Example of Florida Driver Licenses

Driver Licenses

Onward

The Suwannee County Tax Collector’s Office is an agent for the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The office offers a variety of services including issuing Driver Licenses and ID Cards. The following is a list of most of the Driver License Services we provide, with a brief description of requirements. For answers to more specific questions please call us at 386.362.2816.

Driver License Services

  • Original Driver License
  • Duplicate License and Replacement License
  • Renewals
  • Suspension Clearances
  • Financial Responsibility Clearance

Driver License Tests

  • For written tests please call our office for an appointment. Please note: We  only accept appointments for Suwannee, Hamilton and Madison County residents. Please call 386.362.2816 for an appointment. Study Your Handbook. Download Your Handbook.
  • For first time drivers you will need to make sure you have completed the TLSAE school, you can do so by clicking here
  • Driving Skill Test appointments must be scheduled at least one day in advance. Please note: We  only administer Driving Skills Tests to residents of Suwannee, Hamilton and Madison County residents. Please call 386.362.2816 for an appointment. We do not administer CDL tests.
  • If you are interested in taking the Driving Skills Test, you must provide a vehicle for the Driving Test. The vehicle must have a valid tag registration, proof of Insurance and pass a vehicle inspection before the test is given. The examiner will observe your ability to control the vehicle and how well you obey traffic laws.
  • Due to safety concerns for our staff and for our citizens we will not administer driving skills test in extreme weather conditions.
  • For Driving Skills Test Appointments, please be on time and no more than 5 minutes late (if more than 5 minutes late you will need to reschedule your appointment). When arriving at the office, you are required to present your learners permit, current auto insurance card and current registration to the clerk prior to the test.

Customers may be eligible to renew their license online; however, the FLHSMV encourages customers without REAL ID compliant driver licenses or ID cards to renew in an office.

New State Requirement for Driver License Re-Testing

Effective Monday, February 15, 2021, Class E driver license customers who have allowed their driver license to expire for one year or more, whether due to a sanction or downgrade to a Florida identification card, will be required to complete the Class E knowledge exam and vision exam prior to obtaining an original Class E driver license.

Examples of when a customer will be required to re-test for their original Class E driver license include:

  • Customer downgraded from a Class E to an ID card due to a license sanction and the driver license on record has been expired for one year or more.
  • Customer’s Florida Class E expired, and the customer did not apply to renew the Florida driver license within the one-year delinquent renewal period.
  • Customer is applying for an original Florida Class E license and their out-of-state driver license has been expired for one year or more.
  • Customer completed their Class E knowledge exam and did not obtain their Class E driver license within one year of the exam pass date.

Obtaining a Florida ID

The age for obtaining a Florida ID card begins at the age of 5 and is valid for four years through the age of 14. After the age of 14, Florida ID cards are valid for eight years.

For information on what to bring into our office to get your Driver License please visit the What To Bring page of the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website.

For more information on Driver Licenses, please visit the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website.

CDL Medical Card Update

Please visit MyDMV Portal to update your medical card.

Real ID Act

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security REAL ID Act became effective nationwide in 2008, mandating new standards for the issuance of driver licenses and identification cards. Florida began issuing REAL ID-compliant credentials January 1, 2010. New driver licenses and ID cards have a star in the upper right corner of the card, indicating that they are REAL ID-compliant. As part of the REAL ID Act, there are documentation requirements for residents renewing or obtaining a new driver license or ID card. For the first in-office issuance after January 1, 2010, customers must bring original documents that validate their identity, Social Security Number (SSN) and residential address.

Due to COVID-19, the Department of Homeland Security has extended the REAL ID enforcement deadline. The new deadline is May 3, 2023. On this date, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will require every air traveler 18 years of age and older to present a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, state-issued enhanced driver’s license, or another acceptable form of ID to fly within the United States.  A United States passport may also be used in place of a REAL ID-compliant card for official identification.

Check for the star

Real ID-compliant cards are marked with a star at the top of the card. If you’re not sure, contact your state driver’s license agency on how to obtain a REAL ID-compliant card.

It’s the law

The REAL ID Act was enacted on the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the federal government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses.” The REAL ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005.

Note: In accordance with the REAL ID Act, once a customer provides the required identity documents, they will only need to provide them again if their information changes (e.g., name, residential address).

DUI and IID Programs

Licensed DUI Programs in Florida

Ignition Interlock Programs in Florida IID

Driver Improvement Schools

Please follow this link for definitions and links to acceptable driver improvement schools in Florida.

For Third-Party Florida Road Skills Tests, please visit All Florida Safety Institute, LLC for testing locations, times and appointments.

Forms