Ark. Code Ann. § 27-16-604 (2026)

1. The Office of Driver Services shall not issue any license under this chapter to any person:
   1. As a noncommercial driver who is under eighteen (18) years of age, except that the Office of Driver Services may issue an intermediate license as provided to any person who is at least sixteen (16) years of age and a learner's permit license to any person who is at least fourteen (14) years of age. This age restriction does not apply to a person who is at least sixteen (16) years of age and:
      1. Married;
      2. Possesses a high school diploma;
      3. Has successfully completed a high school equivalency test; or
      4. Is enlisted in the United States military;
   2. As a commercial driver who is under eighteen (18) years of age;
   3. As a commercial or noncommercial driver whose:
      1. License to operate a motor vehicle has been suspended, in whole or in part, by this state or by any other state, during the suspension; or
      2. License has been revoked, in whole or in part, by this state or by any other state, until the expiration of one (1) year after the license was revoked;
   4. As a commercial or noncommercial driver who is a habitual drunkard, a habitual user of narcotic drugs, or a habitual user of any other drug to a degree which renders him or her incapable of safely driving a motor vehicle;
   5. As a commercial or noncommercial driver who has previously been adjudged to be afflicted with or suffering from any mental disability or disease and who has not at the time of application been restored to competency by the methods provided by law;
   6. As a commercial or noncommercial driver who is required by this chapter to take an examination, unless the person shall have successfully passed the examination;
   7. Who is required under the laws of this state to deposit proof of financial responsibility and who has not deposited the proof;
   8. Who is receiving any type of welfare, tax, or other benefit or exemption as a blind or nearly blind person, if the correctable vision of the person is less than 20/70 in the better eye or if the total visual field of the person is less than one hundred five degrees (105°);
   9. Whose operation of a motor vehicle on the highways the Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration has good cause to believe would be inimical to public safety or welfare;
   10. Who is making an initial application for an Arkansas driver's license and who is not lawfully within the United States;
   11. Who is a noncommercial driver between sixteen (16) and eighteen (18) years of age who has not possessed a restricted license, an instruction permit, or a combination of both a restricted license and an instruction permit for at least six (6) months;
   12. Who is making an initial application for an Arkansas driver's license and cannot provide the information required under § 27-16-1105(a); or
   13. Who is seeking an initial application or renewal of an Arkansas driver's license or photo identification and cannot show either an Arkansas driver's license or identification, two (2) primary documents, or one (1) primary and one (1) secondary document prescribed by the Department of Finance and Administration and updated as needed.
2. The Office of Driver Services is authorized to secure from all state agencies involved the necessary information to comply with the provisions of this section.
3. The department shall promulgate a list of documents acceptable under subdivision (a)(12) or subdivision (a)(13) of this section and post the list in each revenue office in the state.

History. Acts 1937, No. 280, § 9; Pope's Dig., § 6833; Acts 1959, No. 307, § 13; 1967, No. 339, § 1; 1969, No. 142, § 7; A.S.A. 1947, § 75-309; Acts 1989, No. 193, § 1; 1993, No. 445, § 13; 1997, No. 208, § 33; 1997, No. 1099, § 1; 1999, No. 25, § 1; 2001, No. 1694, § 1; 2001, No. 1812, §§ 2, 3; 2007, No. 444, § 1; 2015, No. 696, § 1; 2015, No. 1115, § 31; 2015, No. 1199, § 3; 2017, No. 448, § 25; 2019, No. 910, § 4647.

A.C.R.C. Notes. Acts 2001, No. 1812, § 1, provided:

“The purpose of this act is to clarify changes made by Act 1099 of 1997 in order to cure certain unintended consequences of the act which have had an adverse impact on individual citizens residing in the State of Arkansas.”

Acts 2015, No. 1199, § 1, provided: “Title. This act shall be known and may be cited as the ‘Arkansas Teen Driver and Parental Education Act of 2015’.”

Acts 2015, No. 1199, § 2, provided: “Duties of Department of Arkansas State Police.

The Department of Arkansas State Police shall:

“(1) Improve its official website in coordination with the Injury Prevention Center at Arkansas Children's Hospital to:

“(A) Become the repository of information regarding the mechanics and procedures for obtaining graduated drivers licenses; and

“(B) Include without limitation:

“(i) A parental checklist of steps needed to obtain a graduated drivers license;

“(ii) Specific information about documents needed to make application for a graduated drivers license; and

“(iii) Specific information regarding the times for the written driving tests and the driving skills tests in each county of the state;

“(2) In coordination with the Injury Prevention Center at Arkansas Children's Hospital, distribute information electronically, virtually, and through literature about the graduated drivers license application and procedures to:

“(A) Secondary schools throughout the state; and

“(B) Parents of prospective drivers;

“(3) Update the drivers manual in coordination with the Injury Prevention Center at Arkansas Children's Hospital; and

“(4)(A) File a report with the cochairs of the Legislative Council and the Director of the Bureau of Legislative Research within one hundred eighty (180) days of the effective date of this act.

“(B) The report shall include:

“(i) A detailed description of all steps taken to comply with this section; and

“(ii) Recommendations to improve drivers licensing practices and procedures, driver education, and driver safety in this state.”

Amendments. The 2015 amendment by No. 696 substituted “20/70” for “20/50” in (a)(8).

The 2015 amendment by No. 1115 substituted “high school equivalency test” for “General Educational Development test” in (a)(1)(C).

The 2015 amendment by No. 1199 inserted “an instruction permit, or a combination of both a restricted license and an instruction permit” in (a)(11).

The 2017 amendment substituted “Director of the Department of Finance and Administration” for “Commissioner of Motor Vehicles” in (a)(9).

The 2019 amendment substituted “Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration” for “Director of the Department of Finance and Administration” in (a)(9).