Oregon Drivers License
Oregon drivers license can be issued to any applicant over 16 years of age who satisfy all preliminary requirements. If you obtain your Oregon driving license before you turn 18, your license will be subject to a number of conditions and restrictions.
Different License Types
Operating different vehicles may require a different level of driving skills. That's why the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles issues different types of driving licenses. The following drivers license classes are currently available:
- Class C provision License. Issued to applicants under 18 years of age
- Class C. Regular drivers license, allows for operation of most common vehicles
- Commercials driving licenses, CDLs
If this is your first drivers license, you can only apply for a class C or a Class C provisional driving license, depending on your age.
Graduated Driving License
Just like most states nowadays, Oregon has its own graduate drivers license (GDL) system in place. According to many studies, teenage drivers are quite likely to be involved in an accident during their first year of driving. In most cases, lack of driving experience and proneness to risk-taking behavior are the causes. The GDL system applies certain restriction to the teenage drivers license holders, thus reducing the possible risks.
Applying for a Drivers License
If you are under 18 years of age, you must first apply for the Oregon drivers permit and hold it for at least 6 months before you can apply for your first driver's license. Sometimes this requirement confuses applicants as you can get your driving permit at 15 and the minimum license age is 16, thus if you get your permit at 15, you would have to wait the whole year before you get a license. This is true and you do have to wait until you are at least 16 in order to be eligible for a license, no matter when you got your permit, however, you should not view this as a setback. If you have your permit for 12 months instead of 6, it gives you much more time to practice your driving and gain more experience before you take your driving exam, giving you a much higher chance to pass. Your driving test is all about experience and how comfortable you feel behind the wheel, so use your time wisely.
Please note that before you can be issued with a driving permit, you will have to take an Oregon drivers permit test that will assess your familiarity with the driving rules and road signs. In order to pass the test, you will have to study the Oregon driving rules and there is no better way to do that than taking one of the Oregon driving education classes. The great news is that drivers ed classes frequently include driving lessons as well as the theory part, so you would get some driving experience with a professional before you take your drivers license exam.
Those who choose not to take classes can study the DMV drivers handbook, which is provided by the state free of charge. You can download the book off the web or you can obtain a copy at your local DMV office. Take a few practice tests once done with the book so you know what to expect on the actual DMV exam.
Drivers License Testing
Please note that just like in most of other states, the DMV in Oregon does not provide a vehicle for the drivers license exam. You can use your own vehicle, borrow one from a friend or rent a vehicle from a driving school. No matter which scenario you go with, you must make sure that the vehicle is in a good technical condition and it is properly insured.
When you pass the drivers license exam, you are given a temporary interim license that will allow you to drive until you receive the original in the mail. The original should arrive within 10-15 days, but if you do not receive it within 3 weeks, you should contact the DMV and possibly request a replacement.
If you fail your drivers license exam, you cannot retake it the same day. Those who are over 18 must wait at least 7 days before retaking the test. Applicants under 18 have to wait for at least 28 days. If you fail the drivers license exam 4 times, you will have to wait at least a year before retaking it.
