Olivia Rodrigo’s song “Drivers License” has taken the music world by storm, shattering streaming and airplay records and debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

While we here at the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division aren’t hit songwriters or noted music critics, we are professionals at issuing driver licenses and feel we can speak with some authority on this topic.

Both parents and teens can feel anxiety when a teen is learning to drive, but otaining a permit or driver license shouldn't cause any stress. When it comes time for teens to get their license, here are the steps for first-time drivers younger than 18 years old:

First, check the permit and license requirements.

Next, you’ll need to take the written test to get an Instruction Permit. The written test can be taken at an MVD office – appointments are required – but we suggest doing the Permit Test @ Home through AZMVDNow.gov. Study the Arizona Driver Manual and take a few practice tests to ensure you’re prepared for the written test. Participating Arizona Professional Driving School trainers can also administer the written test. 

After the written test is passed, it’s time to get your Instruction Permit. Use the teen’s AZ MVD Now account to schedule an appointment at an MVD office or visit an Authorized Third Party driver license provider. Don’t forget to bring a completed application and all necessary original supporting documents.

Now, you’ve got your instruction permit! But don’t go off driving by yourself “through the suburbs” just yet -- permit-holders must have a licensed driver who is at least 21 years of age in the front seat next to them at all times. 

Finally, after meeting requirements, schedule a road test so you can get your “Driver’s License!”

This week is National Teen Driver Safety Week and it couldn’t come at a more appropriate time. In Arizona, more teen drivers are involved in vehicle crashes in October than any other month. 

There are a variety of factors that contribute to October and other fall months seeing a spike in teen driver crashes, but this fact remains: Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States.

Last year, 77 teen drivers were involved in fatal crashes in Arizona and 26 were killed. Of the nearly 21,000 teen drivers involved in crashes in 2018 across the state, more than 3,000 were injured. Four simple actions can help teen drivers – and drivers of any age – stay safer on the roads:

• Always wear a seat belt.
• Don’t speed or drive recklessly.
• Don’t drive distracted – put down the phone.
• Don’t drive impaired or let impaired people get behind the wheel.

These are some of the leading factors in traffic fatalities and entirely preventable. Take a moment and talk to any young drivers in your family and ensure they know how to stay safe when driving.

If you’re not almost 16 years old, nobody else in your family is almost 16 years old and you don’t even have any friends (or enemies, for that matter) who are almost 16 years old, then why should you care about teens taking the learner’s permit test online?

It’s a fair – if lengthy – question. But the answer may surprise you.

If you ever have to visit an Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division office, the fact that we offer the online Permit Test @ Home for potential teen drivers actually does affect you.

You may ask how, and you have our permission to ask because the answer is very simple.

It’s time.

That’s because for every teenager who doesn’t have to come to an MVD office to take the permit test, that’s one fewer customer in line. Actually, it’s at least two, because mom, dad or another adult has to accompany the teen. What’s even better is that Mom, Dad or whoever doesn’t have to take the afternoon off for this task, and their absence from our locations means we have more time to serve you.

For those who need it, the online Permit Test @ Home is easy to set up. An adult activates their secure, personal account at AZ MVD Now, which is available at AZMVDNow.gov or through ServiceArizona.com.

Once there, the teen takes the test. It’s proctored by the adult, who, by the way, is usually the person sitting in the passenger seat when the new driver is learning, and who usually pays for the insurance. That’s a great incentive to make sure the test is taken fairly.

Once the test is passed, the teen and an adult do need to make one MVD office visit to get the actual permit.

This is a popular program. Each month about 7,000 teens take the Permit Test @ Home. That means about 14,000 people a month avoid one office visit. Since we serve just over 7,000 people every day, we’ve returned two business days to our system with this one innovation.

In a way, MVD has expanded the space-time continuum with the Permit Test @ Home. It’s life changing!

OK, maybe we’re a bit too excited about it. But you have to admit that it’s pretty cool, even if you’re not almost 16.