Will the 2027 laws be on my permit test?

Only after your state updates its driver handbook and test questions. The test follows the handbook that is current on your test day, so study the latest edition and check for a new one before you test.

Can I still take the Tennessee permit test in another language in 2027?

Only once. From January 1, 2027, an applicant who tests in another language gets a restricted, non-renewable license valid for 3 years and then has to pass the written test in English to get a standard license.

Do adults need driver's ed in 2027?

In some states. From January 1, 2027, first-time applicants aged 18 to 20 in Virginia and Colorado and aged 18 in Washington need driver education. Virginia drivers 21 and older can choose a 60-day permit period instead.

New Driving Laws in 2027 by State: What Changes for Drivers

The short answer

Tennessee: from January 1, 2027, the written test must be taken in English. A one-time exception gives a 3-year restricted license to people who test in another language.
Virginia: from January 1, 2027, first-time drivers aged 18 to 20 need driver education and a 90-day permit period; drivers 21 and older need a 60-day permit period or driver education.
Washington: from November 1, 2026, new drivers under 25 must pass an online work zone course; from January 1, 2027, driver education is required at age 18 as well.
Colorado: from January 1, 2027, everyone under 21 must finish driver education before getting a learner's permit.
Florida: licenses and ID cards issued from January 1, 2027 will show the holder's citizenship status.
California and Illinois: new e-bike and e-moto rules from January 1, 2027, including sidewalk limits, minimum ages, and a license and registration for the fastest devices.
Utah and Oklahoma: smaller changes on license notations and repeat DUI offenders.

Tennessee: written test in English, with a one-time exception

What changes: the driver license written exam is given in English. An applicant who cannot read and speak English can take the exam once in another language the state offers, but gets a restricted, non-renewable license valid for 3 years.
After the 3 years: to get a standard license, the holder must pass the written exam again in English, without translation dictionaries, electronic devices or interpreters.
Vehicle registration: the same law requires proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence to register a vehicle or get plates.
Who it affects: new driver license applicants who are not comfortable testing in English, and people registering a vehicle.
Effective date: January 1, 2027. Law: HB 1708 / SB 1889, Public Chapter 954 of 2026, signed May 7, 2026.

If you plan to test in Tennessee, check the Department of Safety's current rules before your appointment, and practise the questions in English.

Virginia: longer permit period for new adult drivers

Ages 18 to 20: must hold a learner's permit for at least 90 days and complete an approved driver education course while holding it.
Age 21 and older: must hold a permit for at least 60 days or complete an approved driver education course while holding it.
Who it affects: people who have never held a license from any state, U.S. territory or country. The rules for drivers under 18 (driver education, 9 months with a permit and 45 hours of practice) do not change.
Note: applicants aged 18 to 20 who got their permit before January 1, 2027 still need proof of driver education if they get the license after that date.
Effective date: January 1, 2027. Law: HB 1224 (2026), amending Code of Virginia § 46.2-324.1.

Washington: work zone course and driver's ed at 18

Work zone and first responder course: first-time license applicants aged 16 to 24 must pass a free online course (about one hour, with a test at the end) on driving through work zones and roadside emergency scenes. Effective: November 1, 2026.
Driver education at 18: first-time applicants aged 18 (born in 2009 or later) must complete driver education. One more age group is added each year until 2030, when everyone under 22 will need it. Effective: January 1, 2027.
Law: House Bill 1878 (2025).

Colorado: driver education before the permit

Ages 15 to 17: a 30-hour driver education course (online is allowed) before the learner's permit. The shorter 4-hour option for ages 15½ to 16 is removed.
Ages 18 to 20: either the 30-hour course or a 4-hour driver awareness program. Before, this age group needed no course.
Motorcycle riders under 21: a motorcycle safety course approved by the Colorado State Patrol before the motorcycle permit or endorsement.
Who it affects: permit applications made on or after January 1, 2027. A permit issued earlier is not affected. Course certificates are valid for six months.
Effective date: January 1, 2027. Law: HB24-1021.

Florida: citizenship status on licenses

What changes: new, renewed and replacement driver licenses and ID cards will show whether the holder is a U.S. citizen. Cards of non-citizens, including permanent residents, are expected to show "NC" (not a citizen).
Who it affects: everyone who gets, renews or replaces a Florida license or ID. Current cards stay valid until they expire. A non-citizen who becomes a citizen can get a free replacement card.
Effective date: January 1, 2027. Law: HB 991 (2026), the Florida SAVE Act. The law is being challenged in federal court, so the start could change if a court steps in.

California: e-bike and e-moto rules

E-motos are not e-bikes: devices faster than the e-bike limits (20 mph on throttle, 28 mph with pedal assist) can no longer be sold or advertised as e-bikes. They fall under the moped or motor-driven cycle rules, which require registration and a license. Effective: January 1, 2027. Law: SB 1167 (2026).
Sidewalks and trails: a default 10 mph limit for riding e-bikes on sidewalks (a ticket does not add a point to your driving record), and cities and counties may set 10, 15 or 20 mph limits on bike paths and trails. Effective: January 1, 2027. Law: AB 2346, Chapter 842 of 2026. Speedometers on Class 2 e-bikes and lights on all e-bikes follow on January 1, 2029.

Illinois: statewide e-bike and e-scooter rules

Minimum ages: 15 for Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes (up to 20 mph); 16 for pedal-assist e-bikes up to 28 mph and for e-scooters (lowered from 18 for low-speed scooters).
Faster than 28 mph: treated like motorcycles. The rider needs a driver's license, title, registration and insurance, and must ride on the road.
Sidewalks: e-bikes and e-scooters are not allowed on sidewalks. Police can fine riders and impound devices.
Effective date: January 1, 2027. Law: Senate Bill 3484, signed August 26, 2026.

Utah and Oklahoma

Utah: applicants can ask for a "Federally Recognized Tribal Member" notation on their driver license or ID card by showing proof of membership in a federally recognized tribe. Effective: January 1, 2027. Law: HB 52 (2026).
Oklahoma: people convicted of DUI causing great bodily injury can no longer get early release through the state's Electronic Monitoring Program. Effective: November 1, 2026. Law: SB 137 (2026), which became law without the governor's signature.

What this means for your permit test

The permit test is based on the official driver handbook that is current on the day you test. A new law usually appears in test questions only after the state updates its handbook and question bank, and that can take months.

Study the handbook that is current now, and check for a new edition shortly before your test date.
If you plan to get your permit in early 2027 in Colorado, Virginia or Washington, find out whether you need a driver education course first, so it does not delay your appointment.
In Tennessee, prepare to take the written test in English.
Questions on e-bikes, work zones and DUI are common, so learn the current rules for your state.

State pages: Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, Colorado, Florida, California, Illinois, Utah, Oklahoma.