop, or general delivery (that have been mailed to the applicant.) Please check with our office to determine the acceptability of your documents.

Proof of Age and Identity – Driver’s license examiners are required by law to verify your identity and age before issuing you a driver’s license or ID card. If you have a valid, state-issued driver’s license or a state-issued ID card to surrender that meets the conditions of a primary document stated below, you do not need to provide any additional identity documents.

The following out-of-state driver’s licenses cannot be accepted as proof of identity since the department is unable to determine the extent to which an applicant’s identity or lawful presence was examined through issuance of their current credential. Only Real IDs (Star Cards) and enhanced licenses from these states will be acceptable proof of identity.

1. 1. California
   2. Connecticut
   3. District of Columbia
   4. Maryland
   5. New Mexico
   6. New York
   7. New Jersey
   8. Oregon
   9. Vermont
   10. Washington

Additionally, the following “driver privilege” cards cannot be accepted as proof of identity since these are issued with fewer requirements than standard driver’s licenses. However, these states’ standard Class D licenses and Real IDs are acceptable for proof of identity.

State – Card Language
Colorado – “Not valid for federal identification, voting or public benefit purposes”
Delaware – “Driving privilege only – Not valid for identification”
Hawaii – “Limited purpose driver license – Not acceptable for official federal purposes”
Illinois – “Not valid for identification” Called a TVDL
Nevada – “Not valid for identification – Driver authorization card”
Utah- “Driving privilege – Not valid identification for Utah government entity”
Virginia- “Driving privilege card – Not valid identification for federal voting or public benefit purposes”

Applicants who surrender any of the above credentials will still be exempt from passing a skills exam. These credentials may still serve as valid photo identification if the name on the credential is supported by the additional identity documentation.’

Note: If you do not have an acceptable driver’s license or ID card to surrender, you will be required to present a certified original birth certificate and an acceptable photo identity document (see primary and secondary document lists below).

If the documents described above cannot be obtained, the examiner will require a combination of documents from the primary and secondary document lists that provide proof of your legal name, date of birth, and identity (including a picture.)

Primary documents verify your age and identity, and must contain your full legal name and date of birth. These documents must be verifiable as authentic (the examiner must be able to contact the issuing agency to determine authenticity). The following are examples of primary documents:

Secondary documents will assist in confirming your identity, and must contain your name and enough information to establish proof of all or part of what is contained on the primary document. The following are examples of secondary documents:

Either the primary or secondary document must contain a photo of you.

Lawful Presence — Individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States are not eligible for an Idaho driver’s license or identification card. Proof of lawful presence may be required if you have not previously provided proof of U.S. citizenship. Acceptable lawful presence documents include:

Social Security Card—Bring your social security number or the original card issued by the Social Security Administration. Your social security number will be verified. It will not be printed on your Idaho driver’s license or ID card.
If you do not have a Social Security Number, you may still apply for a driver’s license or ID card if you provide a letter from the Social Security Administration stating that you do not have a Social Security Number. You will be required to provide proof of lawful presence in the United States.

Physical Certification—If your ability to operate a motor vehicle is affected by any physical or mental condition which brings about momentary or prolonged lapses of consciousness or control (examples: epilepsy or seizures, crippling arthritis, paralysis, Parkinson’s, heart trouble, insulin-dependent diabetes, Alzheimer’s, strokes, multiple sclerosis) you will be denied a license/permit until you provide a written certification from a physician that you can safely operate a motor vehicle.

Liability Signer—If you are under 18 years old, you need to have a birth parent (listed on birth certificate) or legal guardian with you to sign consent for you to be licensed. The identity of the liability signer will be verified.

School Enrollment or Completion—If you are under 18 years old, you will need to provide acceptable proof of enrollment and attendance in or graduation from a recognized high school or equivalent program.

Driver Training Completion—If you are under 17 years old, you must provide proof that you have completed an approved driver training program and met the requirements of the Supervised Instruction Permit under Idaho’s Graduated Driver’s License Program.

One License Law – When applying for an Idaho Class D driver’s license, you must surrender any driver’s license or ID card issued to you from another state, U. S. Territory, Puerto Rico, or the District of Columbia. You do not need to surrender a driver’s license issued in a foreign country. However, once you are issued an Idaho driver’s license, you are not allowed to use or show your foreign license for the purpose of operating a motor vehicle. If you are applying for an Idaho Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), you must surrender any license(s) issued to you by any jurisdiction(s).

If you are 17 and under and have not been issued an Idaho driver’s license, you must complete the Graduated Driver’s License (GDL) Program. GDL is designed to ease beginning drivers into the traffic environment under controlled conditions to help reduce the number of teen driver traffic convictions and collisions.

Under the GDL Program, you will be required to complete a minimum six-month violation-free supervised instruction period, during which you must:

You can come in with the same documents needed for  drivers training and take a written test. Then you have two options.
A. Do a road test and get your license issued.
B. Purchase a permit which allows someone 18 or older, who has an Idaho driver’s license to teach you how to drive. This permit is good for six months, anytime within that six months you do a road test and come back to our office where we will issue an Idaho driver’s license.

You will need the following items for your driver’s training permit.

1. Original birth certificate.
2. Verification of compliance (this is a letter you get from your school office)
3. Photo ID (yearbook, school activity card/student ID, or passport)
4. Social security number
5. Parent listed on the birth certificate must come in to obtain the permit with you, with their identification or driver’s license.

Drivers under the age of 16 are restricted to driving during daylight hours only unless accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years of age and sitting beside the driver. No other passengers are allowed in the front seat.

Licensees under the age of 17 are required—during the first six (6) months from the date the license was issued—to limit number of passengers in the vehicle who are under the age of 17 to not more than one passenger, unless the passengers are related to the driver by blood, adoption, or marriage.

As part of the Graduated Driver’s License Program, all drivers under the age of 17 are subject to the following moving traffic violation penalties:

• First violation – Warning letter
• Second violation – Minimum 30-day suspension
• Third violation – Minimum 60-day suspension

These penalties are in addition to the cancellation of a Supervised Instruction Permit (SIP) during the supervised instruction period, or any other suspensions that may be ordered by a court or the department because of a traffic violation. For further information regarding suspensions and Idaho’s Point Violation System, refer to the Violation Points.

NOTE: If your SIP or driver’s license gets suspended, you must pay all applicable reinstatement fees before your driving privileges can be reinstated. If your SIP has been canceled, you will have to purchase a new SIP if you are under 17 years old.

ALCOHOL/DRUG VIOLATIONS

It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any other intoxicating substance, or any combination of alcohol, drugs and/or any other intoxicating substances to drive or be in actual physical control of a motor vehicle.

In addition, drivers under the age of 21 who have a blood alcohol content of .02 or higher while operating a motor vehicle will be subject to suspension of driving privileges for up to one year and can fined up to $1,000.00. Penalties increase for subsequent violations and/or excessive blood alcohol concentrations.

Violation of Idaho’s alcohol/age laws when you are NOT driving will also cause your SIP or driver’s license to be canceled or suspended. Once the court-ordered suspension period has passed and all applicable fines and reinstatement fees have been paid, the driver’s license will be reinstated. If a SIP was canceled, and you are still under the age of 17, you can purchase a new SIP after you have met all reinstatement requirements.

If you are under 17 years old you must have a driver training instruction permit to attend any commercial or public school driver-training program. The permits expire at age 18 for people 14 1/2 to 17 1/2 years of age; permits expire 180 days from issuance for people 17 1/2 years of age or older. The fee is not refundable. The documents required to get a driver-training permit are the same as those required for a driver’s license and are listed in Chapter One of the Idaho Driver’s Handbook. The certified original copy of the birth certificate you provide must show mother/father for liability signer purposes.

When you have successfully completed a driver-training program, you will be eligible to begin the supervised instruction period for drivers under the age of 17 as required by Idaho’s Graduated Driver’s License (GDL) program.

If you are:

• 15-17 years of age, your driver’s license will have a vertical format with a green border around the picture and show “Under 18 until month/day/year.” It will expire five days after your 18th birthday. You should not renew your driver’s license before your 18th birthday unless you will be temporarily living out of state at the time of your 18th birthday.
• 18-20 years of age, your driver’s license will have a vertical format with a red border around the picture and show “Under 21 until month/day/year.” It will expire five days after your 21st birthday. You should not renew your driver’s license before your 21st birthday unless you will be temporarily living out of state at the time of your 21st birthday.

Federal law requires all males who are 18 to 25 years of age to register with the Selective Services System. Eligible males will have the opportunity to register when they apply for a driver’s license or ID card.

Additionally, the Selective Service System receives notification of all applicants who decline the opportunity to register.

LIABILITY SIGNER

If you are under 18 years old, you need to have a birth parent or legal guardian with you at the county driver’s license office to sign consent for you to be licensed. The signer assumes legal responsibility for your actions as a driver. If the liability signer is not the mother or father listed on your birth certificate, you must provide acceptable legal documents (adoption records or court guardianship documents). The identity of the liability signer will be verified. If the signer’s name is different from the one appearing on your birth certificate, additional documents such as a marriage license or divorce decree may be required to verify relationship. If the liability signer cannot be present to sign the application at the county office, an acceptable power of attorney may be used. The power of attorney procedure requires additional time for mailing and processing documents.

If you are married, your spouse, who must be at least 18 years of age, may sign for you. Your spouse’s age must be verified from an acceptable photo document, such as a driver’s license. As long as you are under 18, the person who signs for you may withdraw consent at any time. Withdrawal of consent will cause the department to cancel your driver’s license until you reach age 18 or have another acceptable liability signer.

SCHOOL ENROLLMENT OR COMPLETION

If you are under 18 years of age you will need to provide acceptable proof of enrollment and attendance in or graduation from a recognized high school or equivalent program before an instruction permit, driver-training permit or driver’s license can be issued. This proof can be in the form of a verification of compliance (VOC) letter from an acceptable school or program you are attending, a high school diploma, or a general education certificate of completion. The VOC must be presented within 90 days of authorization by the school or as otherwise stated on the document. Students enrolled in a home-education program must have been enrolled in the program for at least one school year prior to the verification of attendance request unless documentation can be provided of meeting the attendance requirement for the school year immediately prior to the year in which you are enrolled in the home education program. When your parents sign the liability statement, they must also sign a statement that you are in compliance with the school attendance provisions of Idaho Code.

Individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States are not eligible for an Idaho driver’s license or identification card. Proof of lawful presence may be required if you have not previously provided proof of U.S. citizenship. Acceptable lawful presence documents include: