A new law taking effect July 1, 2025, will require Florida teens to complete a driver’s education course to qualify for a learner’s permit, the Florida DMV announced on its website.

Senate Bill 994 was introduced by Senator Jay Collins earlier this year and signed into law on May 30.

The new program, known as Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS), will be mandatory for all applicants ages 15 to 17 starting August 1.

The new DETS course covers the following topics:

• Meaning and responsibilities of a driver’s license
• Laws related to motor vehicle operation
• Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws
• Proper vehicle control and traffic procedures
• How to share the road with other vehicles and road users
• Strategies for defensive driving
• Physical and mental factors affecting the ability to drive
• How drugs and alcohol affect driving performance

The in-person program is offered at select Florida schools and will last one semester. The online version will take at least six hours to complete and must meet or exceed the Department of Education’s requirements for classroom training.

Previously, the only education Florida teens needed to qualify for a permit was the Drug, Alcohol, and Traffic Awareness (DATA) course. It was also commonly known as Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE).

While the new driver’s ed program will be available to applicants on July 1, the state will accept both TLSAE and DETS during a transition period in July.

On August 1, the new driver’s education course will become mandatory, and a TLSAE certificate will not satisfy permit requirements for applicants under 18 years old.

Drivers 18 and up will still be required to take the DATA course after August 1. certain exemptions may apply, such as holding a license in another state or completing a Florida Department of Education driver’s education program.

Students can take the new driver’s ed course online or in person as part of a semester-long high school program for grades nine to 12.