Restricted licenses for persons under 18 years of age

Wis. Stat. § 343.08
in effect
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(1) Upon application therefor, the department may issue a restricted license to a person who is at least 14 and less than 18 years of age if the following conditions, in addition to any others specified in this chapter, are fulfilled: (a) The department must be satisfied that it is necessary for the applicant to operate an automobile, farm truck, dual purpose farm truck, motorcycle powered with an engine of not more than 125 cubic centimeters displacement, autocycle, moped, or motor bicycle owned and registered by the applicant’s parent or guardian or a farm truck leased to the applicant’s parent or guardian. (b) The applicant, accompanied by a parent or guardian, must have appeared in person before an examining officer with a certificate of birth to show that the applicant is at least 14 years of age. (c) The applicant must have passed an examination as specified in s. 343.16, including a test of the applicant’s ability to safely operate the type of vehicle which the applicant is making application for license to operate. (2) (a) A restricted license issued pursuant to this section is valid only until the licensee secures an operator’s license issued pursuant to s. 343.03 or reaches 18 years of age and, except as provided in par. (b), entitles the licensee to operate an automobile, farm truck, dual purpose farm truck, motorcycle powered with an engine of not more than 125 cubic centimeters displacement, autocycle, moped, or motor bicycle owned and registered by the licensee’s parent or guardian or a farm truck leased to the licensee’s parent or guardian or any combination of these vehicles, depending on the restrictions placed by the department on the particular license. (b) A license issued pursuant to this section does not authorize the licensee to operate any such vehicle during hours of darkness or to operate a vehicle for hire or in a city having a population of 500,000 or more or to operate a school bus or a commercial motor vehicle, including a farm truck or dual purpose farm truck defined as a commercial motor vehicle, or taxicab.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/343.08Fetched: 10/7/2026