Arkansas Online Driver Education and Arkansas Licensing Procedures

So you’re about to begin driving in Arkansas? You’ve come to the right place! We’ve put together a brief summary of important things you will need to know as you work your way through Arkansas’ graduated drivers license program. You may want to keep this handy for the next several years until you have received your Class D (regular, unrestricted) drivers license.

Arkansas Instruction Permit/Learner’s License

To get an instruction permit/learner’s license in Arkansas, you need to be at least 14 years old.   If you’re under 18, you will need to have your parents’ permission, and be enrolled in school. You will also need to pass both a written and a vision test.
With an instruction permit/learner’s license, you must have a licensed driver who’s at least 21 years old seated in the front passengers seat whenever you drive. All passengers, including yourself, must be wearing seat belts.

An instruction permit/learner’s license is only good for six (6) months, but may be renewed so long as you have not been involved in an at-fault accident or convicted of a serious traffic violation during the prior six-month period.

Arkansas Intermediate Drivers License

When you turn 16, provided you already have your learners’ license, you can apply to upgrade to an intermediate drivers license. This will allow you to drive without supervision, however, some restrictions still apply:

You must have a licensed driver who’s at least 21 is sitting in the front passenger seat if you are:

• carrying with more than one (1) unrelated minor passenger in the vehicle
• driving between the hours of 11pm and 4am (unless you’re driving to or from a school activity or church activity, or a there’s a family emergency).

Arkansas Class D Drivers Licenses

This is a non-restricted drivers license which you may be eligible for after you turn 18. To qualify, you must hold an Arkansas intermediate drivers license, have not been involved in an at-fault accident or been convicted of a serious traffic violation for the past twelve (12) months.

If you are at least 18 but under 21 and you hold a Class D License, you may use a hands-free communication device while driving, but hand-held cell phones may only be used during a family emergency.

Arkansas Auto Insurance Arkansas Financial Responsibility Laws

Every automobile owner in Arkansas must have liability coverage on their automobile. The minimum auto liability insurance you are required to carry by law is as follows:

• $25,000 per person for bodily injury
• $50,000 per accident
• $25,000 to cover property damage to other’s property.

Arkansas Drunk Driving

We can’t emphasize this enough…if you have been drinking, even "just a little", do not drive!  Here's what will happen the FIRST (1st) time you're caught driving under the influence of alcohol:

• Your license will be suspended for four (4) months
• You will pay a fine between $150 and $1,000, plus court costs
• You can be sent to prison for one (1) year
• Subsequent drunk driving offenses will result in far greater penalties, and you may very well spend time in prison.

Just imagine having to answer "YES" to this question on every single job application you fill out for the rest of your life:  "Have you ever been convicted of a felony?"
If you’ve been drinking, DO NOT DRIVE—not even for a short distance! It’s not worth it.

Arkansas Cell Phone & Text-Messaging Laws

Text-messaging while driving is strictly prohibited in Arkansas, regardless of your age.  If you are at least 18 but under 21 and you hold a Class D License, you may use a hands-free communication device while driving, but hand-held cell phones may only be used during a family emergency.

Arkansas Online Driver Education

The Arkansas Department of Workforce Education oversees driver education. approved Arkansas online driver education course. You can also check with the Department of Education to find approved driver education classes.