R.S. 32:408 B.(2)(e) and 405.1:
Class "E" Driver's License - Personal Vehicle
Age Requirements: 17 years or above.
Permits the operation of any single motor vehicle under 10,000 pounds gross
vehicle weight, any personal use recreational vehicle and farm vehicles
controlled and operated by a farmer to transport agricultural products, farm
machinery, or farm supplies to and from a farm within 150 air miles of the
owner's or operator's farm (not used in operation of a Common or Contract
Carrier, and not used to transport passengers or property for hire) or any other
vehicle which is not used in the transportation of hazardous materials which is
required to be placarded. No first-time application for a Louisiana Class "E"
license shall be received from any person seventeen (17) years of age or older
unless there is also submitted with the application written evidence of the
successful completion by the applicant of a full thirty-six (36) hour driver's
education course or of an approved six (6) hour "pre-licensing" training course
which was approved by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections.
New applicants transferring in with an out-of-state, foreign, or military
license are exempt from this requirement. In addition, this requirement shall
not apply to those seventeen (17) years of age if they do not live within
twenty-five (25) miles of a location which provides such course.
R.S. 32:422
Class "E" Learner's License for those 17 years of age and above
Any applicant seventeen (17) years of age or above who is applying for a
learner's license will be required to provide proof that he/she has completed a
full thirty (36) hour driver's education course or a six (6) hour pre-licensing
course. Once this proof is furnished and provided all other general requirements
are met including successfully passing the vision and written examinations, the
learner's license may be issued. This license authorizes the holder to drive
while accompanied by a licensed driver. The learner's restriction cannot be
removed for at least thirty (30) days from the date the learner's license was
issued except if an applicant provides proof that the applicant has completed an
approved thirty-six (36) hour driver education course. Upon providing this
proof, the restriction may be removed immediately upon the applicant
successfully passing the on-the-road driving examination. The letters "LP" will
be superimposed on the face of this license.
Note: The above classes do not include the operation of motorcycles and
motor scooters except as an endorsement to the basic license.
(See special note below for information on Class "E" learner's licenses and
intermediate licenses for those under 17 years of age.)
SPECIAL NOTE: According to Act 725 of the 1997 Regular Session (R.S.
32:405.1), effective January 1, 1998, the age requirement for a Class "E"
license has been raised to seventeen (17) years of age. The age requirement for
a Class "D" license remains at seventeen (17). By way of this act, a graduated
licensing system for those under seventeen (17) years of age was created. The
following is an explanation of that system.
R.S. 32:407
Class "E" Learners Permit
Age Requirements: 15 and 16 years of age.
Effective January 1, 1998, a minor fifteen (15) or sixteen (16) years of age may
only be issued a Class "E" Learner's License/Permit. This license will enable
the minor to drive while being accompanied by a licensed parent, guardian. or a
licensed adult at least age twenty-one or older **OR a licensed sibling at least
age eighteen or older. This license must be maintained for a minimum of one
hundred and eighty
(180) days, but in no event may it be upgraded to a higher class license prior to
the minor reaching sixteen (16) years of age. The letters "LP" will be
superimposed on the face of this learner's license. The following qualifications
must be met in order to obtain the learner's license:
1. Must complete an approved driver education course approved by the Department
of Education or the Department of Public Safety & Corrections consisting
of a minimum of thirty (30) hours classroom training and six (6) hours of
on-the-road training.
2. Must pass a written and vision examination at the Office of Motor Vehicles.
Note: Upon successful completion of the written and skills test or completion of
the Harley Davidson Rider's Edgesm New Rider Course
(approved by the Department of Education. Course locations are in Shreveport and
Baton Rouge.) or the "Motorcycle Safety Awareness and Operators Training
Program."
A motorcycle endorsement may be placed on a Class "E" learner's permit; however,
the person will be restricted to operating within a distance of three miles from
the applicant's residence unless a parent, tutor, or other person having custody
is temporarily staying or residing at another location where in the applicant
would be restricted to operating within three miles of that location.
Class "E" Intermediate License
Age Requirement: 16 years of age.
After completing the learners license/permit stage, upon reaching at least
sixteen (16) years of age, and upon successfully passing the on-the-road driving
test, the minor may be issued a Class "E" Intermediate License. This license
must be maintained for a minimum of one (1) year from the date of issuance or
until the driver has reached the age of seventeen (17) This license allows
the minor to drive alone or with other passengers in the vehicle, but restricts
him from driving between the hours of 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m unless he is
accompanied by a licensed parent, guardian, adult at least twenty-one or older.
After the one year period or once the driver reaches age seventeen (17),
the minor may qualify for a permanent Class "E" license.
Note: A custodial parent's signature will always be required at any time a
license is upgraded to a higher class. ** In the case where joint custody has
been awarded, only the domiciliary parent may sign. Exceptions to this rule
are those minors who are married or have been emancipated.
**EXCEPTION TO Graduated Licensing Program: Any applicant at least sixteen (16)
years of age, but less than seventeen (17) years of age, moving to Louisiana
from another state shall be eligible for the issuance of a Class "E"
intermediate driver's license provided such applicant meets all other
requirements for licensure in Louisiana if proof of issuance of a driver's
license or learner's license for a minimum of ninety days from the state of
previous residence is provided. The proof of driver's education will not be
required as this applicant will not be considered a "first time" applicant.
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