Pro tip: Driving through North Dakota's wide-open spaces and city centers demands a comprehensive set of driving techniques. Utilize our educational guides on driving stick shifts and parallel parking to refine your driving. Skills in reverse parking and three-point turns are also crucial. Make sure your mirrors are adjusted for best visibility. Engage with our Online Driving Simulator for additional practice, and for international visitors, familiarize with North Dakota's international driver's license protocols.
If you have never been licensed, you should first apply for the learner's permit. It allows you to drive accompanied at all times by a supervising driver who is 18 + and has at least 3 years of driving experience. You may not operate any electronic communication device while driving with a learner's permit.
If you are younger than 16, you may drive only a car owned by your parent/guardian, grandparent, sibling, aunt or uncle unless it is equipped with dual controls and you are accompanied by a licensed driver trainer.
You are required to produce the proof of the following:
Check this list to choose the documents correctly.
It will measure how clearly you see. Wear your glasses or lenses if needed. You must be able to read the 20/40 vision line with both eyes.
If you are 18+, you may immediately proceed to scheduling your road test.
If you are between 14 and 15, hold your permit and proceed to How to Apply for Your Restricted (Minor) Operator's License in North Dakota.
If you are between 16 and 17, hold your learner's permit for 6 months and proceed to How to Apply for Your Unrestricted (Adult) Operator's License in North Dakota.
If you are under 16, you must hold your permit for at least a year or to the age of 16, but no less than 6 months.
You must log driving in various conditions that include the following:
You may do it at your high school or at one of the approved driving schools.
Use the online road scheduler system. You will need to provide your name, date of birth and driver's ID.
Your parent/guardian will be asked to sign the form certifying that you have completed 50 hours of driving and that there is the need for you to operate a vehicle without adult supervision.
The road test may be waived if you can present
It must certify that you have completed at least 30 hours of classroom training and a minimum of 6 hours of behind the wheel training. The course you take must be approved for the waiver purposes by the Director of the North Dakota Department of Transportation.
$5.00 by cash or check. Dickinson, Minot, Bismarck, Williston, Devils Lake, Jamestown, Grand Forks and Fargo also accept credit cards.
If the road test may not be waived, bring a vehicle to take the test. The test will check your ability to drive safely. Read about the road test procedure here. If you fail it, you may not retake the test on the same day.
$15.00 by cash or check. Dickinson, Minot, Bismarck, Williston, Devils Lake, Jamestown, Grand Forks and Fargo also accept credit cards.
You may obtain an unrestricted driver license at the age of 16. If you have never been licensed in the US or Canada, you must first get your learner's permit. To learn how to get the permit, start here.
If you have a learner's permit, start with step 1.
The road test may be waived if you can present
It must certify that you have completed at least 30 hours of classroom training and a minimum of 6 hours of behind the wheel training. The course you take must be approved for the waiver purposes by the Director of the North Dakota Department of Transportation
You may not have any backpacks, purses, paper, pens, pencils, markers, cell phones, notebooks, i-pads, tablets and other electronic devices.
Kids and pets (except medical alert/service animals) may not enter the testing area.
The road test measures your skill and knowledge of legal and safe driving practices. To be tested, you must get an appointment. Use the online road scheduler system. You will need to provide your name, date of birth and driver's ID.
You must bring your valid learner's permit and be accompanied by your parent/guardian if you are under 16 years of age.
Make sure you arrive early for your appointment. You won't be able to have pets, passengers, phones and other electronic devices in your car during the road test.
Your test will start after the vehicle inspection.The car you bring for the test must be currently registered and have the following in good working order:
Self-parking cars are not allowed unless you can switch off the parking function.
You are required to follow the examiner's instructions and cooperate at all times. The test will last about 20 minutes.
To pass the test, you must show the following skills:
You don't have to transfer your out of state driver license if you are
To transfer your out-of-state drivers license, you must collect required documentation, visit a ND drivers license site ,pass a vision screening test and pay the fee.
Find an ND drivers license site near you using this map. You may book your appointment.
If you want your new North Dakota drivers license to be REAL ID compliant, make sure you bring the proof of the following:
Check this list to choose the documents correctly.
It will measure how clearly you see. Wear your lenses if needed. You must be able to read the 20/40 vision line with both eyes.
Note that glasses are not allowed in the picture. See top 7 tips for an excellent driver's license photo.
$15.00 by cash or check. Dickinson, Minot, Bismarck, Williston, Devils Lake, Jamestown, Grand Forks and Fargo also accept credit cards.
You may be required to pass the written and road tests if you can't present your actual out-of-state license, or pending medical criteria and driving record.
You may drive in North Dakota using your foreign license for 60 days after establishing your ND residency. After that, you will have to apply for North Dakota driver's license. If you have a Canadian drivers license, the process of transferring will be the same as transferring an out-of-state drivers license.
If you transfer a license from a different country, the procedure will be similar to Applying for Your Adult (Unrestricted) Operator's License in North Dakota.
Note that you will have to surrender your other licenses when you get your new ND drivers license.
