All state motorists must hold a Nebraska drivers license in order to operate a vehicle on public roads. If you are moving from a different state, be mindful that you can use an out-of-state DMV license for 30 days after establishing residency in NE. However, after that period, you will need to apply for a new driver’s license that was issued by the state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

As a general rule, in order to obtain an NE DMV drivers license, you will be required to pass several tests and provide documents that prove your identity and state residency. If you are younger than 21 years of age, you must first obtain a learner’s permit. As such, the process for you to apply for a driver’s license will be different depending on your age. In the following sections, you will learn all you need to know about how to get a drivers license in Nebraska, such as where to submit your application, what the eligibility requirements are and how much these credentials cost.

How to Apply for a Drivers License in Nebraska as an Adult (18 or Older)

If you are 18 years of age or older and applying for a new drivers license in Nebraska, you must be mindful of the documentation and testing requirements that you will need to meet. To learn more about these procedures, read the following sections.

You are able to obtain a full DMV drivers license in Nebraska, without having to apply for a provisional operator’s permit first, if you are 21 years of age or older. To do so, you must be a lawful resident of the United States. This means that you must be a citizen, permanent resident, temporary resident or refugee.

Furthermore, you are also required to be an NE resident in order to obtain a DMV license from the state. If you are between the ages of 18 and 21 years of age, you must hold a provisional operator’s permit for 12 months before applying for a driver’s license with full privileges.

Requirements to Get a New Drivers License in Nebraska as an Adult (18 or Older)

You must fill out a Nebraska driving license application and submit it in person at a DMV office. In the form, you will be asked to provide basic information about yourself, such as your full legal name, date of birth and Social Security Number (SSN).

Other required personal details include your eye color, hair color, weight and gender. Along with your filled-out application, these documents are what you need to get your driver’s license in NE:

  • Two documents showing that you are a resident of Nebraska.
  • One document verifying your legal status in the U.S.
  • One document showing your Social Security Number (SSN), or a document that demonstrates that you do not have an SSN.

When proving your residency status during an NE drivers license application, you may use various forms of mail that were addressed to you, such as bank statements, utility bills or auto insurance paperwork. However, these types of mail cannot be older than 90 days.

DMV license applicants who are required to prove their legal U.S. status generally provide birth certificates or passports as proof. An employment authorization card, permanent resident card or foreign passport with a valid VISA are also valid documents, as long as they are not expired.

Documents that verify your SSN for the purpose of applying for a drivers license will most likely be your Social Security card. However, you can also use a W-2 form, paystub or SSA-1099. In general, acceptable documents are those that display your name and SSN. Conversely, an I-94 or I-94A may be used to prove that you do not have a Social Security Number.

Aside from the Nebraska driver’s license requirements pertaining to documentation, the DMV requires applicants to pass a written knowledge exam and a road skills test. Furthermore, you will be required to undergo a vision screening while at the DMV office. On the other hand, several exceptions are available. For instance, you have held a provisional operator’s permit, you will not need to take the written and skills test to obtain a new driver’s license with full privileges.

If you currently have a provisional operator’s permit and are between 18 and 21 years of age, you will be able to get a driver’s license online instead of having to visit a DMV office. To do so, you will still need to provide the same types of personal details about yourself, such as your full legal name and date of birth.

Getting a Nebraska Drivers License as a New Resident

If you already held a license that was issued in a different state, you have 30 days after establishing residency in Nebraska to apply for a drivers license with the state DMV. If you do not transfer your license within this timeframe, you will not be allowed to drive in the state until you complete this application.

In general, transferring an out-of-state DMV license to NE is similar to the process described in the previous section. However, you will be able to waive the road skills test requirements if your license is valid or has only been expired for less than a year. With that said, out-of-state applicants will still need to pass the written exam and undergo a vision screening, even if they are already licensed.

How to Apply for a Drivers License in Nebraska as a Teen (Younger Than 18)

If you are younger than 18 years of age and wish to apply for a new driver’s license in Nebraska, you must be mindful of the various methods available to you. Furthermore, it is important to note that young motorists must undergo a longer process to obtain a DMV license with full privileges, and will be required to follow stricter restrictions than applicants who are 18 years of age or older. To learn more about these procedures and requirements, read the following sections.

As it is the case with adults, Nebraska DMV driver’s license applicants who are younger than 18 years of age must be state residents and able to submit proof of their legal status in the U.S. Motorists as young as 15 years of age will be allowed to apply for a learner’s permit, whereas applicants who are 16 years of age will be authorized to obtain a provisional operator’s permit.

Drivers Ed Requirements to Get a Drivers License in Nebraska

One of the most important Nebraska driver’s license services for motorists who are younger than 18 years of age is the availability of driver safety schools. Overall, driver’s ed programs are available across the state, mainly in public schools. While these courses are not mandated for all motorists, they are required for applicants who wish to obtain a school permit to drive.

In NE, driver’s ed instructors are allowed to test their students and determine whether they are ready to proceed with their DMV license application procedure. When the DMV receives the results of these tests, it will decide whether the motorist’s road skills test requirement can be waived.

Steps to Get a New Driver’s License in Nebraska as a Teen (Younger Than 18)

The new drivers license application process is very similar for motorists of all ages in Nebraska. As such, all applicants must fill out the proper application form, pay for any applicable fees and meet the age and residency requirements established by the state.

On the other hand, the NE driver’s license eligibility requirements vary depending on the previous permits you may have held. For instance, if you are younger than 18 years of age, you will need to get a provisional operator’s permit before you are allowed to apply for a driving license with full privileges. The other three types of DMV driving permits you can obtain are:

  • Learner’s permit – Available to residents as young as 15 years of age who can pass a vision screening and a written knowledge test.
  • School permit – Offered to residents who are at least 14 years and two months of age and reside outside of a city with a population of 5,000 or more. These applicants must be able to pass the vision and knowledge tests.
  • School learner’s permit – Available to motorists as young as 14 years of age who would like to practice for obtaining a school permit.

It is important to note that all applicants may apply for these types of DMV licenses as early as 60 days prior to the birthdays that make them eligible for a driving credential. However, you will not be able to drive with these permits until you reach the proper eligibility age.

Additional driver’s license requirements in Nebraska for these types of permit pertain to the documents that applicants must submit. In general, you will need to prove your Social Security Number, identity and residency status.

Nebraska Driver’s License Costs

The NE driver’s license cost varies depending on the type and length of credential you are applying for. As a general rule, you have to pay $5 for every year that a license is valid for, along with a $2.50 security fee. This means:

  • One-year DMV license – $7.50
  • Two-year license – $12.50
  • Three-year license – $16.50
  • Four-year license – $21.50
  • Five-year license – $26.50
  • Provisional operator’s permit – $17.50
  • Learner’s permit, school learner’s permit or school permit – $10.50
Last updated on Tuesday, March 3 2020.