COMMERCIAL DRIVING SCHOOLS

F.S. Ch. 488
in effect

F.S. 488.01 License to engage in business of operating a driver school required.

The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall oversee and license all commercial driver schools except truck driving schools. All commercial truck driving schools shall be required to be licensed pursuant to chapter 1005, and additionally shall be subject to the provisions of ss. 488.04 and 488.05. No person, group, organization, institution, business entity, or corporate entity may engage in the business of operating a driver school without first obtaining a license therefor from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles pursuant to this chapter or from the Commission for Independent Education pursuant to chapter 1005.

F.S. 488.02 Rules and regulations.

The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has authority to adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the provisions of this chapter.

F.S. 488.03 License; application; expiration; renewal; fees.

An application for a license shall be made in the form prescribed by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Every application for an original license must be accompanied by an application fee of $50, which fee may not be refunded. If the application is approved, a further fee of $200 must be paid before the license may be issued. The license shall be valid for a period of 1 year from the date of issuance and is not transferable. In the event of any change in ownership or interest in the business, an application for a new license, together with all instructors’ certificates issued thereunder, must be surrendered to the department before a license will be issued to a new owner of the business. The fee for the annual renewal of a license is $100.

F.S. 488.04 Driver training school instructors; certificates; qualifications.

(1) No person shall receive compensation for giving instructions in the operation of motor vehicles or act in the capacity of a professional driver training school instructor in this state without first obtaining an instructor’s certificate issued for such purpose by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. An application for a certificate shall be made in the form prescribed by the department. The fee for the initial application is $25, which is not refundable. The fee for the annual renewal of a certificate is $10. A certificate is valid for use only in connection with the business of the driver school or schools listed on the certificate by the department or in connection with a driver education course offered by a district school board. An applicant for an instructor’s certificate shall be required to take special eye tests, written tests, and road tests and to furnish proof of his or her qualifications and ability as an instructor. (2) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles may issue a duplicate certificate only upon receipt of an affidavit stating that the original certificate was physically destroyed, but may not issue a duplicate certificate for any other loss of the original certificate. The fee for issuance of a duplicate certificate is $2.

F.S. 488.05 Driver school vehicle identification certificates.

A motor vehicle owned or controlled by a driver school may not be used for the purpose of giving driving instructions until the licensee has obtained a school vehicle identification certificate from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, which certificate shall be carried in such vehicle at all times. An application for an initial certificate shall be accompanied by a fee of $15, which is not refundable. The fee for the annual renewal of a certificate is $10. A school vehicle certificate will not be issued by the department unless the vehicle is equipped in accordance with safety requirements established by the department.

F.S. 488.06 Revocation or suspension of license or certificate.

The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles may suspend or revoke any license or certificate issued under the provisions of this chapter if the holder of the license or certificate or an instructor, agent, or employee of the commercial driving school has: (1) Violated the provisions of this chapter; (2) Been convicted of, pled no contest to, or had adjudication withheld for any felony offense or misdemeanor offense, as shown by a fingerprint-based criminal background check, the cost of which must be borne by the applicant, instructor, agent, or employee; (3) Committed any fraud or willful misrepresentation in applying for or obtaining a license; or (4) Solicited business on any premises, including parking areas, used by the department or a tax collector for the purpose of licensing drivers. For purposes of subsection (2), fingerprints shall be submitted by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for state processing, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement shall forward them to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for national processing. The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall screen the background check results to determine if an applicant, instructor, agency, or employee meets licensure or certification requirements.

F.S. 488.07 Penalties for violation.

A person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter or any of the rules or regulations promulgated hereunder is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

F.S. 488.08 Disposition of revenues; budget.

All moneys received from the application for, or from the issuance of, licenses and certificates under this chapter shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund. The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall include an amount in its legislative budget request sufficient for the proper administration of the provisions of this chapter.

F.S. 488.045 Agents for commercial driving school; identification cards.

A person may not serve in the capacity of an agent for a commercial driving school without first obtaining an agent identification card issued for such purpose by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. An application for a card shall be made in the form prescribed by the department. The fee for the initial application is $25, which is not refundable. The fee for the annual renewal of a card is $10. A card is valid for use only in connection with the business of the driver school or schools listed on the card by the department.
Source: FL Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/Chapter488/AllFetched: 7/8/2026