Wisconsin driver's license
Get your first license in Wisconsin after moving to the US.
The short answer
Wisconsin requires a road test for an original Class D probationary driver license.1 The license costs $28, and the knowledge test at a DMV customer service center is free.2, 3 If you fail the knowledge test, the earliest retake is the next day, and you may take the same test five times in one year.4 When you drive to the road test on an instruction permit, the person in the passenger seat must hold a valid regular license and have at least two years of driving experience.5 Before the test the examiner checks your car for safety, including the horn and the lights.6
How it goes
- 1You arriveYou have moved to Wisconsin and you want to drive here.
- 2Your permitYou practice on the road with a learner permit.
- 3The written testYou take the written test.
- 4Behind the wheelYou take the drive test behind the wheel.
- 5Your licenseYou pass the tests, and the license is yours.
What it costs
| What you pay | Amount |
|---|---|
| A first probationary Class D license, running until two years after your next birthday2 | $28 |
| The knowledge test taken at a DMV customer service center3 | Free |
If you just arrived in the US
Documents you need
- Documents that are still validAll documents you present must be valid and unexpired, unless a specific exception applies.9
- A valid document is one that is not expired.10
- A photo driver licence or photo ID card from Wisconsin or another jurisdiction counts if it is valid or expired eight years or less — except one issued by a Canadian province.11
- A U.S. passport or passport card is acceptable if it is valid or expired for 5 years or less, provided it was issued at age 16 or older.12
- An out-of-state driver license or ID card that has been expired for 8 years or less is acceptable as proof of identity.13
- An expired U.S. passport is acceptable proof of name and date of birth if it has been expired for 5 years or less.14
- As proof of identity, Wisconsin accepts a photo driver license or photo ID card from Wisconsin or another jurisdiction that is valid or expired eight years or less, a U.S. passport or passport card that is valid or expired five years or less and was issued at age 16 or older, and a Social Security card issued by the Social Security Administration. A photo driver license or ID card from a province of Canada is not accepted.15
Your Social Security Number
Giving your number, and who may see it
You must give the complete nine-digit number assigned by the Social Security Administration; a partial number is not accepted.16
If you have a Social Security number, you must provide it. The number is verified with the Social Security Administration and used for purposes allowed by law, including linking your driver license and vehicle registration records.17
Tests you take
Eye test
The screening can be done by a DMV examiner at the service center, or an optometrist or a medical doctor can certify your vision.18
Wisconsin requires visual acuity of at least 20/40 in one eye, with or without corrective lenses, and a 70-degree field of vision from the center of each eye; if you do not pass at the DMV, you take form MV3030V, Certificate of Vision Examination by Competent Authority, to a vision specialist.19
Drive test
A road test is required when you apply for an original Class D probationary driver license.1
Tries you get on the written test
If you fail, the earliest you can retake the test is the next day, and you can take the same test five times within one year; after a fifth failure you need special permission from DMV staff to test again. The test is free, so a retry costs nothing.4
Practice questions for the written test
Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Online Class D Driver License Practice Test at widmv-practice-tests.wi.gov/class-d-driver-license20
Practising with your permit
Who can sit with you while you practise
The accompanying driver must hold a valid regular license that is not probationary or occupational, have at least two years of licensed driving experience, and sit in the front passenger seat beside you. That person must be a qualified instructor age 19 or older, a parent, guardian, or spouse age 19 or older, or someone 21 years of age or older.21
When driving during hours of darkness, you must be accompanied by a qualified instructor or a licensed person 25 years of age or older with at least two years of licensed driving experience occupying the seat beside you.22
What to bring to the drive test
Who comes with you
If you drive to the test on a Class D instruction permit, a licensed driver must ride in the passenger seat beside you. That person needs at least two years of licensed driving experience and a valid regular license, not a probationary or occupational license. You may not drive to the test location on an expired permit.5
The car and its insurance
You must provide a vehicle appropriate for the license class you are applying for. The examiner inspects it for safety defects and valid registration, and you must know how to operate the controls needed during the test, such as windshield wipers, defroster and parking brake; if problems are detected, the road test may be denied.23
Before the test, the examiner checks your car to make sure it is safe to drive, including the horn, lights and signals, license plates, doors, and mirrors.6
Where to go
Other states
U
Sources
Every numbered fact above is quoted from the page that publishes it, in the words it uses.
- 1
“A road test, sometimes called a skills test, is required for those who are applying for: an original Class D (auto and small truck) probationary driver license”
wisconsindot.gov/…/roadtestgeneral.aspxChecked July 26, 2026
- 2
“Original probationary (Class D) (expires 2 years from next birthday) $28”
wisconsindot.gov/…/dmv-fees.aspxChecked August 1, 2026
- 3
“Tests in a DMV customer service center is free.”
wisconsindot.gov/…/bds126-motorists-handbook.pdfChecked July 26, 2026
- 4
“Individuals who do not pass the test may retake the test no sooner than the next day. You are only allowed to take the same test five times within a one-year period. If you do not pass the required test(s) in five attempts, you must get special permission from DMV staff prior to taking the test again.”
wisconsindot.gov/…/knowledge.aspxChecked August 19, 2026
- 5
“The class D instruction permit holder must drive with someone else in the car. This person must have at least two years of licensed driving experience. This licensed driver must have a valid regular license. This license cannot be a probationary or occupational license. This person must ride in the passenger seat beside the applicant”
wisconsindot.gov/…/bds126-motorists-handbook.pdfChecked July 31, 2026
- 6
“Before your test the DMV examiner will check over your car. They will make sure the car is safe to drive. They will check the horn, lights/signals, license plates, doors, mirrors and more.”
wisconsindot.gov/…/bds126-motorists-handbook.pdfChecked July 26, 2026
- 7
“LIMITED TERM indicates that the license or ID card holder is a non-immigrant (Temporary Visitor) with legal status in the United States”
wisconsindot.gov/…/mailed.aspxChecked July 26, 2026
- 8
“If you hold a valid (or expired less than 8 years) license from another state, you can apply for a Wisconsin driver license.”
wisconsindot.gov/…/ooslicense.aspxChecked August 6, 2026
- 9
“All documents required to be produced under this chapter must be valid and unexpired, unless exempted by another provision in this chapter.”
r.jina.ai/…/2Checked August 2, 2026
- 10
“A valid document is one that is not expired.”
wisconsindot.gov/…/bds316-english.pdfChecked July 26, 2026
- 11
“A valid (or expired eight years or less) photo driver license or photo ID card issued by Wisconsin or another jurisdiction, except a province of the Dominion of Canada”
wisconsindot.gov/…/identity.aspxChecked August 1, 2026
- 12
“valid or expired 5 years or less”
wisconsindot.gov/…/bds316-english.pdfChecked July 26, 2026
- 13
“An expired (8 years or less) driver license or ID card can be used as a proof of identity document”
wisconsindot.gov/…/ooslicense.aspxChecked July 26, 2026
- 14
“U.S. passport that is expired for no more than 5 years”
wisconsindot.gov/…/proof-name-dob.aspxChecked July 26, 2026
- 15
“A valid (or expired eight years or less) photo driver license or photo ID card issued by Wisconsin or another jurisdiction, except a province of the Dominion of Canada Social security card issued by the Social Security Administration U.S. passport or passport card valid or expired 5 years or less and issued at age 16 or older”
wisconsindot.gov/…/bds316-english.pdfChecked July 26, 2026
- 16
““Social security number” means the complete social security number assigned to a person by the U.S. social security administration. “Social security number” does not include a partial social security number.”
docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/…/2Checked August 2, 2026
- 17
“SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER (SSN) If you have a SSN, you must provide it (s. 343.14(2)(bm) Wis. Stats.). Your SSN may be used for purposes authorized by law and to link your driver license and vehicle registration records.”
wisconsindot.gov/documents/formdocs/mv3001.pdfChecked August 1, 2026
- 18
“ Check if vision section completed by DMV Examiner Temporal Field of Being duly licensed to practice Vision In Degrees Optometry Medicine, in: Wisconsin, or Other”
wisconsindot.gov/documents/formdocs/mv3001.pdfChecked July 26, 2026
- 19
“Wisconsin requires regular car and motorcycle applicants to have a: ... Visual acuity of at least 20/40 in one eye (corrected or uncorrected) ... 70-degree field of vision from the center of each eye. ... If you do not pass the vision test the DMV staff will tell you what to do next. This involves going to the vision specialist with the Certificate of Vision Examination by Competent Authority (MV3030V/T579).”
wisconsindot.gov/…/bds126-motorists-handbook.pdfChecked August 1, 2026
- 20
“After reviewing this material, please test your understanding of the rules of the road by taking our Online Class D Driver License Practice Test. It can be found on our DMV website wisconsindmv.gov.”
wisconsindot.gov/…/bds126-motorists-handbook.pdfChecked August 6, 2026
- 21
“This person must have at least two years of licensed driving experience. This licensed driver must have a valid regular license. This license cannot be a probationary or occupational license. This person must ride in the passenger seat beside the applicant and be one of the following:”
wisconsindot.gov/…/bds126-motorists-handbook.pdfChecked July 31, 2026
- 22
“If you operate a vehicle during hours of darkness, you must be accompanied by a qualified instructor or a licensed person 25 years of age with at least two years of licensed driving experience occupying the seat beside you.”
wisconsindot.gov/…/bds126-motorists-handbook.pdfChecked August 1, 2026
- 23
“Contact a third-party examiner near you to confirm availability and hours of testing. an original Class D (auto and small truck) driver license an original Class M (motorcycle) license an original P (passenger) endorsement to operate large motor buses an original S (school bus) endorsement to operate any school bus reinstatement of a license expired more than eight years out-of-state license expired more than eight years a restricted juvenile license a special restricted license A road test may also be required if the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has good cause to question a person's ability to operate a motor vehicle safely due to a physical or medical disability. What happens at your road test appointment? You will need to provide the appropriate vehicle for the license class that you are applying for after the test. Prior to the test, the examiner will inspect the vehicle you will be using in your road test. The examiner will check for safety defects and valid registration. You will need to know how to operate the vehicle and all of the controls within the vehicle needed during the test. (For example windshield wipers, defroster, parking brake, etc.) If problems are detected, the road test may be denied; therefore, it is wise to refer to the skills test portion in the Motoris”
wisconsindot.gov/…/roadtestgeneral.aspxChecked July 31, 2026
- 24
“A road test is a behind-the-wheel test taken in your vehicle with a DMV examiner.”
wisconsindot.gov/…/roadtestgeneral.aspxChecked August 1, 2026
- 25
“href="https://mydmvvisit.wi.gov/workflow/welcome"”
wisconsindot.gov/Pages/online-srvcs/external/dmv.aspxChecked July 26, 2026
- 26
“Appointments for licensing or ID card services can be made through the Interactive Driver License/ID Guide .”
wisconsindot.gov/Pages/online-srvcs/appointments.aspxChecked August 1, 2026
- 27
“Online Appointment Scheduler”
wisconsindot.gov/Pages/online-srvcs/appointments.aspxChecked July 26, 2026
- 28
“start here -> https://dlguides.wi.gov/”
wisconsindot.gov/…/default.aspxChecked July 26, 2026
- 29
“Locate DMV customer service centers, check hours and wait times”
wisconsindot.gov/…/default.aspxChecked August 1, 2026
- 30
“DMV locations -> https://trust.dot.state.wi.us/cscfinder/cscsearch.do”
wisconsindot.gov/…/default.aspxChecked July 26, 2026
Applying for a driver's license in Wisconsin?
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