To earn a Florida intermediate operator’s license (16 and 17 year old drivers), you must be at least 16 years old AND have held a learner’s license for at least one (1) year without any traffic convictions.

Florida State specifically notes that every person under 18 years old MUST hold a Learner’s License for one year, there are NO exceptions to this law and that no person may drive alone with a Learner’s License – regardless of age. So a teen or those with a FL learner's permit cannot drive alone.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (HSMV) states to obtain an intermediate operator's license at the age of 16 or 17 one must provide:

• A Florida Learner’s License or a license from another jurisdiction.
• Parent or guardian certification that you have at least 50 hours of behind the wheel driving experience, of which 10 hours must be at night.

You are also required to take a driving test and perform certain driving maneuvers or present a waiver from an accepted driver education course .The FL HSMV notes that one should refer to the Florida Driver Handbook for specifics about the driving test.

To obtain your learner's license you were already required to take a written test, hearing test and vision test so normally these are not required again to get your driver's license in Florida.

Once teens obtain an Intermediate License their driving privileges are based on their age. See below:

• 16 years old - Driving is allowed between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. without a licensed adult (all other times must be accompanied by a licensed driver at least 21 years old occupying the closest seat to the right of the driver, or be traveling to or from work.)
• 17 years old - Driving allowed between 5 a.m. and 1 a.m. without a licensed adult (all other times must be accompanied by a licensed driver at least 21 years old occupying the closest seat to the right of the driver, or be traveling to or from work.
• 18 years old - Driving is allowed at all hours

With an Intermediate License you may drive without a licensed adult during the driving hour restrictions if travelling to or from work.

If you are starting a job in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and thus need to move up to the intermediate license from the learner's permit so that you can drive alone to and from work you must have held your permit for 1 year and have completed your behind the wheel driving that is required. You then can call to set up a driving test. Contact the FL HSMV for any other questions you have about getting your intermediate license.