Pro tip: Before embarking on a journey through Arkansas's diverse terrains, it's crucial to have proper driving abilities. Refine your skills with our instructional content on stick shift handling and parallel parking strategies. Learn the proper methods for back-in parking and three-point turn execution. Adjust your vehicle mirrors accurately to ensure safety. Our Online Driving Simulator provides a virtual practice environment, and for those visiting from other countries, familiarize yourself with Arkansas's international driver's license policies.
I'm 18+ (First Timers, Intermediate License or Instruction Permit Holders)Check this list before you go.
Visit an Arkansas State Police testing site again for the road test. Testing schedules may change unexpectedly, so call before you go.
What to bring:
If you absolutely must drive unsupervised to or from school, work, or for medical reasons, your parent or guardian can apply to your local Driver Control Office for a hardship waiver for you. You cannot apply for the waiver yourself. Your parent or guardian must provide a statement from your school, employer, or physician and an adult outside of your family, stating that you are mature enough to drive unsupervised.
For the first six months after you obtain your intermediate license (if it’s your first licensure) or until you turn 18, whichever comes first, you must drive supervised by a licensed adult 21 years of age or older. After that, you can drive unsupervised but with some restrictions:
Note that you mustn't have any serious accidents or serious traffic convictions during this time.
Visit your local DFA Revenue Office.
Choose a Primary and a Secondary document or 2 Primary documents from the list found on https://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/driver-services/frequently-asked-questions/.
You may pay by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, or Discover), cash, or check payable to the Department of Finance and Administration. If you pay by credit card, you must pay an additional $2 fee.
Once you turn 18, if you have not had any serious accidents or serious traffic convictions in the prior twelve months, you will be eligible to upgrade your intermediate license to a full class D driver's license.
If you are currently married, a high school graduate, a recipient of a GED, or serving in the military, you can skip the intermediate license step and apply for your full (adult) license instead.
Over 18 and never held any type of license? Start with Step 1.
An instruction permit holder? Start with Step 7.
An intermediate license holder? Start with Step 9. Note that you can upgrade your intermediate license to a regular one only if have not had any serious accidents or serious traffic convictions in the prior twelve months.
A foreign license holder (except Manitoba Canada, Germany, France, Taiwan, and South Korea)? Start with Step 1.
Choose a Primary and a Secondary document or 2 Primary documents from this list: https://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/driver-services/frequently-asked-questions/.
This exam is going to test your ability to locate vehicle controls and drive safely and accurately.
Road tests are administered by Arkansas State Police. Find a testing site near you and check its schedule. Note that road tests are not given in rain, fog, sleet, snow or when the roads are wet or slippery.
Make sure you bring:
Your vehicle shouldn't have any serious mechanical defects and there mustn't be any warning lights displayed. The following features should be in good condition:
After inspecting your vehicle, the examiner will check if you are familiar with vehicle controls. Be prepared to show how the following features work or where they are located:
The examiner will check your ability to complete the following maneuvers safely:
You may fail the skills test if you violate the law or your driving practices create a hazard to you and other users of the streets or highways.
The examiner will inform you whether you pass or fail. If you fail, you can retake the exam on a later date. Your examiner will let you know when you are eligible to take the test again. You should make sure you pass the test before the expiration date of your instruction permit, though.
Arkansas considers you a resident if any of the following apply:
Note: Despite the above, you are not considered a resident if you are in Arkansas as a student.
It is easy to exchange your valid out-of-state license in Arkansas. You do not have to take any tests if your license is current or expired less than 31 days ago. However, if it is expired over 31 days or you do not have the license to surrender, you will have to take the written and vision tests. If the out-of-state license is expired over one year, you will be required to take the written, vision, and road tests.
Transfer your valid out-of-state license at your local DFA Revenue Office.
Choose a Primary and a Secondary document or 2 Primary documents from this list: https://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/driver-services/frequently-asked-questions/.
You will be issued the type of Arkansas license that is appropriate for your age and status.
The procedure for transferring your foreign license is similar to that for applying for a new Arkansas driver's license.
However, if you hold a valid (or expired less than 31days ago) driver's license from Manitoba Canada, Germany, France, Taiwan, and South Korea, you can transfer your license without taking any tests. The procedure is similar to transferring your out-of-state license.
