How to Get Intermediate License

HOW DO I GET AN INTERMEDIATE LICENSE?

• Be at least 16 years old.
• Complete an Iowa-approved driver education course.
• Have had an instruction permit for a total of one year and a clean driving record for at least six consecutive months immediately before applying for your intermediate license.
• Your parent or guardian must provide written consent, either in-person at a driver’s license issuance site or complete the Parent’s/Guardian’s Written Consent Form (form 430018).

WHAT CAN I DO WITH THIS LICENSE?

• Drive without adult supervision between 5 a.m. and 12:30 a.m.
• Drive at any time with adult supervision. Adult supervision means your parent, guardian, custodian, an immediate family member at least 21 years of age, a driver education instructor, or a person at least 25 years with written permission from your parent, guardian, or custodian. The supervising adult must possess a valid driver's license.

WHAT CAN'T I DO WITH THIS LICENSE

• Drive without adult supervision between 12:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. Your parent, guardian, or custodian can complete a Waiver of Intermediate Driver's License Hour Restriction form (form 431170) to waive this restriction for school or work purposes. Once completed, the form needs to be carried in the vehicle when driving after hours.
• Use a cell phone, smartphone, tablet, or other electronic communication or entertainment device while driving. This doesn’t apply to equipment permanently installed in your vehicle.
• If the back of your license says you have a passenger restriction, for the first six months you have your intermediate license, you cannot carry more than one minor passenger that is not a relative when driving without adult supervision. A relative means someone that is your brother, sister, step-brother, step-sister, or another minor living in your household.
• Carry more passengers than the number of seat belts in your vehicle, even when driving with adult supervision.

HOW DO I MOVE TO THE FINAL STEP: A FULL LICENSE?

• Be at least 17 years old.
• Keep your intermediate license for at least 12 consecutive months immediately before applying for a full license.
• Maintain a clean driving record for at least 12 consecutive months immediately before applying for a full license.
• Complete 10 hours of supervised driving while holding your intermediate license. At least two of those hours must be between sunset and sunrise.

Once you turn 18 you can obtain a full license without meeting these requirements.

WHAT IF I MESS UP?

Your license will be suspended if you are convicted of a traffic violation (examples include, but are not limited to, speeding, reckless driving, failure to obey a traffic signal), violate any of the restrictions on your license, or are involved in a crash you caused or contributed to.

• First conviction, violation, or crash: Your license may be suspended or you may receive additional restrictions. Additional restrictions may include, but are not limited to, additional passenger restrictions and additional reductions on the hours you may operate without supervision.
• Second conviction, violation, or crash: Your license will be suspended for 30 days.

Any time you have a conviction, violation, or crash your 12-month period to have a clean driving record will start over. Any time your license is suspended or revoked, your 12 month period to hold an intermediate license will start over.