Iowa Driver Education

As is the case with many states in the United States, Iowa is a participant in the graduated licensing program. This systematic removal of driving restrictions allows time for teen drivers to gain the valuable experience and responsibility that they need in order to drive cautiously and avoid becoming another teen driver statistic. Learning to avoid drugs and alcohol, especially while driving, is important to all drivers, though, and any driver can benefit from learning this lesson.

Drivers applying for their learner's permit need to be at least 14 years old. At this point, you may drive only with a licensed parent or legal guardian, and no other passengers may be in the car to help cut down on the number of distractions the inexperienced driver will face. Teens must complete a driver's education course before they turn 16 in order to graduate to the next step in driving privileges.

An approved driver's education course will consist of a minimum of at least 30 hours of classroom instruction and 6 hours of driving instruction. Of these 6 hours, three should be behind-the-wheel training and the other three should be spent in observation of someone else driving. Driver's education courses are available (and required to be made available) at all public schools in the state of Iowa and many private schools as well.