What Changed in Florida
Starting February 6, 2026, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) requires all driver license exams to be taken in English only. This applies to both the written knowledge test and the behind-the-wheel driving skills test.
Before this change, Florida offered the knowledge exam in multiple languages, including Spanish, Haitian Creole, and Portuguese. Translation services and interpreter assistance were also permitted. All of these options have been removed.
Who Is Affected?
This policy affects anyone applying for a driver license in Florida, including:
The policy does not affect people who already hold a valid Florida driver license.
Why Did Florida Make This Change?
FLHSMV stated the policy promotes highway safety by ensuring all drivers can read English-language road signs and communicate with law enforcement. The change followed several high-profile traffic accidents involving drivers with limited English proficiency, as well as a federal executive order from President Trump mandating English proficiency for commercial drivers.
Florida joined Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wyoming as the fourth state to require English-only DMV exams.
How to Prepare
If English is not your first language, this change means you need to be able to read and understand the knowledge test in English. Here is what you can do:
1. Read the Florida Driver Handbook once — cover to cover. Yes, it is long and yes, it can be boring. But one full read gives you the big picture of every rule, sign, and law you will be tested on. Don't try to memorize — just understand the concepts.
2. Switch to SmartRecall to make the knowledge stick. This is where learning gets fun. Instead of re-reading the handbook over and over, use DMVPrep Pro's SmartRecall Method — 67 short, focused lessons that use active recall and spaced repetition to move rules from short-term to long-term memory. It automatically focuses on what you struggle with most.
3. Take practice tests every day. Once SmartRecall has built your foundation, practice tests let you apply what you learned in the real test format. Take at least one full test per day for two weeks before your exam. Every question has a plain-English explanation.
4. Learn the DMV vocabulary first. Before reading the handbook, learn the 50 most important driving words — "yield," "merge," "intersection," "right of way." This makes everything else easier.
5. Don't rush on test day. You can take as much time as you need. Read each question carefully, more than once if needed.
What About Other States?
Most other states still offer the DMV test in multiple languages. However, more states may follow Florida's lead. See our full guide: Which States Require English-Only DMV Tests?
How DMVPrep Pro Can Help
DMVPrep Pro was built specifically for people like you — first-time drivers and non-native English speakers preparing for the DMV test. Our platform offers:
Start free, then unlock everything with a one-time $9.99 Pass (1 state) or $7/mo Premium (all 50 states, SmartRecall, Exam Simulator, and more).