How to Obtain a Free Driver’s License in Alabama: Instructions and the Law
Alabama’s Act 2022-300 waives driver’s license and exam fees for homeless students aged 15-19. Learn how to qualify and access the form online through the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA).
Recent changes to state law make it possible for many students experiencing homelessness in Alabama to obtain a driver’s license for free.
Alabama Act No. 2022-300 exempts 15-19-year-old students experiencing homelessness from paying fees for a driver’s license, duplicate license, or the driver’s license exam. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) provides the necessary form that students seeking the fee exemption can access online here, to apply. Students should work with school officials (liaisons, counselors, social workers, etc.), staff in their GED or training program, physician or employer to complete the form.
How Do I Qualify for the Fee Exemption?
Act 2022-300 defines the term “qualified student” as a student meeting the definition of a “homeless child or youth” as provided by 42 U.S.C.§11434(a)(2). To get a free driver’s license, students should also be:
- Between the ages of 15 and 19, and applying for, renewing, or seeking reinstatement of a driver’s license or a learner’s permit for the operation of a motor vehicle.
- Enrolled in a school, in a GED program, or a job training program approved by the County Superintendent of Education.
Students may seek an exemption from these enrollment requirements if they are physically or mentally unable to attend school, are regularly and legally employed under the provisions of the Child Labor Law, or live a significant distance from school and because of the lack of public transportation, are compelled to walk more than two miles to attend. Additional information regarding qualification is available on the ALEA form.