Kentucky Drivers Ed (GDL) – Powered by DriversEd.com

Online Kentucky Graduated License Course

The Kentucky Graduated Licensing program is an important step on the path to becoming a licensed driver. It's designed to give novice and inexperienced young drivers additional time behind the wheel before graduating to a full, unrestricted Kentucky drivers license.Please note: This course is designed as supplemental training and is not approved by the state of Kentucky.

What is the Kentucky GDL?

The Kentucky Graduated Drivers License, or GDL, was created as a means of reducing traffic incidents involving teen drivers. In the state of Kentucky, teen drivers make up 6% of the driving population, but are involved in 18% of Kentucky's fatal motor vehicle crashes. The GDL program adds a step to getting a license to protect young, inexperienced drivers. There is a six-month intermediate period between the learners permit and the full, unrestricted license. During this intermediate phase, teens have full driving privileges - with two restrictions:

• No driving between the hours of midnight and 6:00 a.m. (unless it's for an emergency, or for school or work).
• No driving with more than one unrelated passenger under the age of 20.

How to Get Your Kentucky Drivers License

There are three phases to getting your Kentucky drivers license, depending on your age. Taking a Graduated License course – such as the online Kentucky GDL course we offer – is just a part of that process. Here’s how it works.

Step 1: The Kentucky Permit Phase

You may begin the process at age 16 by taking the written knowledge test and the vision test.

• Online driving manuals are available on the Kentucky State Police site.
• You must provide proof of identification: Social Security card, certified birth certificate, or an acceptable proof of residence.
• If you are under 18 years old, you also must provide a compliance verification form issued by your school.

Once you pass your permit test, you will be issued a Kentucky permit. If you are under 21 years old, you must keep the permit for 180 days. If you are 21 and older, you only need to keep it for 30 days.

During the permit phase, certain restrictions will apply to all permit holders. You are only allowed to drive when accompanied by a licensed Kentucky driver (21 and older). This passenger must ride in the front seat.

Additional restrictions for Kentucky permit holders under 18:

• Must complete a total of 60 hours of practice driving. At least 10 of these hours must be at night.
• Not allowed to drive between midnight and 6:00 a.m. Exceptions will be made for drivers who have demonstrable reason for driving during these hours (school/work activities, emergencies, etc).
• Must not have more than 1 unrelated person under the age of 20 in the vehicle at any time.
• If a driver receives a moving traffic violation (under KRS 186, 189, or 189A) the driver’s 180-day waiting period begins again.
• Must complete one of the following New Driver Education Programs:
  • Graduated License Course (4 hours)
  • High School Drivers Education
  • Private Driver Training Course (training school must be approved)

Additional restrictions for permit holders under 21:

If you are under 21, you are subject to Kentucky’s Zero Tolerance law. This means driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is strictly prohibited. The tolerance level is defined as 0.02% blood alcohol content.

Restrictions for All Drivers:

Kentucky’s point system states that drivers could face license suspension if:

• Under 18: driver accumulates more than 6 points.
• Over 18: driver accumulates more than 12 points.

For more information, please refer to the Kentucky Point System page.

If, for some reason, you don’t pass on your first try, you may try again on the next available testing day. You can repeat this process for up to 6 attempts. If you fail 6 times, you must wait 6 months before trying again.

Step 2: The Intermediate Drivers License Phase

Once you have held your Kentucky permit for the appropriate time period (180 days for 21 and under, 30 days for 21 and over), you can do the following:

• Apply for your Kentucky intermediate drivers license.
• Take your driving skills test.

Keep in mind that to make your appointment, you must contact your county’s Circuit Clerk’s Office.

Driving Skills Test Requirements:

• Driver’s parent or guardian must verify the driver has completed their 60 hours of practice driving (10 of which were done at night).
• Proper registration and proof of insurance for the vehicle used for the test.

Passing the Skills Test

Under 18:

• After you pass, your Kentucky State Police driving examiner will place an “intermediate license” sticker on your Kentucky driver’s permit.
• After passing, you must successfully hold this intermediate drivers license for 180 days, adhering to all restrictions:
  • No driving between the hours of midnight and 6:00 a.m. (unless driver can provide legitimate reason, such as work or school).
  • If driver receives a moving traffic violation (under KRS 186, 189, or 189A) the driver’s 180-day waiting period begins again.
  • Must not have more than 1 unrelated person under the age of 20 in the vehicle at any time.
  • Must complete one of the following New Driver Education Programs:
    • Graduated License Course (4 hours)
    • High School Drivers Education
    • Private Driver Training Course (training school must be approved )
• If a driver gets more than 6 points during this time, he or she can have their license suspended.

Additional restrictions for intermediate Kentucky drivers license holders under 18:
If you are under 21, you are subject to Kentucky’s Zero Tolerance law. This means driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is strictly prohibited. The tolerance level is defined as 0.02% blood alcohol content.

If You Don’t Pass

If you fail the Driving Skills test on your first attempt, you must wait one week before taking it again. If you fail 6 times, you must wait a period of 6 months before you’re allowed to take it again. From there, you’ll only have 2 attempts to pass.

Step 3: The Full, Unrestricted Kentucky Drivers License Phase

IF YOU ARE UNDER 18: Once you have held your intermediate license for 180 days and completed your New Driver Education Program, you may apply for the full, unrestricted Kentucky drivers license.

IF YOU ARE OVER 18: Once you have held your permit for 180 days and completed your New Driver Education Program, you may apply for the full, unrestricted Kentucky drivers license.

Things to Remember:

• You must bring a Graduated Licensing Eligibility Letter with you when applying for the full unrestricted Kentucky drivers license.
• If you are over 21, it will be indicated on your drivers license.
• If you are under 21, you are subject to Kentucky’s Zero Tolerance law. This means driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is strictly prohibited. The tolerance level is defined as 0.02% blood alcohol content.
• Kentucky’s point system states that drivers could face license suspension if:
  • Under 18: driver accumulates more than 6 points.
  • Over 18: driver accumulates more than 12 points.

Questions about Kentucky Drivers Ed Online (FAQs)

Course Information

Course Information

1. How do I get a Kentucky learners permit?

There are three phases to getting your drivers license in Kentucky, depending on your age. The first step is the learners permit. You may begin the process at age 16 by taking the written knowledge test and the vision test.

• Online driving manuals are available on the Kentucky State Police website.  You’ll study this information to prepare for your test.
• You must provide proof of identification: Social Security card, certified birth certificate, or an acceptable proof of residence.
• If you are under 18 years old, you also must provide a compliance verification form issued by your school.

Once you pass your permit test, you will be issued a permit. If you are under 21 years old, you must keep the permit for 180 days. If you are 21 and older, you only need to keep it for 30 days. During this period, you’ll be getting behind-the-wheel experience and taking the Kentucky Graduated License course.

2. Who is required to take the Kentucky Graduated Licensing Education course?

Anyone who received their permit under the age of 18 must complete the GLE (Graduated License Education) program before they can be eligible for the full unrestricted license. All permit holders under the age of 18 are automatically eligible to enroll in the GLP (Graduated Licensing Program) course. I Drive Safely’s Kentucky GDL (Graduated Drivers License) course is the only online option approved by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

You can complete your Graduated Drivers License course at any point during your permit or intermediate license phase; however you will not be eligible for your full, unrestricted license until you have completed your GDL course.

Kentucky Graduated License Program (GLP), Graduated License Education (GLE) and Graduated Drivers License (GDL) are different acronyms used to describe the same course.

3. How does I Drive Safely’s online drivers ed course work?

Our Kentucky drivers ed online GDL program is a state-mandated 4 hours long. The information in our course is separated into 7 chapters, each covering a specific topic regarding driving in Kentucky. Once you’re done with each chapter, you’ll take a 10-question multiple-choice quiz. At the end of the course, you’ll be given a 30-question final exam. If you pass the final with a score of 80% or greater, you’ll complete the course.

4. Does your Kentucky online GDL course satisfy Kentucky requirements?

Yes. Our course is approved by the state of Kentucky and meets all the requirements needed to obtain your Intermediate license.

5. What if I don’t pass the Kentucky online GDL course final exam?

If you fail on the first try, you can retake it two more times, but after the third attempt, you will be required to repurchase and retake the entire course.

Kentucky Learners Permit and Drivers License Information

Kentucky Learners Permit and Drivers License Information

1. Where do I need to go to get my Kentucky learners permit?

You can go to any Kentucky Circuit Clerk office that acts as a license issuance location. Some offices do require that appointments be made in advance.

2. Do I need my parents’ permission to get my learners permit?

If you’re a minor, your parents or legal guardian needs to sign your learners permit application; you also must provide a compliance verification form issued by your school.

3. How long must I have my Kentucky learners permit before I can get my license?

If you are under 21 years old, you must keep the permit for 180 days. If you are 21 and older, you only need to keep it for 30 days. During your learners permit phase, you’ll need to complete 60 hours of practice driving; 10 of these hours must be done at night.

4. What do I need to do to get my Kentucky intermediate drivers license?

Once you have held your permit for the appropriate time period (180 days for 21 and under, 30 days for 21 and over), you can do the following:

• Apply for your intermediate license.
• Take your driving skills test.

Keep in mind that to make your appointment, you must contact your county’s Circuit Clerk’s Office.

Driving Skills Test Requirements:

• Drivers parent or guardian must verify the driver has completed their 60 hours of practice driving (10 of which were done at night).
• Proper registration and proof of insurance for the vehicle used for the test.

5. What do I need to do to get my full, unrestricted Kentucky drivers license?

If you are under 21, you’ll need to have had your intermediate license for at least 180 days. (This is reduced to 30 days if you’re over 21.) You must bring a Graduated Licensing Eligibility letter with you when applying for the full unrestricted license. Remember that you will not be eligible for your full, unrestricted license until you have completed your GDL course.