GETTING YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE IN PENNSYLVANIA

STEPS TO GETTING A PENNSYLVANIA NON-COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION AND DL-180 FORM: TO APPLY FOR A DRIVER'S LICENSE PERMIT AND GET YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE, YOU MUST GET A PHYSICAL EXAMINATION DONE BY A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL. BECAUSE IT CAN TAKE A FEW WEEKS TO GET AN APPOINTMENT, IT IS IMPORTANT TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT IN ADVANCE. AT THE APPOINTMENT, THE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL WILL EXAMINE YOU AND FILL OUT THE DL-180 FORM. THE FIRST PAGE OF THE DL-180 CAN BE FILLED OUT BY YOU. YOU WILL PUT YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, DATE OF BIRTH, PHONE NUMBER, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, HEIGHT, WEIGHT, EYE COLOR AND HAIR COLOR ON THE FIRST PAGE OF THE FORM AND ANSWER THE OTHER LISTED QUESTIONS. THE SECOND PAGE MUST BE FILLED OUT BY THE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL CONDUCTING YOUR PHYSICAL EXAMINATION. THE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS WHO CAN CONDUCT A PHYSCIAL EXAMINATION FOR THE DL-180 FORM ARE:
- PHYSICIANS
- PHYSICIAN'S ASSISTANTS
- CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE PRACTIONERS
- CHIROPRACTORS
GET A COPY OF THE PENNSYLVANIA DRIVER'S MANUAL AND STUDY FOR THE KNOWLEDGE TEST:THE DRIVER'S MANUAL CONTAINS ALL THE LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE. THE QUESTIONS ON THE KNOWLEDGE TEST PORTION OF GETTING A DRIVER'S LICENSE WILL COME FROM THE DRIVER'S MANUAL. IT IS IMPORTANT TO STUDY THE MANUAL. THIS STEP CAN BE DONE AT THE SAME TIME AS STEP 1 (GETTING YOUR PHYSICAL EXAMINATION). IF YOU SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT FOR THE PHYSCIAL EXAMINATION AND STUDY THE MANUAL IN THE DAYS BEFORE THE APPOINTMENT, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE YOUR DRIVER'S PERMIT TEST SOONER. THE MANUAL IS AVAILABLE FOR FREE, ONLINE IN PDF FORMAT IN THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGES:
- English
- Arabic
- Burmese
- Chinese
- French
- Greek
- Hindi
- Italian
- Japanese
- Korean
- Nepali
- Polish
- Russian
- Somali
- Spanish
- Ukrainian
- Urdu
- Vietnamese
- Audio Version (in English)
VISIT A DRIVER LICENSE CENTER TO TAKE THE KNOWLEDGE TEST: AFTTER GETTING YOUR PHYSICAL EXAMINATION DONE, THE DL-180 FILLED OUT, AND STUDYING THE DRIVER'S MANUAL SO YOU KNOW ALL THE RULES ABOUT DRIVING IN PENNSYLVANIA, YOU ARE READY TO VISIT A DRIVER LICENSE CENTER TO TAKE THE KNOWLEDGE TEST. IF YOU PASS THE KNOWLEDGE TEST, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GET YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE PERMIT (ALSO CALLED A TEMPORARY LICENSE). YOU CAN FIND DRIVER LICENSE CENTER LOCATIONS ON THE PENNDOT WEBSITE. BRING THE COMPLETED DL-180, PROOF OF IDENTITY, AND TWO ACCEPTABLE PROOFS OF RESIDENCY. ALL DOCUMENTS THAT PROVE RESIDENCY AND IDENTITY MUST BE ORIGINALS, NO PHOTOCOPIES, PICTURES, OR DIGITAL COPIES WILL BE ACCEPTED. YOU MUST ALSO BRING PAYMENT TO TAKE THE TEST AND GET THE PERMIT (IF YOU PASS THE KNOWLEDGE TEST). PAYMENT CAN BE CHECK, MONEY ORDER OR DEBIT/CREDIT CARD, NO CASH IS ACCEPTED.
- ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF PROOF OF RESIDENCY (BRING 2 WITH YOU): (must have your current address on them)
  - LEASE AGREEMENT OR MORTGAGE DOCUMENT
  - W-2 FORM
  - TAX RECORDS
  - UTILITY BILL
    - PHONE, GAS, CABLE, ELECTRICITY, WATER, ETC.
  - UNEXPIRED PA STATE ID
  - IF YOU HAVE NO OTHER TYPE OF PROOF OF RESIDENCY, YOU CAN BRING SOMEONE YOU LIVE WITH WHO HAS A DRIVER'S LICENSE AND A PIECE OF POSTMARKED MAIL, SUCH AS A MAGAZINE, BANK STATEMENT OR TAX STATEMENT, SENT WITH USPS, UPS, FEDEX OR ANOTHER SHIPPING COMPANY.
- ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF PROOF OF IDENTITY FOR REFUGEES:
  - YOU MUST BRING YOUR:
    - I-94
    - SOCIAL SECURITY CARD OR LETTER FROM SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION STATING INELIGIBILTY
  - BRING ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
    - EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION CARD (EAD)
    - TRAVEL DOCUMENT I-571
    - VALID OR EXPIRED PASSPORT
    - RECEPTION AND PLACEMENT FORM
- ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF PROOF OF IDENTITY FOR ASYLEES:
  - YOU MUST BRING YOUR:
    - SOCIAL SECURITY CARD OR LETTER FROM SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION STATING INELIGIBILTY
    - IMMIGRATION DOCUMENTATION INDICATING ASYLEE STATUS (I-94, APPROVAL FROM DHS/USCIS, COURT ORDER GRANTING ASYLUM)
  - BRING ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
    - EMPLOYMENY AUTHORIZATION CARD (EAD)
    - TRAVEL DOCUMENT I-571
    - VALID OR EXPIRED PASSPORT
- ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF PROOF OF IDENTITY FOR ASYLEE APPLICANTS:
  - YOU MUST BRING YOUR:
    - SOCIAL SECURITY CARD OR LETTER FROM SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION STATING INELIGIBILTY
    - ADMINISTRATIVE ASYLUM RECEIPT INCLUDING ANY REMOVAL PROCEEDING DOCUMENTS (IF APPLICABLE)
  - BRING ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
    - EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION CARD (EAD)
    - VALID OR EXPIRED PASSPORT
    - GOVERNMENT ISSUED IDENTITY DOCUMENT FROM PERSON'S COUNTRY WITH PHOTOGRAPH
- ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF PROOF OF IDENTITY FOR CUBAN/HAITIAN ENTRANTS:
  - YOU MUST BRING YOUR:
    - SOCIAL SECURITY CARD OR LETTER FROM SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION STATING INELIGIBILTY
    - I-94
  - BRING ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
    - EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION CARD (EAD)
    - VALID OR EXPIRED PASSPORT
    - GOVERNMENT ISSUED IDENTITY DOCUMENT FROM PERSON'S COUNTRY WITH PHOTOGRAPH
- ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF PROOF OF IDENTITY FOR PAROLEES:
  - YOU MUST BRING YOUR:
    - SOCIAL SECURITY CARD OR LETTER FROM SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION STATING INELIGIBILTY
    - I-94
  - BRING ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
    - EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION CARD (EAD)
    - VALID PASSPORT
- ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF PROOF OF IDENTITY FOR LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENTS:
  - YOU MUST BRING YOUR:
    - SOCIAL SECURITY CARD
  - BRING ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
    - GREEN CARD (I-551)
    - UNEXPIRED PASSPORT WITH VALID I-551 STAMP
    - VALID MACHINE READABLE IMMIGRANT VISA
    - RE-ENTRY PERMIT (I-327)
TAKE THE EYE SCREENING AND KNOWLEDGE TEST: AT THE DRIVER LICENSE CENTER, ONCE YOUR PROOF OF RESIDENCY AND PROOF OF IDENTITY DOCUMENTS ARE VERIFIED, YOU WILL TAKE A SHORT VISION TEST TO ENSURE YOUR VISION IS GOOD ENOUGH TO OPERATE A MOTOR VEHICLE AND THEN TAKE A KNOWLEDGE TEST. THE KNOWLEDGE TEST IS IN MULTIPLE CHOICE FORMAT. IF YOU PASS THE KNOWLEDGE TEST, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GET YOUR DRIVER'S PERMIT (OR TEMPORRARY LICENSE). THE DRIVER'S PERMIT ALLOWS YOU TO OPERATE A MOTOR VEHICLE UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION OF AN ADULT (AGE 21 OR OLDER) WHO HOLDS A VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE.
- THE KNOWLEDGE TEST CHECKS YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE PENNSYLVANIA DRIVER'S MANUAL. ALL THE QUESTIONS ON THE KNOWLEDGE TEST WILL BE DRAWN FROM THE MANUAL. THIS IS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO STUDY THE MANUAL AND MEMORIZE THE LAWS AND POLICIES IT CONTAINS.
- THE KNOWLEDGE TEST IS IN MULTIPLE CHOICE FORMAT AND WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU ON A COMPUTER. YOU CANNOT USE NOTES, CELLPHONES, TABLETS, OTHER PEOPLE OR ANY TYPE OF ASSISTANCE WHEN TAKING THE TEST.
SCHEDULE YOUR ROAD TEST AND OBTAIN YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE: AFTER YOU GET YOUR PERMIT, YOU WILL NEED TO PRACTICE DRIVING. ONCE YOU ARE CONFIDENT IN YOUR DRIVING ABILITY, YOU CAN SCHEDULE A TIME TO TAKE THE ROAD TEST. THE ROAD TEST WILL TEST YOUR DRIVING SKILLS. YOU MAY BE ASKED TO CHANGE LANES, PARALLEL PARK, AND DEMONSTRATE YOUR ABILITY TO FOLLOW DIRECTIONS FROM SIGNS, TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND ROAD MARKERS BY THE TEST ADMINISTRATOR WHO WILL RIDE IN THE CAR WITH YOU. PENNDOT DOES NOT PROVIDE THE VEHICLE TO TAKE THE TEST IN. YOU MUST BE ABLE TO BRING THE CAR YOU WILL TAKE THE TEST IN WITH YOU ON THE DAY OF YOUR TEST (YOU ALSO NEED TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY SOMEONE WHO HAS A VALID DRIVER'S LICENCE) . IT MUST BE REGISTERED AND INSURED. YOU WILL ALSO NEED TO BRING PAYMENT FOR YOUR TEST AND LICENSE (CHECK, MONEY ORDER OR DEBIT/CREDIT CARD, NO CASH IS ACCEPTED AT PENNDOT).
- WAYS TO SCHEDULE YOUR ROAD TEST:
  1. BY PHONE. YOU CAN CALL 717-412-5300
  2. ONLINE. YOU CAN GO TO THE PENNDOT WEBSITE TO SCHEDULE YOUR TEST ONLINE
- WHEN YOU GO TO TAKE THE ROAD TEST, REMEMBER TO BRING:
  1. VALID LEARNER'S PERMIT
  2. PROOF OF VEHICLE REGISTRATION FOR CAR YOU WILL BE TAKING THE TEST IN
  3. PROOF OF VEHICLE INSURANCE FOR VEHICLE YOU WILL BE TAKING THE TEST IN
  4. THE VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE OF THE DRIVER WHO ACCOMPANIES YOU TO TAKE YOUR TEST