Wis. Stat. § 343.07 — WI Code / Chapter 343 / Section 343.07
Instruction permits.
Status: in_force

(1c) Definition. In this section, “qualified instructor” means a person employed by a public school, private school, or tribal school, as defined in s. 115.001 (15m) , holding an operator’s license and meeting the teaching certification standards of the department of public instruction or the technical college system board to teach driver education; or an instructor of a school licensed under s. 343.61 ; or a teacher or student teacher in a driver education course for teachers conducted by an institution of higher education.

(1g) Regular permit; issuance, restrictions. Upon application therefor by a person at least 15 years of age who, except for age or lack of training in the operation of a motor vehicle, is qualified to obtain an operator’s license and has passed such knowledge test as the department may require, the department may issue a regular instruction permit. If the application is made by a male who is at least 18 years of age but less than 26 years of age, the application shall include the information required under s. 343.14 (2) (em) . The permit entitles the permittee to operate a motor vehicle, except a commercial motor vehicle, school bus, or motorcycle, a motor bicycle, or a moped, upon the highways, subject to the following restrictions:

(a) Except as provided in this subsection, no permittee may operate a motor vehicle unless accompanied by a person who has at least 2 years of licensed driving experience, who presently holds a valid regular license, as defined in s. 343.03 (3) (a) , who occupies the seat beside the permittee and who is one of the following:

1. A qualified instructor who is 19 years of age or older. If the motor vehicle is equipped with dual controls, up to 3 other persons, in addition to the qualified instructor, may occupy seats in the motor vehicle other than the front seat.

2. The permittee’s parent, guardian or spouse who is 19 years of age or older. In addition to the parent, guardian or spouse, the permittee’s immediate family members may occupy seats in the motor vehicle other than the front seat.

3. A person who is 21 years of age or older. If the permittee is under 18 years of age, this subdivision applies only if the licensed person has been designated in writing to accompany the permittee by the permittee’s parent or guardian prior to operation of the vehicle by the permittee.

(bm) Except as provided in par. (a) , no permittee may operate a motor vehicle upon a highway in this state whenever any person is in the motor vehicle.

(cm) If the permittee is at least 16 years of age, in addition to the licensed accompanying operator, one other licensed person 25 years of age or more with at least 2 years’ driving experience may occupy a seat in the motor vehicle other than the front seat.

(d) The permittee shall not operate a motor vehicle during the hours of darkness unless accompanied by:

1. A licensed person 25 years of age or more, with at least 2 years’ licensed driving experience, occupying the seat beside the permittee; or

2. A qualified instructor.

(e) The permittee may operate a motor vehicle when accompanied by an authorized license examiner for the purpose of examining the permittee’s ability to operate a motor vehicle.

(1m) Commercial motor vehicle and school bus instruction permits; issuance, restrictions.

(ag) Upon application, the department may issue an instruction permit for commercial motor vehicle or school bus operation to a person who satisfies all of the following:

1. The person is at least 18 years of age.

2. The person holds a valid operator’s license issued under this chapter.

3. Except for lack of training in the operation of a commercial motor vehicle or school bus, the person is qualified to obtain authorization for the operation of a commercial motor vehicle or school bus.

4. The person has passed the applicable knowledge test and, for an applicant for a permit authorizing operation of a commercial motor vehicle under s. 343.04 (2) (a) , has satisfied the entry-level training requirements contained in 49 CFR 380 , subparts F and G.

(b) Unless the permittee is at least 21 years of age, the instruction permit is not valid authorization for operation in interstate commerce and that lack of authorization shall be clearly indicated on the permit.

(bm) A permit under this subsection that is limited to commercial motor vehicle instructional operation entitles the permittee to operate only a commercial motor vehicle upon the highways. A permit under this subsection that is limited to school bus instructional operation entitles the permittee to operate only a school bus upon the highways.

(c) The permittee may operate a commercial motor vehicle or school bus when accompanied by an authorized license examiner for the purpose of examining his or her ability to operate a commercial motor vehicle or school bus.

(cm) A permit under this subsection is subject to the following restrictions:

1. Except as provided in subd. 2. , the permittee may not operate a commercial motor vehicle or school bus unless accompanied by a qualified instructor or a licensed person 21 years of age or older with a valid license authorizing the person to operate such vehicle, occupying the seating position nearest to the driver. No passengers are allowed in the vehicle, except that when the accompanying operator is a qualified instructor up to 3 other permittees also being trained may occupy seats in the vehicle. The permittee may operate a commercial motor vehicle carrying property under this subdivision.

2.

a. A permittee may operate a commercial motor vehicle or school bus, other than a vehicle type specified in s. 343.04 (2) (a) , (c) or (f) , within this state unaccompanied by a qualified instructor or a licensed person 25 years of age or older with at least 2 years of licensed driving experience in a representative vehicle and a valid license authorizing the person to operate such vehicle if the permittee has taken and passed the applicable knowledge tests, the permittee is operating the vehicle in connection with a driver training course or program approved by the department, the vehicle is being used by the permittee exclusively for driver training purposes and not for the purposes of carrying property or passengers, and direct, uninterrupted audio or audiovisual electronic communication between a qualified instructor and the permittee is maintained at all times the permittee is operating the vehicle.

b. This subdivision shall apply to the extent permitted under federal law.

(d) No person holding an instruction permit issued under this subsection may operate a tank vehicle unless the tanks are empty and, if the tanks contained hazardous materials, purged or a vehicle transporting hazardous materials requiring placarding or any quantity of a material listed as a select agent or toxin under 42 CFR 73 .

(2) Training certificate required. Except for persons who qualify for a license under s. 343.08 , the department shall not issue an instruction permit to anyone under 18 years of age, unless it has a certificate from the applicant’s qualified instructor to the effect that the applicant is enrolled in an approved driver education and training course for the purpose of the practice driving phase.

(3) Duration; cancellation. An instruction permit to operate vehicles other than commercial motor vehicles or school buses is valid for 18 months except that it may be canceled upon receipt of information, by the secretary, of noncompletion or unsatisfactory completion of a driver education and training course by a permittee under the age of 18. An instruction permit to operate commercial motor vehicles or school buses is valid for 180 days.

(4) Instruction permits; motorcycle, motor bicycle, and moped.

(a) Subject to s. 343.16 (1) (a) , upon application by a person who qualifies for issuance of a license under s. 343.06 (1) (c) and who wishes to qualify for the operation of a motorcycle, the department may issue an instruction permit for the operation of “Class M” vehicles.

(b) The permit for motorcycle operation shall be valid for 6 months. The department shall issue no more than 3 permits for motorcycle operation to a person unless the person has successfully completed a rider course approved by the department. The department may, by rule, exempt certain persons from the rider course requirement of this paragraph. The permit for motorcycle operation entitles the permittee to operate a motorcycle subject to the following restrictions:

1. No passenger may accompany the permittee except that a person with at least 2 years of licensed driving experience and whose license is endorsed for motorcycle operation may ride as a passenger-instructor.

2. The permittee may not operate a motorcycle during hours of darkness unless accompanied by a licensed person 25 years of age or more and meeting the requirements of subd. 1.

(c) The permit for moped and motor bicycle operation shall be valid for 6 months and entitles the permittee to operate a moped or motor bicycle subject to restrictions specified by the department by rule.

(6) Special instructional permits. This section does not apply to instructional permits issued under s. 343.075 .

(7) Penalty for restriction violations.

(a) Notwithstanding s. 343.43 (1) (d) and (3m) , any person who violates sub. (1g) (a) , (bm) , or (d) or (4) (b) 1. or 2. shall be required to forfeit $50 for the first offense and not less than $50 nor more than $100 for each subsequent offense.

(b) Upon receiving notice of a person’s conviction for a violation of sub. (1g) (a) , (bm) , or (d) or (4) (b) 1. or 2. , the department shall notify any adult sponsor who has signed for the person under s. 343.15 (1) of the conviction.

History: 1971 c. 164 ; 1973 c. 199 ; 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (7) (a) , (c); 1977 c. 128 , 273 ; 1979 c. 345 ; 1983 a. 243 ; 1985 a. 65 , 202 ; 1987 a. 122 ; 1989 a. 87 , 105 , 359 ; 1991 a. 12 , 269 , 316 ; 1993 a. 16 , 24 , 399 ; 1995 a. 27 s. 9145 (1) ; 1997 a. 27 ; 1999 a. 9 ; 2001 a. 93 ; 2003 a. 33 ; 2005 a. 149 , 294 , 466 ; 2007 a. 97 ; 2009 a. 302 ; 2015 a. 123 ; 2019 a. 50 ; 2021 a. 64 , 152 ; 2025 a. 127 .