Driving to school is an adult responsibility that needs to be taken seriously to keep youself and other drivers safe and protect your privilege to drive.
In order to obtain a minor school license, you must be at least 14.5 years old, have completed an Iowa-approved driver education course, have held an instruction permit, have a clean driving record for at least six consecutive months immediately before applying for the license and live one mile or more from the school you are enrolled. Your school of enrollment superintendent, principal or board chair must complete the affidavit for school license.
What does this license allow a minor to do?
Drive without adult supervision between the hours of 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. for the following: driving from home to school of enrollment or school-sponsored activities using the most direct and accessible route (activities must be at the school enrolled in); drive to a school that is not the school of enrollment to participate in extracurricular activities; activities must be in a contiguous or bordering school district and must be held at a site, facility or school designated for the activity under a sharing agreement between schools or conducted at a site or facility that the school district enrolled in has designated to accommodate extracurricular activities; drive to and from home to the closest school bus stop; stop for fuel while on route or to the closest filling station off route.
What doesn’t this license allow a minor to do?
Use any electronic communication or entertainment device while driving (example: using an auxiliary cord to play music on an iPod/phone is not allowed); carry more than one minor passenger that is not a relative when driving without adult supervision; drive to a school district not enrolled in for school or school-sponsored activities, unless the school has an extracurricular sharing agreement with your district.
Frequently asked questions:
What if I had an out-of-town event and we arrive home after 10 p.m., can I still drive home?
• No, there is not a waiver for a minor school licenses to allow for driving privileges after 10 p.m.
Can I drive through and get a sandwich, for example at McDonald’s, if it’s on my route?
• No, you are only allowed to stop at a fuel station on your route or the closest off route.
Can I have more than one unrelated passenger in my car if I have adult supervision?
• Yes, but limited to the number of seat belts in your vehicle, and adult supervision means your parent, guardian, custodian, an immediate family member at least 21 years of age, a driver’s education instructor or a person at least 25 years of age with written permission from your parent. The supervising adult must possess a valid driver’s license.
Can I drive to work using my minor school license?
• No, your privilege does not allow for driving to work.
The offenses and fines are serious; don’t abuse your privilege of having a minor school license.
If you still have questions, contact the Union County Treasurer’s office at 641-782-1710 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday or email kbusch@unioncountyiowa.org.