Pro tip: For those adventuring through New Mexico's deserts and mountainous regions, exceptional driving skills are key. Benefit from our guides on driving stick shifts and parallel parking to ensure you're prepared. Improve your abilities for parking in reverse and conducting three-point turns. Always adjust your mirrors for optimal visibility. Test your skills with our Online Driving Simulator, and if you're visiting from another country, review New Mexico's international driver's license stipulations.
You must bring
Choose the documents with the help of this list to avoid another trip to the MVD.
If you don't have enough documents, you may apply for a driver authorization card. Check the list of documents required here. If you cannot provide proof of lawful status, you must have your fingerprints captured. Get an appointment at one of the following offices: ABQ Special Services, Alamogordo, Carlsbad, Clovis, Espanola, Farmington, Las Cruces Del Rey, Raton, Roswell, Ruidoso, Santa Fe, Silver City, Socorro, T or C, Tucumcari.
Documents not in English must be translated and the translation must be certified by the translator as full and complete.
You will have to answer 25 questions about the rules of the road of New Mexico. Read Frequently Asked Questions about the Knowledge Test and practice with free NM MVD practice tests before you go. If you fail, you may retake it one more time during the same week, even on the same day.
You don't have to take the exam if you passed it at one of MVD contracted schools.
$10.00
Now you can practice driving supervised by another driver. You will hold your permit for at least 6 months before applying for the provisional license.
It is the second stage of the New Mexico Graduated Licensing System for teenagers older than 15 ½ years of age. The provisional license allows you to drive on your own but with a number of restrictions:
You must maintain a clean driving record for 90 days before applying for the provisional license.
The program must include a 3 hour DWI component. The certificate of completion of your program must show that you got a passing score.
You may print out this form and have it completed and signed by your parent/guardian. You must log in at least 50 hours of driving including 10 hours at night.
There are state-owned and privately-owned offices. Note that private offices charge extra fees. Find an MVD office near you. You can make an appointment with the help of the MVD appointment wizard to avoid long waits.
You and your parent/guardian must sign it.
You must bring a safe vehicle with proper registration and proof of insurance. Read about the road skills procedure here.
If you fail the exam, you must wait at least one week before retaking it.
You don't have to take the exam if you passed it at an MVD-contracted Driver Education School.
$18.00
You must hold the provisional license for at least 12 months and keep your driving record clean before applying for your full (unrestricted) driver license.
Every applicant who has never been licensed will have to take a vision, written and road test. You may apply for your full driver license at the age of 18 or at the age of 17 if you have a provisional license.
If you have never had a driver license, start with Step 1.
If you have hold a provisional license for 12 months, visit an MVD office with your parent/guardian (if under 18) and exchange your provisional license for a full driver license.
You can register online for this class which is administered by the University of New Mexico Continuing Education. You may also apply by calling (505) 277-0051 (Albuquerque and surrounding areas) or toll-free at (877) 663-7465 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.
If you are older than 25, you are not required to take it.
You must bring
Choose the documents with the help of this list to avoid another trip to the MVD.
If you don't have enough documents, you may apply for a driver authorization card. Check the list of documents required here. If you cannot provide proof of lawful status, you must have your fingerprints captured. Get an appointment at one of the following offices: ABQ Special Services, Alamogordo, Carlsbad, Clovis, Espanola, Farmington, Las Cruces Del Rey, Raton, Roswell, Ruidoso, Santa Fe, Silver City, Socorro, T or C, Tucumcari.
Documents not in English must be translated and the translation must be certified by the translator as full and complete.
The standards for vision are 20/40 or better in at least one eye, with or without glasses. If you fail the test at the MVD, you will be given a vision report form to be completed by your ophthalmologist or optometrist.
You will have to answer 25 questions about the rules of the road of New Mexico. Read Frequently Asked Questions about the Knowledge Test and practice with free NM MVD practice tests before you go. If you fail, you may retake it one more time during the same week, even on the same day.
You don't have to take the exam if you passed it at one of MVD contracted schools.
Make an appointment with the help of the MVD appointment wizard to avoid long waits.
You must bring a safe vehicle with proper registration and proof of insurance. Read about the road skills procedure here.
If you fail the exam, you must wait at least one week before retaking it.
You don't have to take the exam if you passed it at an MVD-contracted Driver Education School.
$18.00 for a 4-year license, or
$34.00 for an 8-year license
Your New Mexico driver license will be REAL ID compliant ( will have a yellow star in the top right corner) if you submitted enough documents from step 3. If you don't have enough documentation, you will get a Driver's Authorization Card (DAC).
The road test measures your ability to drive safely and your knowledge of the rules of the road. You will be driving over a designated route with an examiner at your side. Note that pets and kids are not allowed to be in the car with you.
You may take the test at the state-owned or private-owned locations. Note that private-owned locations require extra fees. If you choose to take the test at a state-owned location, make an appointment with the help of the MVD appointment wizard to avoid standing in lines.
Make sure you bring a safe vehicle which has
The examiner will first carry out the pre-road test of your vehicle to check if it is safe to drive. The following car features must be safe and in good working order, otherwise, the examiner won't proceed with the test:
To pass the exam, you must listen to the examiner carefully and follow the instructions given. Your route will contain the following features:
The examiner will be watching and evaluating the following maneuvers:
You have 100 points at the beginning of the test. The examiner will take off points for your errors. To pass the test, you need to keep at least 70 points. Check the road score record that MVD examiners use to see how you can lose points.
You will fail the exam automatically if you do any of the following:
You won't have to transfer your valid license to a New Mexico driver license if
If you have a driver license from another state, you may transfer it without taking any tests apart from a vision test if your license is valid or expired less than a year ago.
You can register online for this class which is administered by the University of New Mexico Continuing Education. You may also apply by calling (505) 277-0051 (Albuquerque and surrounding areas) or toll-free at (877) 663-7465 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.
If you are older than 25, you are not required to take it.
There are state-owned and privately-owned offices. Note that private offices require extra fees for their services. Find an MVD office near you here. No appointment is needed.
You must bring
Choose the documents with the help of this list to avoid another trip to the MVD.
If you don't have enough documents, you may apply for a driver authorization card. Check the list of documents required here. If you cannot provide proof of lawful status, you must have your fingerprints captured. Get an appointment at one of the following offices: ABQ Special Services, Alamogordo, Carlsbad, Clovis, Espanola, Farmington, Las Cruces Del Rey, Raton, Roswell, Ruidoso, Santa Fe, Silver City, Socorro, T or C, Tucumcari.
Documents not in English must be translated and the translation must be certified by the translator as full and complete.
The standards for vision are 20/40 or better in at least one eye, with or without glasses. If you fail the test at the MVD, you will be given a vision report form to be completed by your ophthalmologist or optometrist.
$18.00 for a 4-year license, or
$34.00 for an 8-year license
It will be punched and returned to you with your temporary license which will be valid for 45 days.
If you possess a foreign driver license, you may drive using it until you become a resident of New Mexico. As there is no time limit for "becoming a resident," you are not required to get a New Mexico driver license if you plan to return to your home country within a period of months, or even a year or more.
If you establish residency, you will have to pass a vision, knowledge and road test to get a New Mexico driver license. Your foreign driver license will be hole punched and returned to you together with your New Mexico driver license.
Follow the full procedure of getting your driver license in New Mexico.
