How to Get Your Idaho Drivers Permit: A Complete Guide

Are you a teenager looking to get your Idaho instruction permit? If so, you’ve come to the right place. The process may seem complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. In this article, we’ll go through all the details so you know exactly what to expect.

Idaho Supervised Instruction Permit

The first step towards getting your driver’s license is to get your permit. Teenage drivers under the age of 17 are required to obtain an Idaho Supervised Instruction Permit (SIP), also referred to as driver’s permit, as the first part of the Graduated Driver’s License (GDL) program.

Teenagers over the age of 14 years and 6 months old are eligible to apply. This will allow you to practice driving with a licensed driver over the age of 21 as you gain comfort with operating a motor vehicle. Your permit must be held for at least six months after completing driver’s education, or until you turn 17.

How to Get an Instruction Permit

To obtain a drivers permit, you will need to apply in person at one of Idaho’s many DMV office locations. Be sure to check and make sure your desired location offers driver license services, as not all offices do so.

Upon arrival, you will need to provide the following documentation:

• Proof of Identity
• Proof of Social Security
• Proof of US Citizenship and/or Lawful presence
• Proof of Residency in Idaho
• Proof of Birthdate

The Idaho Department of Motor Vehicles has an interactive tool that allows new drivers to figure out the exact documents they need for their trip to the DMV office. It may be a good idea to double-check this tool to avoid confusion.

Teenage drivers will also need parental consent and proof of secondary school enrollment or completion before being allowed to obtain a SIP. A $15 permit fee and a $6.50 administration fee. You will also be required to pass a vision exam.

Idaho Supervised Instruction Permit Requirements

While holding your SIP, there are requirements you must obey by while practicing your driving skills.

1. The supervising driver must be 21 years or older and possess a valid driver’s license
2. The supervising driver must always be present while the permit holder is driving
3. The supervising driver must sit directly beside the permit holder
4. No other passengers are allowed in the front passenger seat
5. The permit holder must possess SIP while driving
6. All occupants must wear seat belts
7. The permit holder must abstain from the use of alcohol or other intoxicating substances while driving

If you are caught violating these rules during the six-month supervisory period, you will be required to reapply for and purchase a new permit. You will also have to restart and complete a new six-month period of supervision. In addition to violating the rules above, a SIP can be canceled for:

• Violating traffic violations such as speeding, running a red light, etc.
• A suspension ordered by the court of Idaho DMV

Driving Convictions Under Age 17

Consequences for traffic violations, as well as intoxicating substance convictions, vary depending on the number of convictions:

1st Conviction: Written warning

2nd Conviction: Minimum thirty-day driving suspension

3rd or subsequent conviction: Minimum sixty-day driving suspension

After Your Drivers Permit

To progress from an instruction permit to an underage drivers’ license, you’ll need to:

• Take an approved driver’s education class
• Complete 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours of night driving
• Hold the SIP for at least 6 months

For more info on the next step in the Idaho licensing process, read our in-depth guide.

That’s It!

That’s everything you need to know about getting your instruction permit in Idaho. If you need any help studying for your upcoming knowledge or driving exams, then Zutobi is the perfect study resource with a summarized handbook, Idaho practice tests, and a gamified learning experience.