Driving schools
How does my teen get a driver's license in Wisconsin?
A common question, answered by the MadisonWI.com editors · November 9, 2026
1 answer
From MadisonWI.com
Under Wisconsin's graduated driver license (GDL) rules, a teen can get an instruction permit at 15 or older. Teens under 18 must be enrolled in, or have completed, driver education, be enrolled in school or an equivalent program, and have an adult sponsor. Driver education includes at least 30 hours of classroom time, six hours of behind-the-wheel training and six hours of observation, and some programs require more. Before applying for a probationary license, your teen must hold the permit for at least six months, be violation-free for the six months before applying, and log at least 50 hours of driving practice, 10 of them at night. A parent or adult sponsor certifies those hours on the application. The probationary license comes with limits on passengers and on late-night driving, which are lifted after nine months of violation-free driving. Source: Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Graduated Driver License (GDL) FAQs (checked November 2026).
Written by the MadisonWI.com editors · November 9, 2026