Driver Ed Rules & Resources

RyO's Driving School Requirements

The State of Wisconsin requires students to be 14 years or older when beginning the classroom portion of driver education for retention purposes. Students must be 16 years of age and hold their instruction permit for six months to be eligible for their license.

WI Probationary License Requirements

1. Must be 16 years of age.
2. Complete an approved driver education class.
3. Accumulate 30 hours of behind-the-wheel driving experience. (10 of the 30 hours must be at night)
4. A parent or adult sponsor must certify on the MV3001 form (driver's license application) the completion of 30 hours of driving experience. (10 at night)
5. Hold an instructional permit for a minimum of 6 months.
6. One of these drive times must occur within the first 60 days of holding a valid Wisconsin instructional permit. There must be 19 days between the 1st and 6th driving lessons.
7. Receive no moving traffic violations resulting in a conviction for the six months before the license application date. This also includes seat belts and juvenile alcohol violations.
8. Pass a driving skills test.
9. Pay the required fees.

WI Probationary License Restrictions

If a student is under 18, for the first nine months of holding the probationary license, the student may drive but with the following restrictions:

1. A student may drive alone from 5 AM to midnight and travel anywhere. In addition, any number of immediate family members (including legal guardian) and the following people can be passengers:
• One person holds a valid regular (non-probationary) license with at least two years of driving experience and is a person 21 or older, a qualified instructor or spouse 19 or older, and one other person.
2. A student may drive alone from midnight to 5 AM if driving between home, school, and/or work. In addition, a student can have the same passengers listed in number one above. If driving anywhere else, students must have one of the following people in the vehicle:
• a parent or guardian.
• any number of immediate family members and one other person.
• one person who holds a valid regular (non-probationary) license with 2 years of licensed driving experience and one person who is 21 or older, a spouse 19 or older, or a qualified instructor 19 or older.
3. Restrictions will be extended 6 months if the student does any of the following:
   • is convicted of a moving traffic violation.
   • violates any of the restrictions.
   • has license revoked or suspended for any reason.

   Note: The passenger and time-of-day restriction stops while any operating privilege is suspended or revoked. It resumes when the operating privilege is reinstated.

If you have questions about the Wisconsin Graduated Driver License, check out the Wisconsin DOT website, e-mail the Wisconsin DMV, or call 608-266-2353.