1st Time Driver's Licenses
If you are taking up residency in New Mexico, you must surrender your license from any other state and apply for a New Mexico license within 30 days of moving to New Mexico. No written or road test is required if you own a valid out of state license. You will be required to pass an eye test. Two proofs of address are required when applying for a NM license such as utility bills received at your home, a rental or lease agreement, or bank statement. Proof of social security is also required (i.e., social security card, or two other proofs of social security such as W-2 form, government ID, bank statement with social security number visible on document). A license will not be issued if your driving privileges have been suspended, revoked, or denied by this state or any other state. All first-time licensees in New Mexico ages 18 to 24 (not required for persons 25 years and older) are required to take the "None for the Road" awareness class. There are two steps you must take to get a New Mexico license: Complete the "None for the Road" course. This course is not administered by the Taxation and Revenue Department's Motor Vehicle Division. The class is offered as a self-study course through the University of New Mexico. Course materials include a student manual/workbook and a video. The video is also offered as a closed-caption tape. Persons required to take the course may obtain a "None for the Road" flyer/application directly from Rapid MVD office. The flyer contains complete information for registering, obtaining course materials, and completing the course. Take your certificate of completion from the None for the Road course and your social security card and any one of these documents for identification: original birth certificate, certified copy of birth certificate, Military I.D., U.S. passport or foreign passport, Indian census card, or current driver's license from another state or country. All first-time licensees in New Mexico under age 18 applying for an instructional permit must progress through a three stage system to obtain a driver license: Stage 1 - To obtain a permit, a teen must be at least 15 years old, obtain parental consent, and must have completed or be enrolled in a state-approved driver education program. A written and vision test is required. A teen must hold the permit for 6 months and complete the driver education program. The teen must complete 50 hours of supervised driving practice, to include 10 hours at night. A parent or guardian must certify in writing that these hours have been completed. Stage 2 - A teen must be at least 15 years old and the teen must have held a permit for 6 months. If the driver's education certificate certifies the written and road test have been completed, a provisional license may be issued. If the certificate does not certify the tests have been taken the teen must complete the proper tests. Once the provisional license is issued, the driver must hold the license for 12 months before obtaining a full license. Stage 3 - To obtain a full license, a driver must complete Stage 2 successfully and have not received any citations in the past 90 days.. Documents required for identification must be presented at the time of starting Stage 1. An original birth certificate, certified copy of birth certificate, U.S. passport or foreign passport, Indian census card along with a social security card must be presented to obtain permit. No copies or laminated/altered documents will be accepted. Two proofs of address are also required such as utility bills received at your home, a rental or lease agreement, a bank statement with current address. For teens applying for the first time, parents proof of address is acceptable as one proof when the parent has a New Mexico driver's license and signs an affidavit stating the teen lives with the parent.

1st Time Driver's Licenses

If you are taking up residency in New Mexico, you must surrender your license from any other state and apply for a New Mexico license within 30 days of moving to New Mexico. No written or road test is required if you own a valid out of state license. You will be required to pass an eye test. Two proofs of address are required when applying for a NM license such as utility bills received at your home, a rental or lease agreement, or bank statement. Proof of social security is also required (i.e., social security card, or two other proofs of social security such as W-2 form, government ID, bank statement with social security number visible on document). A license will not be issued if your driving privileges have been suspended, revoked, or denied by this state or any other state.
All first-time licensees in New Mexico ages 18 to 24 (not required for persons 25 years and older) are required to take the "None for the Road" awareness class. There are two steps you must take to get a New Mexico license: Complete the "None for the Road" course. This course is not administered by the Taxation and Revenue Department's Motor Vehicle Division. The class is offered as a self-study course through the University of New Mexico. Course materials include a student manual/workbook and a video. The video is also offered as a closed-caption tape. Persons required to take the course may obtain a "None for the Road" flyer/application directly from Rapid MVD office. The flyer contains complete information for registering, obtaining course materials, and completing the course.
Take your certificate of completion from the None for the Road course and your social security card and any one of these documents for identification: original birth certificate, certified copy of birth certificate, Military I.D., U.S. passport or foreign passport, Indian census card, or current driver's license from another state or country.
All first-time licensees in New Mexico under age 18 applying for an instructional permit must progress through a three stage system to obtain a driver license:
- Stage 1 - To obtain a permit, a teen must be at least 15 years old, obtain parental consent, and must have completed or be enrolled in a state-approved driver education program. A written and vision test is required. A teen must hold the permit for 6 months and complete the driver education program. The teen must complete 50 hours of supervised driving practice, to include 10 hours at night. A parent or guardian must certify in writing that these hours have been completed.
- Stage 2 - A teen must be at least 15 years old and the teen must have held a permit for 6 months. If the driver's education certificate certifies the written and road test have been completed, a provisional license may be issued. If the certificate does not certify the tests have been taken the teen must complete the proper tests. Once the provisional license is issued, the driver must hold the license for 12 months before obtaining a full license.
- Stage 3 - To obtain a full license, a driver must complete Stage 2 successfully and have not received any citations in the past 90 days..
- Documents required for identification must be presented at the time of starting Stage 1. An original birth certificate, certified copy of birth certificate, U.S. passport or foreign passport, Indian census card along with a social security card must be presented to obtain permit. No copies or laminated/altered documents will be accepted. Two proofs of address are also required such as utility bills received at your home, a rental or lease agreement, a bank statement with current address. For teens applying for the first time, parents proof of address is acceptable as one proof when the parent has a New Mexico driver's license and signs an affidavit stating the teen lives with the parent.

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