New Mexico Online Driver Education and New Mexico Licensing Procedures

The State of New Mexico congratulates you on starting the process of applying for your New Mexico learner’s permit or first New Mexico driver’s license. The process of learning to drive can be a challenging one, and our job is to try to make it as simple for you as possible.

New Mexico has a graduated driver license program for New Mexico drivers ages 15-18, and there are a few things to keep in mind to make sure that you don’t hit any snags while applying for your New Mexico driver’s license. So, here we go!

The New Mexico Instructional Permit or New Mexico Learner’s Permit

When you’re 15 you can apply for a New Mexico instructional permit, otherwise known as a New Mexico learner’s permit. To be eligible, you’ll need to enroll in a New Mexico approved driver training course. Also, you must practice driving with your parent, guardian, driving instructor, or licensed driver who is at least 21 and has 3 or more years of driving experience. All passengers must wear seatbelts, and don’t forget to carry your New Mexico Instructional Permit with you at all times!

  • Proof of Enrollment in a New Mexico approved driver training course
  • “Proof of New Mexico Residency()”:http://www.mvd.newmexico.gov/Drivers/Licensing/Proof-of-NM-Residency.html
  • Permit fee of $10
  • “Proof of identification number()”:http://www.mvd.newmexico.gov/Drivers/Licensing/MVD-Proof-of-Identification-Number.html
  • “Proof of identity()”:http://www.mvd.newmexico.gov/Drivers/Licensing/MVD-Proof-of-Identity.html
  • Optional 3 hour New Mexico approved driver education course certification with a 3 hour DWI component (which will help you avoid taking the written test!)

Once you’ve collected all of the necessary materials, head on down to your local New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) and submit your application. You’ll need your parent/guardian to sign your application, and don’t forget to bring the instructional permit fee of $10. Then, you’ll have to pass a vision test, as well as a written test (unless you already have a certificate of completion from a New Mexico approved driver education course that includes a 3 hour DWI component). You can study for the New Mexico written test with the “New Mexico driver handbook()”:http://www.tax.state.nm.us/pubs/dlm/dlm.pdf.

If you pass, then congratulations. You’ve just earned your New Mexico Instructional Permit!

When you’ve held your New Mexico Instructional Permit for 6 months and have met a few requirements, you’ll be ready to advance to the New Mexico Provisional license.

The New Mexico Provisional Driver License or New Mexico Full License

You can apply for your New Mexico Provisional license once you’ve held your New Mexico Instructional Permit for 6 months and have met the following requirements:

  • Complete 50 hours of supervised driving practice
  • 10 hours must be at night
  • Your parents must verify the 50 hours of driving practice by signing a driving log
  • Be at least 15 and a half
  • No drinking or driving (even a .02 blood alcohol content will result in your New Mexico Instructional Permit being revoked for 6 months
  • Complete a New Mexico approved driver education program
  • Maintain a clean driving record for 90 days before you apply
  • The $18 license fee.

If you’ve completed these requirements, head on down to your local New Mexico MVD. Then, unless you’ve already taken a road skills exam as part of your New Mexico approved driver education course, you’ll have to take the dreaded road test! If you pass, then congratulations! You’ve just earned your New Mexico Provisional License! Despite how far you’ve come however, you’ll still have to drive with a few restrictions until you’ve held your new license for at least 12 months without incident.

New Mexico Teen Driver License Restrictions and Penalties

Driving is a privilege, not a right. As a teen driver, there are several restrictions you need to be aware of regarding your New Mexico Provisional license:

  • No driving between midnight and 5AM unless for emergencies, your job, or a school-related activity
  • Everyone in the vehicle must wear a seatbelt
  • No cell phones, hand-held videogames, or any electronic devices while driving
  • Only 1 non-family passenger allowed

Look on the bright side: you’re almost at the finish line. After you’ve held your New Mexico Provisional License for 12 months without incident, you can return to your local New Mexico MVD to apply for your New Mexico Full License. The fee is $18 for 4 years and $34 for 8 years. Best of all, most restrictions are removed. Freedom!

New Mexico Drunk Driving, Cell Phone, and Text Messaging Laws

As a new driver, one of your first responsibilities is to learn the New Mexico drunk driving, cell phone, and text messaging laws and obey them religiously. More than anything else, as a driver you should be committed to keeping yourself and others safe.

Drunk Driving. Like most states, New Mexico has a Zero Tolerance Law for underage drinking, and if you are convicted of a New Mexico DUI or New Mexico DWI, you face additional penalties to those listed below.

Upon your first conviction of a New Mexico DWI, you’ll face the following penalties:

  • Jail sentence up to 90 days
  • Ignition Interlock 1 year
  • DWI school
  • Alcohol evaluation
  • License suspension up to 1 year
  • Community service

And of course, further New Mexico DWI and DUI convictions will result in stiffer penalties: increased jail time, community service, fines, and New Mexico license suspension or even New Mexico license revocation are all possible for repeat offenders!

Cell Phones. Currently, New Mexico teen drivers are not allowed to use cell phones while driving in only two cities, Santa Fe and Albuquerque. In Santa Fe, it is prohibited to drive while using a cell phone (even with a hands-free device) to talk or text message. The fine is $60. In Albuquerque, you may use a cell phone only with a hands-free device. The fine is $100 for first conviction and $200 for subsequent convictions. As a general rule, cell phone use while driving should be kept to a minimum no matter where you live!

New Mexico Auto Insurance Financial Responsibility Laws

Once you receive your New Mexico drivers license, we know you’ll be anxious to get on the road. But there’s one more important detail: insurance. Any vehicle registered in New Mexico must be covered by liability insurance. The minimum liability insurance coverage is: $25,000 per person, per accident; $50,000 bodily injury for 2 or more persons per accident; and $10,000 for property damage.

If you get into an accident and are found to be driving without New Mexico mandatory liability insurance, your New Mexico license could be suspended.

New Mexico Online Driver Education

Don’t forget, you’ll need to enroll in a driver education course at the very start of the process. New Mexico teen drivers can find more information on approved New Mexico online driver education courses on the “New Mexico MVD website()”:http://www.mvd.newmexico.gov/Maps-and-Locations/Drivers-Ed-Schools.html.

New Mexico Frequently Asked Questions

  • How can I pay the tuition fee for TeenDrivingCourse.com’s New Mexico online drivers education for new teen drivers course?
    You may make payment in the form of credit card or online check, or you may choose to mail in a payment by check or money order for the TeenDrivingCourse.com New Mexico online drivers ed course, but payment must be made prior to taking the final exam.
  • What types of shipping methods do you provide for the TeenDrivingCourse.com New Mexico internet drivers ed certificate of completion?
    TeenDrivingCourse.com offers several convenient options for shipping your New Mexico certificate of completion, including regular US Mail and Federal Express. When you register for the online defensive driving course, you will be asked to select your certificate of completion. If you select regular US Mail, your online New Mexico traffic school certificate will be delivered in 7-10 business days. If you select Federal Express, you have several options! You can select Priority Overnight (by or before 10:30AM the next business morning), Standard Overnight (by or before 5PM the next business day), Second Day (by or before 5PM on the second business day), Express (by or before 5PM on the third business day), or if you complete your online New Mexico traffic school course on a Friday, we also offer Saturday Federal Express (by or before 12PM on Saturday).
  • Do I need to be concerned about giving out my payment information over the website if I want to take the TeenDrivingCourse.com New Mexico internet drivers ed course?
    No. You can rest assured that TeenDrivingCourse.com uses the very latest in SSL data encryption technology to make sure that your personal and payment information is 100% secure. We also offer several payment methods for our New Mexico internet driver education course, including credit card, check and online check.
  • I’m looking to take an online driver education course in New Mexico. What is the cost of your New Mexico internet drivers education course?
    The TeenDrivingCourse.com New Mexico online drivers ed course or new drivers course is $24.99. Discounts may be available if you have a “refer a friend” discount code.

Please be aware that while in some states TeenDrivingCourse.com is sufficient for fulfilling your state’s driver education requirements, in other states TeenDrivingCourse.com is offered only as a supplement to the actual driver education and/or training you will receive at a state-approved driving school. To find out if TeenDrivingCourse.com will meet your state’s minimum driver education requirements, please contact your local DMV office.

  • I want to take my required New Mexico driver education when I turn 16 years old. Is this possible?
    In most states, you must be at least 15 1/2 to take drivers ed for your learners permit. We recommend that you check with the New Mexico Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), New Mexico Department of Education, or New Mexico Department of Driver License Services to make sure that you are eligible to take New Mexico driver education.

Please be aware that although TeenDrivingCourse.com is sufficient for fulfilling driver education requirements in some states, in other states TeenDrivingCourse.com is only offered as a supplement to the driver education and/or training you will receive at a state-approved driving school. To find out if TeenDrivingCourse.com will meet your state’s minimum driver education requirements, we recommend that you check with the New Mexico Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

  • If I do not do well on the TeenDrivingCourse.com New Mexico drivers education online course’s final exam, how many times will I be able to retake it?
    Once you finish the New Mexico drivers ed internet course, you must take your New Mexico final exam. If you don’t pass the New Mexico test on your first try, you can retake it as many times as you need until you pass!
  • How do I know if my New Mexico insurance provider will give me a discount If I enroll in the New Mexico internet drivers ed course for new drivers?
    Whether or not you will qualify for an insurance discount depends on which state you live in and which company you are insured with. In some states, insurance carriers do offer insurance discounts to teen-aged drivers who successfully complete an online New Mexico drivers education course. We recommend that you contact your insurance agent in New Mexico to see what, if any, discount you may qualify for by enrolling in TeenDrivingCourse.com’s New Mexico online drivers education course.
  • If I want to take the New Mexico online driver education course from more than one computer, can I do that?
    Yes. At TeenDrivingCourse.com we care about your convenience. You’re free to take the New Mexico online driver education course anywhere you want, from any computer you want. For example, if circumstances require you to take part of the New Mexico online drivers ed course at school and part of the New Mexico learners permit course from home, that’s perfectly okay! Any computer with internet access will work.
  • May I choose whether I take the TeenDrivingCourse.com New Mexico online drivers ed course in one sitting, or can I take frequent breaks throughout the New Mexico internet drivers ed course?
    Yes, it is your choice! The TeenDrivingCourse.com New Mexico online drivers ed course is designed to work around your schedule.
  • Can I receive the New Mexico certificate within 3 business days of completing your New Mexico internet drivers ed course?
    It is possible. How quickly you get your New Mexico online drivers ed certificate of completion depends upon the shipping method you select at registration. We offer regular US mail shipping and expedited shipping through Federal Express.
  • Will I have to spend the entire 30 hours taking the New Mexico online driver education course?
    You might not have to spend the full 30 hours taking the New Mexico online drivers ed course if you reside in a state that does not require timers. Otherwise, you can expect to spend about 30 hours taking the New Mexico online driver education course.
  • Am I waiving my right to a refund once I begin the New Mexico online drivers education course?
    No. You do not give up the right to a refund until the New Mexico certificate of completion for the New Mexico online drivers ed course is shipped. Unlike our competitors, TeenDrivingCourse.com gives you the right to request a refund at ANY point during the New Mexico online learners permit course as long as your New Mexico certificate of completion has not been shipped.
  • Does the New Mexico online driver education course on TeenDrivingCourse.com have any features to assist people like me who struggle to read large amounts of text?
    Yes. TeenDrivingCourse.com offers a “Read Along” feature that reads the material aloud while you follow along with the New Mexico online drivers ed class text. You can order this feature when you register for the New Mexico online drivers ed class.
  • Does the New Mexico Department of Motor Vehicles know if the New Mexico online drivers ed course is state approved?
    Yes, the New Mexico DMV will be able to tell you if TeenDrivingCourse.com will fulfill your state’s minimum driver education requirements or whether TeenDrivingCourse.com can be taken as a supplement to the driver education and/or training you will receive at a state-approved driving school.
  • Before I can get my permit to start practicing driving, what New Mexico driver education documents will I need?
    Generally, most states will require you to present a valid certificate of completion for a state-approved driver education program. However, the New Mexico DMV/DVS may require additional paperwork before allowing you to take the New Mexico learner’s permit exam. You probably should either contact a New Mexico DMV/DVS office in your area or visit their website and find out exactly what documents you are required to have with you when you go to your local driver’s license office to take your New Mexico learner’s permit test.
  • How are the New Mexico online drivers ed course quizzes structured for the TeenDrivingCourse.com New Mexico online driver education course?
    There is a New Mexico online drivers ed course quiz at the end of each New Mexico online drivers ed course chapter, and it consists of about five questions.
  • Will taking the TeenDrivingCourse.com online New Mexico driver education course be less tedious for me than a classroom New Mexico driver education course?
    For sure! If you value learning what you want, where you want, how you want—instead of spending hours sitting in a classroom—the TeenDrivingCourse.com online New Mexico driver education course is just what you need. Even in states that do not allow online driver education, our New Mexico online driver ed course can still help you by reinforcing the things you learn in the classroom.
  • Do I have to give proof of identity at some point during the TeenDrivingCourse.com New Mexico online drivers ed course?
    Although many states do not require us to verify the identity of our students, some states do. If your state has this requirement (we’ll let you know if it does), it will likely take the form of us asking you personal questions at various times during the course.