Applying for a New Mexico New Driver’s License – Under 18

First-time drivers license applicants are required to pass a New Mexico written test. Therefore, driving applicants can start getting prepared by studying the New Mexico Driver Manual. You can also check your knowledge taking our practice driving tests, which contain similar questions to those on the actual exam.

Did you know? 7 out of 10 driving applicants fail the written test on their first try. Avoid a retake of the exam by getting our practice permit tests.

Applying for an NM Learners Permit

Minors in New Mexico who want to legally operate a motor vehicle must be at least 15 years of age in order to be eligible for a learners permit. All driving applicants will have to pass a series of exams: a vision test, a written test and a road test. The New Mexico Graduated Driver License (GDL) system dictates the requirements and restrictions for each stage in the drivers license application process.

What is the Graduated Driver License Program in New Mexico

First-time learners permit applicants who are younger than 18 are required to complete a Graduated Driver License (GDL) system in order to obtain driving privileges. The GDL is comprised of three stages that include the following:

• Instruction or learners permit - Issued to applicants who are 15 years of age.
• Provisional license - Issued to applicants who are 15-and-a-half years of age.
• Unrestricted drivers license - Issued to applicants who have held a provisional license for 12 months.

Each stage in the GDL system has its own requirements and restrictions, in which every driving applicant must meet in order to continue to the next stage and get a full drivers license in the end.

How To Get An NM Learners Permit

Learners Permit Requirements in New Mexico

Getting learners permit in New Mexico is a process that requires every applicant to meet the requirements set by the NM Motor Vehicle Division (MVD). The instruction or learners permit includes the following requirements:

• Be at least 15 years of age.
• Be enrolled in a drivers education course.
• Pass a vision test.
• Pass the written knowledge test.
• Have a written consent signed by your parent or legal guardian.
• Pay the required fees.

Preparing for a New Mexico DMV Written Exam

New Mexico learners permit applicants must pass a written test in order to gain driving privileges and to advance to the next stage in the GDL system. The official written test contains questions taken out of the New Mexico Driver Manual. Answering correctly on questions about road rules and traffic signs will help you get a passing score on the test.

Take your written exam with confidence by visiting the NM MVD office well prepared. Utilize our learners permit practice tests in order to get prepared for the official exam. The practice tests contain similar questions to those you will find on exam day. Therefore, get practicing until you are satisfied with your final score.

Be prepared! Study with our DMV practice test and we guarantee you'll pass!

NM Drivers Education

When residents younger than the age of 18 apply for a New Mexico learners permit, they need to enroll in a drivers education course approved by the Traffic Safety Bureau. Drivers education in New Mexico consists of 30 hours of classroom instruction and seven hours of behind-the-wheel driving experience. If the drivers ed course does not offer behind-the-wheel experience, you will then need to complete 56 hours of classroom instruction. The driver education in New Mexico is provided by public or private schools, and by professional driving schools.

New Mexico Learners Permit Restrictions

Once you obtain a learners permit you need to follow the restrictions set by the NM MVD:

• You must drive accompanied by an approved instructor, or a licensed driver who is 21 years of age or older and who has had a drivers license for at least three years.
• You must hold the instruction permit for at least six months.
• You must complete a drivers education course and 50 hours of behind-the-wheel driving practice (with 10 hours at night).
• You must stay violation-free during the 90-days period before advancing to the next stage.

New Mexico Provisional Licenses

New Mexico learners permit holders must be at least 15-and-a-half years of age in order to move on to the next stage in the GDL license and apply for provisional driving licenses. You must also complete 50 hours of behind-the-wheel practice, including 10 hours at night. In addition, you must be violation free in the previous 90 days and have held an instruction or learners permit for at least six months. Once you fulfill these requirements, visit an NM MVD office and complete the following:

• Provide a drivers education certificate of completion.
• Provide a GDL driving log showing the completion of the required driving practice.
• Pass a road test.
• Pay the applicable fee.

NM Provisional License Driving Restrictions

A provisional license in New Mexico has its own restrictions that every driver must follow in order to get to the final stage of the GDL system - the full and unrestricted drivers license. Those restrictions are the following:

• You are not permitted to drive from 12 a.m. to 5 a.m.
• You cannot carry more than one passenger less than 21 years of age in the vehicle, unless they are immediate family members.

NOTE: You must hold a New Mexico provisional license for at least 12 months before getting a full, unrestricted drivers license.

Replacing an NM Learners Permit

Replace your lost, damaged or stolen learners permit at the nearest NM MVD office. Find out more information on how to replace learners permit by following this link.

Locate a New Mexico DMV

Find out the contact details of the nearest DMV office in your area by reviewing our NM MVD locations page. Here you will find phone numbers, addresses and working hours of every DMV branch in the state.