What is the Driving Age in Arkansas?
You must be at least 14 years old to begin the Graduated Drivers License program in Arkansas to get an unrestricted license at 18 years old.
Written by Macy Fouse
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Arkansas
—along with most other states—require teens at least 14 years old to follow a Graduated Drivers License program (GDL) before getting an unrestricted license at age 18. RECOMMENDED
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What is the driving age in Arkansas?
For Arkansas teens, you have to be at least 14 years old to apply for a
learner’s license
, the first step in the Arkansas Graduated Driver License
program. What is the Graduated Drivers License program in Arkansas?
According to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), car accidents
are the second leading cause of death for young drivers. That’s why many states, including Arkansas, implemented the Graduated Drivers License program (GDL) to decrease the number of teen motor crashes. These GDL programs give teen drivers the chance to gain some experience behind the wheel before they’re given unrestricted driving privileges. Like most programs, Arkansas’ program includes three stages:
- Learner’s license stage: supervised driving
- Intermediate license stage: limited unsupervised driving
- Full license stage: unrestricted standard driver’s license
How to get your learner’s license in Arkansas
All drivers under 18 have to go through the GDL program via the
Arkansas Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
, which staggers the number of driving restrictions for teens on their way to a full driver’s license. Before going to your local testing center
, though, you’ll need to collect all the required documents.Here are all the requirements to get your learner’s license:
- Be at least 14 years old
- Pass a vision test
- Take a knowledge exam
- Pay the $5 permit test fee
- Pay the $40 prorated license fee
- Complete the driving skills test
You’ll also need to bring the following with you:
- Your birth certificate
- A secondary form of ID
You can
schedule your test
online, but be sure to read up on the Arkansas Driver License Study Guide
so you’re ready for your big test! Your knowledge test will consist of 25 questions, and you must get at least 20 of them right to pass. If you fail, you can retake the test three times. Learner’s license restrictions
As the first phase of the GDL program, the Arkansas learner’s license comes with a few restrictions. First, you can only drive with a parent or licensed driver at least 21 years old. The other restrictions dictate that all passengers must be
wearing a seatbelt
in the car, and the driver cannot use a cellphone. How to get your intermediate license in Arkansas
Now that you’ve got the hang of driving thanks to your learner’s permit, you’re ready to graduate to the next stage of the GDL program.
Getting an intermediate license is easy: all you have to do is be 16 years old or have had your learner’s permit for six months without serious traffic violations. That’s it!
Intermediate driver’s license restrictions
You may be free of your learner’s permit and on the open road alone, but you’ve still got a few limitations to worry about.
Drivers with an intermediate license aren’t allowed to drive between 11 pm and 4 am unless there are extenuating circumstances. They’re also prohibited from having more than one unrelated minor passenger—unless a licensed driver over 21 is also in the car.
Exceptions
In Arkansas, teens who need help getting to school, work, or medical appointments may qualify for a hardship license. These special licenses are granted to teenagers at least 14 years old permitting them to drive alone.
Of course, these licenses are not guaranteed and include a number of restrictions, including:
- You can only drive during approved times for the specific activity or appointment
- You can only drive between 6 am and 9 pm
- You can only drive up to 30 miles
Hardship licenses are considered on an individual basis after an application is submitted.
How to save on car insurance in Arkansas
Now that you’ve got your Arkansas license in tow, you can go anywhere…as long as you’ve got the right
car insurance
coverage for a teen driver. Don’t worry, though—with comparison super app Jerry
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