DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAY SAFETY AND MOTOR VEHICLES
ENDS PILOT PROJECT FOR ONLINE DRIVER LICENSE TESTING
~ Public Safety for Teen Drivers Outweighs Need for Convenience ~
In June 2010, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles decided to terminate an online (written) driver license testing pilot project being offered to first-time drivers by approved third-party Internet vendors. The program officially ended December 31, 2010.
The Department’s pilot project started in 2004 as an additional service option to our customers. However, due to the increased risk associated with licensing a potentially unprepared driver, the Department could not continue this pilot project.
Teen drivers are the most at-risk of any group, and it is incumbent upon the Department to take every available opportunity to ensure that they are properly prepared for a lifetime of safe driving. When the Department retested random customers who had taken the written test online during the pilot project, it became apparent that we could not rely on the integrity of the program. For example, when the Department retested 601 customers who initially passed the online test, less than 41 percent of them passed the retest in the driver license office. These retests were conducted between March 23 and April 8, 2009, and similar retests were conducted in early 2008 when only 56 percent of those taking the online test were able to pass the retest in the driver license office. The pilot project demonstrated how the technology and business model work, but given the results of these retests, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles made the decision to keep our priorities focused firmly on public safety.
The Department will resume the testing of all first time driver license applicants at no additional cost (a $6.25 fee is charged for testing at all tax collector offices).
NOTE: Customers who have not successfully completed an online test prior to January 1, 2011, will not receive credit for its completion. All online testing fees paid by a customer remain with the course provider and are not remitted to the State of Florida. If you purchased an online test that has not yet been completed, please contact your online course provider to seek any applicable refunds.