Alabama Driver's License
Alabama ALEA Knowledge Test β 30 questions, 80% to pass (24/30 correct)
π What to Bring
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Proof of identity and date of birth
Two forms of ID (at least one with a photo), or three non-photo forms β one must be from the Primary Listing, such as a certified U.S. birth certificate or current U.S. passport. A certified birth certificate is required for all 15-year-old applicants.
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Social Security card
Acceptable proof must display the full 9 digits (Social Security card, certified SSA letter, military DD-214, Medicare/Medicaid card, or W-2)
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Two proofs of principal residence
Documents showing your current Alabama address
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School Enrollment/Exclusion Form (under 19)
First-time applicants under 19 must present a current Student Enrollment/Exclusion Form (DL-1-93) signed by authorized school personnel
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Glasses or contact lenses
Bring them if you wear them β you must pass a vision screening; failing it requires an exam by a licensed eye specialist
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Knowledge test fee
$5.00 for the knowledge test β no checks accepted; the license itself costs $36.25
π How to Schedule
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Study the manual and practice
Read the Alabama Driver Manual and practice. The knowledge test covers Alabama traffic laws, road signs, and rules of safe driving β all taken from material in the manual.
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Visit an ALEA driver license office
Take the test at an ALEA Driver License office. You must be at least 15 to apply for a learner license (Stage I). Foreign-language written tests are available in Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Thai and Vietnamese; oral exams are available for those unable to read the test.
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Pass the vision and knowledge tests
Pass the vision screening, then the 30-question knowledge test (you need 24 correct). On passing, you are issued a learner license with a 'Y' restriction. After holding it (six months for those 16β17) and passing the road skills test, the Y restriction is removed.
π‘ Test Day Tips
- β’The Alabama knowledge test has 30 questions covering traffic laws, road signs, and rules of safe driving; you must answer 24 correctly (80%) to pass. The fee is $5.00 β no checks accepted.
- β’Alabama's Graduated Driver License has three stages: a Stage I learner license at 15, a Stage II restricted license at 16, and a Stage III unrestricted license at 17.
- β’The Stage I learner license carries a 'Y' restriction: you may drive only when a licensed driver at least 21 (or a licensed driving instructor) occupies the seat beside you. After your 16th birthday, any licensed driver may accompany you.
- β’Stage II (restricted) drivers may carry no more than one non-family passenger besides the supervising adult, and may not drive between midnight and 6 a.m. (with limited exceptions for work, school, religious or emergency reasons).
- β’Drivers under 18 and Stage I/II holders may not use any handheld communication device while driving. Alabama's Hands-Free Law makes physically holding a wireless device a violation.
π Driver Handbook
All practice questions are based on the chapters below. Click any chapter to read it on the official DMV website.
π― Practice by Topic
Your License to Drive
Covers who must hold an Alabama driver license, exemptions, required identity and lawful-presence documents, the knowledge and road tests, license classes and endorsements, the Graduated Driver License program, renewals, and the Hands-Free Law.
You May Lose Your License
Explains how an Alabama license can be canceled, suspended, revoked, or disqualified, the reinstatement fees, the mandatory-revocation offenses, the point values for violations, and the point-based suspension schedule.
The Driving Task
Covers the basics of operating a vehicle in Alabama β starting, posture and steering, turning and signaling, lane use, parking on hills and parallel parking, and sharing the road with bicyclists, motorcyclists, and trucks, plus seat belt and child restraint laws.
The Driver
Explains the human factors of safe driving in Alabama β emotions, fatigue and highway hypnosis, distracted driving and texting law, alcohol and drug impairment with BAC limits and DUI penalties, following distance and stopping distance, crash duties, and railroad crossing rules.
Signs, Signals and Road Markings
Covers Alabama's regulatory, warning, and guide signs by shape and color, traffic signals and arrows, lane-use control signals, pavement markings and centerlines, and how to navigate roundabouts.
Traffic Laws
Explains Alabama's speed limits, stopping and right-of-way rules, school bus and emergency vehicle laws, passing, backing and lane changes, hand signals, window tint and load limits, mandatory liability insurance, traffic-stop conduct, and the Move Over Law.
Adjust to Driving Conditions
Covers driving in Alabama at night and in winter, rain, fog, and snow, including headlight use, skid and hydroplaning control, carbon monoxide dangers, and how to handle emergencies such as blowouts, brake and steering failure, stalling on railroad tracks, and vehicle fires or immersion.
Driving the Freeways
Explains how to drive Alabama's freeways β keeping right, entering via acceleration lanes and yielding, handling breakdowns and distress signals, the common interchange types, and exiting safely through deceleration lanes.
Your Vehicle
Covers the equipment Alabama law requires on a vehicle β brakes, mufflers, wipers, mirrors, lights, horn and tires β along with tire tread limits, child restraints, and the school bus 'death zone'.
π Official Resources
ALEA Driver License β
Official Alabama Law Enforcement Agency driver license website
Driver Manual (PDF) β
The complete official Alabama Driver Manual (November 2024)
Document Requirements & Fees β
What to bring and the schedule of driver license fees
Graduated Driver License β
Alabama's GDL stages, ages, and restrictions for teen drivers