Drivers Ed Rules & Resources

Wisconsin Probationary License Requirements

• Complete an approved driver education class.
• Accumulate 50 hours of behind-the-wheel driving experience. (10 of the 50 hours must be at night) Up to 5 hours of behind-the-wheel driving experience with a qualified instructor may be double counted. (For example, 3 hours will count as 6 hours.)
• A parent or adult sponsor must certify (on the driver license application) the completion of 50 hours of driving experience. (10 at night)
• Hold an instructional permit for a minimum of 6 months.
• There must be a minimum of 19 days between the 1st and 6th driving lessons. One of these drive times must occur within the first 60 days of holding a valid Wisconsin instructional permit.
• Receive no moving traffic violations resulting in a conviction for the six months prior to the date of application for this license.
• Pass a driving skills test.
• Pay the required fees.

Wisconsin 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:

• From 5 AM to midnight, a student may drive alone and travel anywhere. In addition, any number of immediate family members (including legal guardian) and the following people can be passengers:
• Two people, one of which must hold a valid regular (non-probationary) license with at least 2 years driving experience, and one who is a person 21 or older or a qualified instructor or spouse 19 or older.
• From midnight to 5 AM and if driving between home, school, and/or work, a student may drive alone. In addition, a student can have the same passengers as 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 a person 21 or older, a spouse 19 or older, or a qualified instructor 19 or older.
• 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 terms of the passenger and time-of-day restriction stops while any operating privilege is suspended or revoked. It resumes again 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.