State Hosting Events Saturday, May 17, To Support New Law Allowing 15-Year-Olds To Obtain Driver’s Permit; 1,500 Appointments Opens

Friday, May 9, 2025 at 8:23 AM

Appointments to be released at 1 p.m. EDT; all required documents must be ready when scheduling an appointment

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 8, 2025) - Now that a new Kentucky law, House Bill 15, has taken effect allowing 15-year-olds to earn their driver’s permits, Team Kentucky is hosting events across the state on Saturday, May 17, to help meet the increased interest from young Kentuckians wanting to apply for a permit.

The state is offering more than 1,500 written permit test appointments at 20 testing locations across the state. Appointments will be released online tomorrow, Friday, May 9, at 1 p.m. EDT and applicants can select the time and location that best meets their schedule when accessing the portal online. Applicants can take the test in any county offered that day. These events will not include road skills or CDL testing.

“Since House Bill 15 went into effect with an emergency clause, Team Kentucky has been working to develop solutions to meet the increased demand,” Gov. Beshear said. “I appreciate everyone who has worked to host these events and make it easier for Kentuckians to obtain their permit.”

To ensure a smooth signup process and reduce wait times on May 17, Kentucky State Police Driver Testing Captain Chris Baker encourages applicants to have all required documents ready prior to signing up for an appointment.

“The online portal for this event requires applicants to have specific information before finalizing their testing appointment,” said Capt. Baker. “If you want to obtain one of these appointments successfully, you must have your Social Security number, date of birth and address at your fingertips before logging in online.”

Prior to arriving to take their written permit test with the Kentucky State Police, Kentuckians should remember to:

Bring all required documentation to take to your appointment so the permit test can be administered. Necessary documents include proof of identity such as birth certificate (not a photocopy), proof of Social Security and a School Compliance Verification Form. See Drive.ky.gov for full list and more info.
Study the Kentucky Driver Manual, which can be found here. Should an applicant not pass the written test, they can schedule another appointment on the website.

“This is just one way we are working with KSP to provide improved licensing services for Kentuckians,” said Commissioner Matt Cole of Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Department of Vehicle Regulation. “License renewals, upgrades and other services are available at any of our 34 regional offices for appointment or walk-in customers, and we have new ways you can skip the line.”

The Governor signed House Bill 15 into law on March 25, which allows 15-year-olds to obtain their permit. State law still requires you to be 16 years old to obtain a license (intermediate). For more information about Kentucky’s graduated driver licensing program and requirements to move from a permit to an intermediate license and then to a full, unrestricted license, click here.

Last week, the Governor announced “Skip the Line,” a new remote renewal-based licensing alternative offered by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to help Kentuckians avoid waiting at Driver Licensing Regional Offices across the state. Those options for renewing your license include:

For those who can, visit an eye specialist, ask for a vision screening form and upload it to renew online at DLRenewal.ky.gov.
Visit a licensing office, get a vision screening, receive a passcode, then return home to renew online at DLRenewal.ky.gov.
Visit a licensing office, get the vision screening, fill out a renewal form on site without waiting and receive a temporary license via email.
Renew by mail: Print and fill out the mail-in form at Drive.ky.gov and attach a completed vision form from an eye specialist.