Classes of Driver's Licenses
Wisconsin offers several types of driver's licenses, depending on what type of vehicle you will be driving. Here's the basic list of licensing classes:
Class A license allows: Any combination of vehicles with a weight over 26,000 pounds, towing a trailer of 10,000 pounds or more.
Class B license allows: Any single vehicle with weight over 26,000 pounds, towing a trailer of 10,000 pounds or less.
Class C license allows: Any single vehicle with weight of 26,000 pounds or less, either with or without a trailer of 10,000 pounds or less, or any size vehicle that is used to transport hazardous materials requiring the vehicle to carry placards, or any vehicle designed to carry 16 or more persons including the driver.
Class D license allows: The driving of passenger cars, light trucks, and mopeds.
Class M license allows: The driving of motorcycles.
Classes A, B, and C are for those interested in being commercial drivers.
Note that identification cards are available for those Wisconsin residents who don't drive.
New to Wisconsin?
If you are new to Wisconsin and are over the age of 18, you will need to apply for a Wisconsin driver's license. Here's what you'll need to be prepared to do when you go the local DMV Service Center:
Complete a Wisconsin Driver License and Identification Card Application form, available online using the free Adobe Reader.
Provide your Social Security number.
Answer the medical questions on the application.
Successfully complete a vision test.
Surrender your out-of-state driver's license and/or identification card.
Pay the appropriate fees.
Have your photograph taken.
Provide proof of residency.
Medical Questions
The driver license application form has a series of medical questions which you must answer in order for your application to be considered. Depending on your answers, some medical conditions may require additional information from your physician. In some cases, you may also be required to take a written knowledge test, the highway signs tests, and a driving skills exam.
Teen Drivers
The place for teen drivers to begin is with an application for a learner's permit. Here's what you'll need to do to compete the learner's permit application process:
Be at least 15 1/2 years old.
Show proof of your name and date of birth.
Show proof of identity.
If you are under 18, you must show proof that you are enrolled in a certified driver education program.
Also, if you are under 18 years old, you must have the signature and permission of a parent, step-parent, or other adult sponsor, unless, under certain conditions, you are able to file proof of insurance.
Successfully complete the knowledge tests as required.
Pay the appropriate fees.
Teen Drivers New to Wisconsin
If you are under the age of 18 and are new to Wisconsin, you must be at least 16 years old and will need to provide the following:
Proof of your driver education classes and of your driver's training behind the wheel hours.
Proof of an existing driver's license or learner's permit held for at least six months.
Have not committed any driving violations for at least six months.
Show proof of residency.
Pay the appropriate fees.
Fees
Regular Class D: $18
Probationary License: $18
Instruction Permit: $25
Driving Skills exam: $15
Duplicate License: $4
Renewal (8 years): $24
No Out-of-State License?
If you do not have a current out-of-state license, you will also be required to show one of these proof of name and date of birth documents.
Testing
Wisconsin has several types of tests for new drivers, including the knowledge test, the highways signs and symbols test, and the driving skills tests. The best study tool for these tests is the Wisconsin Motorist's Handbook.
Knowledge Test
In many states, this test is known as the written knowledge test, but the Wisconsin DMV has instituted touch-screen computer testing for all knowledge and signs tests. This gives the person testing immediate feedback as to whether an answer is correct or incorrect.
Driving Skills Test
In most cases, the only applicants that will be required to take a driving skills test are those under the age of 18 and anyone, regardless of age, who has never been issued a driver's license. If you have a current, valid license from another state and are transferring to Wisconsin, you will not be required to take a driving skills test.
You must provide an appropriate vehicle for the skills test, which will be evaluated for safety before you leave the DMV premises. Proof of insurance is also required at the time of the driving skills test.
During the driving skills tests, you will most likely be tested on the following skills:
Stopping and starting the vehicle.
Angle-in and parallel parking.
Stopping, yielding, and other intersection approaches.
Maneuvering through a roundabout.
Maneuvering through traffic lights.
Keeping proper distance from parked and moving vehicles.
Crosswalks and school zones
Proper use of the horn, mirrors, lights, power signals and hand signals
Correct driving posture.
Passing another vehicle.
Starting and stopping your vehicle on an up and a down grade.
Hill parking, both uphill and downhill.
Knowledge of right-of-way.
Proper use of the clutch in a standard transmission vehicle.
Wisconsin makes its testing material available to as many citizens as possible. Knowledge and signs tests are available in a number of languages:
English
Chinese
Hmong
Polish
Russian
Serbo-Croatian
Somali
Spanish
Testing Timing
If you are applying for a Class D license, the knowledge and signs testing should be completed within approximately 45 minutes. You can test anytime, no appointment is required.
Testing Limits
In Wisconsin, you may take any test up to five times within a one year period. Special permission is required for any applicant who has failed five times and wishes to begin testing again. Any applicant requesting more than five attempts must be prepared to show the DMV official what has been done to improve the chance of success on any further testing tries.
2007-03-17 16:30:55
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answer #2
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answered by ejc18_2003 2
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