How to get a Wisconsin Driver's License
Find out how to get a new WI driver's license, replace your out-of-state license and requirements for international drivers with this Wisconsin DMV guide.
The Rules
Under WI DMV guidelines, you must be at least 16 years of age to apply for a Wisconsin Drivers License.
All applicants need to be familiar with the Wisconsin Driver's Manual. Think you know the material? Take our DMV practice test now and test your driving knowledge.
First Time Drivers
If this is your first driver's license, you will need to apply for a Wisconsin learners permit which requires a written exam on traffic signs, motor vehicle laws and safe driving techniques.Once you receive a valid learners permit, you will then need to pass a road skills test in addition to vision and hearing tests to receive a WI drivers license.
Applicants under 18 must provide proof that you have completed an approved driver education course before taking the road skills test.
New WI Residents
New residents with out-of-state license must obtain a Wisconsin driver's license within 30 days of establishing a permanent residence in ND. When heading to the DMV, be sure to bring the license from your former state as you will be required to surrender it in order to obtain the new license.
The vision test is required to change a valid out-of-state license to a WI driver's license, however the written exam and road skills test may be waived at the discretion of the examiner.
If your out-of-state driver's license is expired, you may be required to apply for a license as a new driver and pass all required testing.
International Drivers
Foreign motorists from any of the countries who are party to the United Nations Convention on Road Traffic (Geneva, 1949) and the Convention on the Regulation of Inter-American Motor Vehicle Traffic (Washington, D.C., 1943) who visit the United States as tourists can drive legally using their valid domestic driver's license for a period not to exceed one year from the date of arrival. They may drive either a personal or rental car.
After one year, they must meet the same licensing requirements as a Wisconsin resident.
Paperwork
Before you head to the Wisconsin DMV Office, make sure you have all of the following required documents to get your driver's license:
On the Road
Once your licensing requirements have been met, your Class D Driver's License will be valid for up to 8 years. Remember... the safe operation of a vehicle requires practiced skill, knowledge, and a respectful understanding of the limitations imposed by the other drivers and the environment.
Driver's License Resources
Wisconsin Driver's Manual |
