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  • 14Youngest age for an instruction permitp. 3
  • 6–12 monthsOn the permit before the road testp. 3
  • 50 hoursSupervised practice if under 16p. 3, 45
  • 15Youngest age for a restricted licensep. 6

Step by step

  1. Gather your documents

    Bring originals or certified copies: no photocopies or hospital certificates.

    • Proof of your name, date of birth and legal presence, such as a U.S. birth certificate or a valid U.S. passport
    • Proof of your Social Security number, such as your Social Security card or a W-2
    • Two current documents showing your North Dakota home address (no P.O. boxes)

    (North Dakota Noncommercial Driver License Manual, p. 1, 5)

  2. Get a sponsor's signature

    If you are under 18, a parent or legal guardian signs to approve and sponsor your application (guardians bring their papers). (North Dakota Noncommercial Driver License Manual, p. 1, 3)

  3. Pass the knowledge test and vision screening

    Take the knowledge test at a Driver License site or online at nd.knowtodrive.com. No phones, notes or bags in the testing area, and leaving it early fails the test. (North Dakota Noncommercial Driver License Manual, p. 1, 3)

  4. Pick up your permit

    Book an appointment at a Driver License office to get the permit, even if you passed online. There are fees for the test and the permit. (North Dakota Noncommercial Driver License Manual, p. 3)

Fees and the full list of accepted documents change from time to time, so check them on the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), Driver License Division website before you go.

Rules while you have an instruction permit

  • Drive only with a licensed driver who is at least 18 and has three years of experience in the seat beside you; nobody else rides in the front. (North Dakota Noncommercial Driver License Manual, p. 3)
  • Don't use a phone or other electronic device while driving, except to get emergency help. (North Dakota Noncommercial Driver License Manual, p. 6)
  • At 14 or 15, drive only a vehicle belonging to a parent, guardian, grandparent, sibling, aunt or uncle. (North Dakota Noncommercial Driver License Manual, p. 6)
  • Under 16: log at least 50 supervised hours, including rural, city, gravel, night and winter driving. (North Dakota Noncommercial Driver License Manual, p. 3, 45)
  • Breaking the permit's conditions puts two points on your driving record. (North Dakota Noncommercial Driver License Manual, p. 4)

If you don't pass

If you fail a test, you can't retake it on the same day. (North Dakota Noncommercial Driver License Manual, p. 5)

What comes next

After the holding period, pass the road test (or have it waived with an approved driver education certificate). At 15 you get a restricted Class D license that becomes unrestricted at 16; at 16 or older you get a Class D license. (North Dakota Noncommercial Driver License Manual, p. 3–4, 6)

Ready for the knowledge test?Free North Dakota practice exam: 25 questions, 20 to pass.

This guide is a free learning aid based on the North Dakota Noncommercial Driver License Manual (Revised 2025 (DL0126)), not official advice. Rules, documents and fees can change: always confirm with the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), Driver License Division before you go. Page numbers are the ones printed on the handbook pages; tap one to open the official PDF at that page. A PDF viewer counts the cover too, so its page numbers run 4 higher.