Florida

Florida online driver’s ed

What Florida requires, in the state’s own words: who the course is for, how long it is, whether it can be taken online and who approves it. Each fact below links to the official source it comes from.

Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV)
Sources read October 7, 2026

Tell me when it opens How driver’s ed works

DriverOnline’s Florida course is not open yet. Florida decides which courses count there. This page explains the state’s rules so you know what to look for, and we will email you when our course opens.

Florida rules

What Florida requires, course by course

States name these courses differently. Below are the courses Florida runs or requires, under the names the state uses.

Teen driversOnline allowed

Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS) course

Overseen by Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV)

Who can take it: Since August 1, 2025, anyone under 18 who has never held a driver license from another state, country or jurisdiction must complete a 6-hour DETS course before applying for a license in Florida.
What the source says
“As of August 1, 2025, individuals who are under 18 years old and have never held a driver license from any other state, country or jurisdiction must complete a 6-hour DETS course before applying for a license in Florida.”
FLHSMV: Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS), read October 7, 2026
High school driver education classes under the Driver Education Licensing Assistance Program (DELAP) meet the requirement, and a successful DELAP student does not have to take the DETS course.
What the source says
“Driver Education Licensing Assistance Program (DELAP)/high school driver education classes meet the requirements and a successful DELAP student is exempt from having to take the DETS course.”
FLHSMV: Driver Improvement Schools, read October 7, 2026
Age: Florida may issue a learner's driver license to a person who is at least 15 years old and meets the requirements listed in the law.
What the source says
“(1) The department may issue a learner’s driver license to a person who is at least 15 years of age and who:”
Section 322.1615, Florida Statutes (2026): Learner's driver license, read October 7, 2026
Course length: Florida's Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS) course is a 6-hour course approved by FLHSMV.
What the source says
“Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS) is a 6-hour course, approved by FLHSMV and which meets or exceeds the Florida Department of Education (FDOE)/Traffic Safety-Classroom 1900300 course version description.”
FLHSMV: Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS) course frequently asked questions, read October 7, 2026
Taking it online: The DETS course can be delivered in person or online.
What the source says
“The course can be delivered in-person or online.”
FLHSMV: Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS) course frequently asked questions, read October 7, 2026
Certificate: The course provider sends course completion information to FLHSMV electronically, and it can be seen at all driver license issuing offices.
What the source says
“The course provider will electronically submit course completion information to the FLHSMV, which will be accessible at all driver license issuing offices.”
FLHSMV: Driver Improvement Schools, read October 7, 2026
Who approves it: FLHSMV publishes the list of authorized DETS course providers.
What the source says
“Listed below are all authorized providers for the Driver Education Traffic Safety course.”
FLHSMV: Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS), read October 7, 2026
Good to know: A DETS course provider may allow a student up to three attempts to pass the test.
What the source says
“The course provider may allow up to three attempts to pass the test.”
FLHSMV: Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS) course frequently asked questions, read October 7, 2026

Adult driversOnline allowed

Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course

Overseen by Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV)

Who can take it: FLHSMV says drivers over 18 who have never held a driver license from any other state, country or jurisdiction (or do not have it in their possession) must complete a 4-hour TLSAE course before applying for a license in Florida.
What the source says
“Drivers who are over the age of 18 and have never held —or do not have in their possession— a driver license from any other state, country or jurisdiction, must complete a 4-hour Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course before applying for a license in Florida.”
FLHSMV: Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) and approved TLSAE course providers, read October 7, 2026
Florida law requires each driver license applicant aged 18 or older to complete a traffic law and substance abuse education course, unless the applicant has been licensed in another jurisdiction or has completed a Department of Education driver education course.
What the source says
“(1) Each applicant for a driver license who is 18 years of age or older must complete a traffic law and substance abuse education course, unless the applicant has been licensed in another jurisdiction or has satisfactorily completed a Department of Education driver education course offered pursuant to s. 1003.48.”
Section 322.095, Florida Statutes (2026): Traffic law and substance abuse education program for driver license applicants, read October 7, 2026
Drivers under 21 who received a notice of suspension for driving with a blood alcohol level of .02 to .05 must complete a TLSAE course to reinstate their license on a hardship basis.
What the source says
“Drivers under 21 years of age who have received a notice of suspension for driving with a blood alcohol level (BAL) of .02 to .05 must complete a TLSAE course in order to reinstate their driver license on a hardship.”
FLHSMV: Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) and approved TLSAE course providers, read October 7, 2026
Course length: A TLSAE course must have at least 4 hours of course content, less up to 30 minutes of breaks.
What the source says
“(9) Traffic law and substance abuse education courses shall be conducted with a minimum of 4 hours devoted to course content minus a maximum of 30 minutes allotted for breaks.”
Section 322.095, Florida Statutes (2026): Traffic law and substance abuse education program for driver license applicants, read October 7, 2026
Taking it online: The Department must approve TLSAE courses, including courses delivered by communications technology.
What the source says
“(2) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles must approve traffic law and substance abuse education courses, including courses that use communications technology as the delivery method.”
Section 322.095, Florida Statutes (2026): Traffic law and substance abuse education program for driver license applicants, read October 7, 2026
Certificate: Course providers report completions to the Department through its Driver Improvement Certificate Issuance System within 5 days, at no charge to the student.
What the source says
“(12) Course providers shall submit course completion information to the department through the department’s Driver Improvement Certificate Issuance System within 5 days. The submission shall be free of charge to the student.”
Section 322.095, Florida Statutes (2026): Traffic law and substance abuse education program for driver license applicants, read October 7, 2026
A course provider may not require a student to buy a course completion certificate.
What the source says
“(10) A course provider may not require any student to purchase a course completion certificate.”
Section 322.095, Florida Statutes (2026): Traffic law and substance abuse education program for driver license applicants, read October 7, 2026
Who approves it: A course must be approved by FLHSMV before it is used in Florida.
What the source says
“In order to become a driver improvement course provider, Florida law requires that the course be approved by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) prior to the course being used in Florida.”
FLHSMV: How Do I Become a Driver Improvement Course Provider?, read October 7, 2026
Good to know: On top of the regular course fee, the school collects a $3 assessment fee from each person who attends a TLSAE course.
What the source says
“(4) In addition to a regular course fee, an assessment fee in the amount of $3 shall be collected by the school from each person who attends a course.”
Section 322.095, Florida Statutes (2026): Traffic law and substance abuse education program for driver license applicants, read October 7, 2026

Where these facts come from

Every statement above is taken from an official source and shown with the passage it rests on. Rules change, so confirm anything that matters to you with Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) before you sign up for any course.

Questions

Florida driver’s ed: common questions

Can I take Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS) course online in Florida?

The DETS course can be delivered in person or online.

Source: FLHSMV: Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS) course frequently asked questions

How long is Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS) course in Florida?

Florida's Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS) course is a 6-hour course approved by FLHSMV.

Source: FLHSMV: Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS) course frequently asked questions

Who can take Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS) course in Florida?

Since August 1, 2025, anyone under 18 who has never held a driver license from another state, country or jurisdiction must complete a 6-hour DETS course before applying for a license in Florida.

Source: FLHSMV: Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS)

Who approves Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS) course in Florida?

FLHSMV publishes the list of authorized DETS course providers.

Source: FLHSMV: Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS)

Can I take Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course online in Florida?

The Department must approve TLSAE courses, including courses delivered by communications technology.

Source: Section 322.095, Florida Statutes (2026): Traffic law and substance abuse education program for driver license applicants

How long is Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course in Florida?

A TLSAE course must have at least 4 hours of course content, less up to 30 minutes of breaks.

Source: Section 322.095, Florida Statutes (2026): Traffic law and substance abuse education program for driver license applicants

Who can take Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course in Florida?

FLHSMV says drivers over 18 who have never held a driver license from any other state, country or jurisdiction (or do not have it in their possession) must complete a 4-hour TLSAE course before applying for a license in Florida.

Source: FLHSMV: Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) and approved TLSAE course providers

Who approves Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course in Florida?

A course must be approved by FLHSMV before it is used in Florida.

Source: FLHSMV: How Do I Become a Driver Improvement Course Provider?

Is DriverOnline’s Florida driver’s ed course open?

Not yet. Florida decides which courses count there, and DriverOnline’s course is not available in Florida yet. Leave your email and we will tell you when it opens.

Tell me when it opens

Other courses in Florida

Florida defensive drivingMature Driver (Senior Citizen) Discount Insurance course Florida traffic schoolBasic Driver Improvement (BDI) course