Your License to Drive and How You May Lose It: Who Needs a License and Who Is Exempt, Who Cannot Be Licensed, Authorized Presence and Identification Documents, Foreign-Language and Oral Tests, the Learner License and Its Y Restriction, the Road Test at 16, Motor-Driven Cycle and Motorcycle Licenses, Vision Screening, the $5 Knowledge Test, Renewal Within 180 Days and the 60-Day Grace Period, Duplicates, Name and Address Changes, License Classes and CDL Endorsements, the Hands-Free Law, Reinstatement Fees, Cancellation, Revocation, Suspension, the Point System and Its Suspension Schedule

Written for aiforu2 as the source for a practice-test bank and the on-device tutor for the Alabama driver license knowledge test. The facts follow the official manual; the wording is ours.

Source: Alabama Driver Manual (Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Driver License Division, November 2024 edition), Chapter 1 "Your License to Drive" (pages 5–16) and Chapter 2 "You May Lose Your License" (pages 17–19).

Who needs an Alabama license

Every Alabama resident who drives a motor vehicle on a public road must hold a license, except when temporarily driving a farm tractor or implement. Anyone never licensed in Alabama, or whose Alabama license has been expired more than three years, must pass the driver examination; a holder of an out-of-state license expired no more than one year does not. No Alabama license is needed by a federal employee driving a government vehicle, a person temporarily moving a farm tractor on the highway, a resident at least 16 carrying a valid license from a home state or country (including military families stationed here for long periods), a non-resident at least 16 from a country that does not license drivers, for no more than 90 days a year in a vehicle registered there, a new resident with a valid license from the previous state for 30 days after moving, or a non-resident full-time student with a valid home license.

A license will not be issued to anyone under 16; anyone suspended or revoked in any state; anyone whose physical or mental impairment prevents reasonable control of a vehicle; anyone who fails a required examination; a habitual drunkard or narcotics addict; or anyone under 19 who does not comply with the school attendance law, with limited exceptions.

Identification requirements

Every applicant for an original license or ID must prove authorized presence in the United States. Present either two forms of identification, at least one with a photo, or three forms of non-photo identification, in each case with at least one from the primary list; a transferring out-of-state driver presents the out-of-state license, the Social Security card (or another accepted proof of the number) and one more primary document. A foreign national is presumed unauthorized until documents prove otherwise, and a deported person must show that ICE restored legal presence. Proof of birth date comes from an existing Alabama record or an original or certified primary document. Documents must be originals or agency-certified copies, and are rejected for white-out, erasures, missing or illegible information, alterations, damage from folds, tears, holes or staples, or a missing signature. Proof of Social Security number is required for any license, renewal, vessel license or ID unless already on file: the card, a certified Social Security Administration letter, a DD 214, a Medicare or Medicaid card whose number ends in A, or a W-2. Notarized documents need a legible seal, name, signature, commission expiry and state. Immigration documents must show at least 30 days remaining. Applicants under 19 present a current Student Enrollment/Exclusion Form. Primary documents include a certified US birth certificate (required for every 15-year-old applicant; foreign-born applicants need a translated, embassy-certified birth certificate unless they hold a US passport), a current US passport, an Alabama ID or license, a naturalization or citizenship certificate, a certificate of birth abroad, a resident alien card, or a valid foreign passport with valid US immigration documents. Secondary documents include another state's license or ID, an international permit, a marriage license, a military license or ID, a DD-214, a professional license, a Selective Service card, VA or medical insurance cards, a school photo ID or enrollment form, school records, a W-2 with the prior year's return, court decrees, and for non-citizens an employment authorization document, a valid visa in an accepted category, an I-94 or an I-797. Written tests are offered in Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Thai and Vietnamese, and oral tests are available for applicants who cannot read the knowledge test.

The learner license and graduated licensing

Alabama's graduated license law took effect October 1, 2002, and the minimum driving age is 16, with exceptions. A 15-year-old may get a Class D learner license with a "Y" restriction, meaning the holder drives only with a licensed driver 21 or older, or a licensed or certified driving instructor, in the seat beside them; after the sixteenth birthday any licensed driver beside them will do. This learner license is valid four years and renewable once. A person 16 or older who lacks only driving instruction may get a learner license with the Y restriction, requiring a licensed driver beside them, valid four years. A learner license can be suspended or revoked like any license and also for breaking its conditions. A driver 16 but under 18 who has held a learner license (or an equivalent from another state) for six months or until turning 18 may take the road test, surrendering the learner license, and on passing receives a regular license without the Y restriction for the rest of the four-year period at no cost. A 14- or 15-year-old may get a Class M license with a "B" restriction for a motor-driven cycle of no more than 200 pounds and 150 cc, tested from the motorcycle manual and valid four years; at 16 or older a Class M motorcycle license covers a motorcycle with up to three wheels. The Director may add restrictions such as corrective lenses or mechanical aids, and driving in violation of a restriction can cost the license. A vessel license is available from age 12 after the vessel exam or a boating safety course.

Tests

Anyone restricted to corrective lenses must wear them for the road test, and if the vision screening shows lenses are needed you must wear them when driving; a failed screening means an eye specialist's report, and if it shows you can see well enough you continue the test. The knowledge test costs $5 per attempt, cash only, and covers Alabama traffic laws, road signs and safe driving from this manual; automated testing is available. A learner applicant who passes receives the learner license on paying the fee, and a regular applicant receives the license after passing the road test. A motor-driven cycle plus learner applicant takes both examinations. For the road test, a driver license examiner drives with you; a 16-year-old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian; the examiner inspects the vehicle for safe operation and required equipment (brake lights, left and right turn signals, horn); you present proof of insurance and registration; and a rental vehicle may be used only if you are listed as an additional driver. Before you drive, check tire pressure monthly with a gauge against the PSI sticker on the door jamb when the tires are cold, check tread with a penny (if you can see all of Lincoln's head, the tires are too worn to drive on), and sit upright with your foot able to pivot between brake and accelerator with the heel on the floor and the top of the wheel no higher than your shoulders and below your chin. A driver who appears impaired may have to furnish a physician's statement or appear periodically for re-examination, and failing to report such a condition can bring revocation. Non-driver ID cards, with the same proof requirements, are issued to those who cannot qualify, have no current license or give up driving.

Renewal, duplicates and changes

A license expires four years after issue and may be renewed within 180 days before expiry at probate judge, license commissioner or examining offices or online if eligible; military members, dependents, students and workers temporarily out of state may renew by mail if they got a photo license in the last four years, and the card must carry an Alabama address. A 60-day grace period after expiry keeps the license valid for renewal purposes, and renewal without examination is allowed up to three years after expiry, with the new license running four years from the last expiration date; even so, driving on an expired license is illegal. A lost, destroyed or illegible unexpired license is replaced without examination on proof of identity such as a certified birth certificate, and a false affidavit for a duplicate is forgery and perjury. Adding, changing or removing classes, restrictions or endorsements requires seeing an examiner, and cards are never forwarded. A name change requires a marriage certificate or court order with an updated Social Security card and a duplicate fee (an ALEA office if you hold a STAR ID). An address change within Alabama must be reported within 30 days, free on the record though no new card is issued.

License classes

Class A covers combination vehicles over 26,000 pounds GCWR with towed units over 10,000 pounds and may drive all Class B, C and D vehicles; Class B covers single vehicles over 26,000 pounds GVWR towing no more than 10,000 pounds and may drive Class C and D; Class C covers vehicles of 26,000 pounds or less that are placarded for hazardous materials or seat more than 15 people including the driver and may drive Class D; Class D is generally all passenger vehicles outside A, B, C and M; Class M is motorcycles and motor-driven cycles; V is motorized watercraft. CDL endorsements: N tanks of 1,000 gallons or more, H hazardous materials, X tanks and hazmat, T double or triple trailers, P more than 15 passengers, S school bus. Under the 1994 and 2001 boating laws, anyone 12 or older may get a vessel license, an operator who turned 12 after January 1, 2002 must have a licensed adult 21 or older aboard until 14, and people born before April 28, 1954 are exempt from the exam. Appointments are online, fees vary slightly by county, and you must carry your license or learner permit while driving and present it to any officer on request.

The hands-free law

Since June 2024, physically holding a wireless telecommunications device is a violation when the driver is seen crossing in and out of a lane without signaling, swerving or otherwise driving improperly: $50 and 1 point for a first conviction, $100 and 2 points for a second, and $150 and 3 points for a third within a 24-month period.

Losing your license

A conviction can bring cancellation, revocation, suspension or disqualification on top of the court's punishment, and relicensing requires a reinstatement fee of at least $100, plus $50 for failing to surrender the license on time, $25 extra after a drug-related conviction and $50 extra after a child-support suspension. Cancellation follows a finding that you were not entitled to the license, or false information or fraud on the application. Revocation is mandatory on conviction for manslaughter or homicide with a vehicle, a second or later DUI or drugged-driving conviction, a felony committed with a vehicle, failing to stop, render aid or identify yourself after a crash with death or injury, perjury or a false affidavit about vehicle laws, three reckless driving convictions in 12 months, or unauthorized use of another's vehicle; after the period ends you apply anew and pass the complete examinations. Suspension can follow frequent serious convictions showing disrespect for the law, habitual recklessness or negligence shown by crashes, incompetence, permitting unlawful use of the license or mutilating it, an out-of-state offense that would be grounds here, fleeing or eluding an officer, racing, failing to answer a summons or pay a fine, withdrawing from school between 15 and 18, failing to keep required SR-22 insurance, unpaid child support, medical reasons, four or more points or two or more moving violations on a graduated license, and a first DUI or drug offense. After the period the license is reinstated unless it expired or the requirements were not met.

The point system

Points are assessed for convictions in Alabama or elsewhere. A conviction that involved drinking and driving but did not require mandatory revocation, reckless driving or reckless endangerment, and drinking alcohol while operating a vehicle carry 6 points; failure to yield the right-of-way, passing a stopped school bus, and speeding 26 mph or more over the limit carry 5; driving on the wrong side of the road or illegal passing 4; following too closely and failing to obey construction or maintenance zone markers 3; and speeding 1 to 25 mph over the limit, inability to control the vehicle, improper lane use, administrative per se, improper operation of a motorcycle, an emergency vehicle violation, failure to signal or use of the wrong signal, an improper turn, coasting and unsafe operation 2. The suspension schedule for points in a two-year period: 12 to 14 points, 60 days; 15 to 17, 90 days; 18 to 20, 120 days; 21 to 23, 180 days; 24 or more, 365 days. Points count toward suspension for two years from the conviction date but stay on the record. On notice of a suspension you may request a pre-suspension or administrative hearing in your county, in writing or online.

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