To earn a learner's license in the state of Florida one must be at least 15 and provide to the FL Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (HSMV) the following items:

• One primary and one secondary form of identification, which must be original or certified,
• Social Security Number, if issued,
• Proof that you completed a Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education course (check your local yellow pages under ‘Driving Instruction’ for a location near you) or a license from any state, country, or jurisdiction, and
• Parental Consent Form, which must be signed in the presence of a driver license examiner or notarized if parent or guardian will not be present. If you are under 18 and are not married one parent or legal guardian must sign your license application. Step-parents may not sign unless they have legally adopted you.

At age 17 you are over the minimum age requirement but yet if you do not have your parents to sing the parental consent form it may not be possible for you to obtain a learner's license. You may have to wait until you are 18 to start the licensing process in Florida unless you have a guardian to sign the consent form.

If your brother is your legal guardian then he should be sign the form. If you are an emancipated teenager then you should contact the FL HSMV to see what steps to take since you do not have a guardian or parent to sign the consent form to get a learner's license.

Another issue is that a parent, legal guardian or responsible adult (over 21 years of age) must accompany a driver holding a learner’s license. Since your brother is only 20 he would not allowed to be the accompanying driver.

Also drivers under 18 years of age must meet the following criteria before they are eligible to apply for a Class E License:

• Hold a Learner's License for a minimum of 12 months.
• No traffic convictions 12 months prior to making a Class E application, or
• One non-criminal traffic conviction where an election to complete a basic driver improvement course wherein the points were not assessed by the clerk of court (adjudication withheld).

Also as part of the Florida licensing process a parent, legal guardian or other responsible adult over 21 years of age must certify in person or by notary that the applicant has completed 50 hours of behind the wheel experience, of which 10 hours was night-time driving.

It would appear that you have a unique situation in that you are still a minor but not living with your parents and a brother under the age of 21. We would recommend that you contact the Florida HSMV directly to find out if there is a way in which you can obtain a learner's license before turning 18.