Florida HSMV Form 71143 Parent Consent Guide

Florida HSMV Form 71143 Parent Consent Guide – If your teen is ready to move from a Florida learner’s license to a Class E driver license, you will need HSMV Form 71143. Officially titled the Certification of Driving Experience of a Minor, this form is also listed by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) as the Parent Consent Form (Under 18 – Driving Test).

It is a required document under Florida’s Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system. Parents, legal guardians, or a responsible adult age 21 or older must certify that the minor has completed the mandatory supervised driving hours.

What Is Florida HSMV Form 71143?

HSMV 71143 is the official FLHSMV form used to certify that a minor (under age 18) has gained the required behind-the-wheel experience before applying for a full Class E driver license.

According to the official form and Florida Statutes § 322.05(3), the certifying adult must confirm that the minor has driven a minimum of 50 hours during the past 12 months, of which at least 10 hours were at night.

The form is short, fillable in some versions, and must be either notarized or signed in the presence of a driver license examiner.

Who Needs to Complete Form 71143?

This form is required for any applicant who is at least 16 years old but under 18 and is applying for a Florida Class E driver license after holding a learner’s license. Key eligibility points include:

  • Must be at least 16 years of age.
  • Must have held a valid Florida learner’s license for a minimum of 12 months (or until the 18th birthday, whichever comes first).
  • No moving violation convictions during the holding period (or one moving violation if adjudication was withheld).
  • Must pass the Class E driving skills (road) test.

The certification is signed by one parent, legal guardian, or other responsible adult who is 21 years of age or older. Step-parents may sign only if they have legally adopted the minor. Foster parents, authorized representatives of residential group homes, or guardians ad litem may sign in certain out-of-home care situations.

Florida Driving Experience Requirements

Florida law (Florida Statutes § 322.05(3)) requires supervised driving experience before a minor can receive a full driver license:

  • Minimum of 50 hours of behind-the-wheel driving.
  • At least 10 of those hours must be at night.
  • The experience must have occurred during the 12 months preceding the application.

The adult signing the form certifies that they (or another licensed driver age 21 or older) accompanied the minor for these hours. The certification itself does not create a private cause of action and is inadmissible in civil proceedings.

FLHSMV recommends using a practice log sheet to track hours. Many local tax collector and driver license offices also provide or accept logs.

How to Fill Out HSMV Form 71143?

The form is straightforward. Here is what you will need to complete:

  1. Minor’s information – Full legal name (First, Middle, Last) and date of birth.
  2. Certification statement – Affirmation that the minor has driven a minimum of 50 hours in the past 12 months, including 10 hours at night, per Section 322.05(3), Florida Statutes.
  3. Signature of the adult – Parent, legal guardian, or responsible adult age 21+ signs and prints their name.
  4. Notary or Examiner section – The form must be sworn to (or affirmed) before a notary public or witnessed by a driver license examiner. The notary/examiner completes the county, date, identification details, and signature/commission information.

Important instructions printed on the form:

  • One parent, legal guardian, or other responsible adult 21 years old or older must sign.
  • All signatures must be notarized or witnessed by an examiner.

Current revision of the form is HSMV 71143 (Rev 01/11). A Spanish-language version (71143SP) is also available from FLHSMV.

Download the Official Florida HSMV Form 71143

Always download the form directly from the official Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website to ensure you have the current version:

Download Florida HSMV Form 71143 (PDF)

You can also find the form listed on the official FLHSMV Forms page under “71143: Parent Consent Form (Under 18 – Driving Test)” and on the Required Forms for Teens page.

Notarization and Submission Tips

  • If the parent/guardian/responsible adult will be present at the driver license or tax collector office, the examiner can witness the signature—no notary is needed.
  • If the adult cannot attend, the form must be properly notarized before submission.
  • Bring the completed, signed, and notarized (if required) Form 71143 along with the minor’s learner’s license, proof of identity/residency documents, and any other required items when applying for the Class E license.
  • Check with your local tax collector or FLHSMV office for appointment requirements, accepted payment methods, and any additional local procedures.

Related Forms for Florida Teen Drivers

Parents and teens often need these companion forms:

  • HSMV 71142 – Parental Consent Form for a learner’s license (under 18).
  • HSMV 71142C – Non-Parent or Non-Legal Guardian Consent Form (learner’s license).
  • HSMV 71144 – Parent Proctoring Form (if the knowledge exam was taken online).

All official forms are available on the FLHSMV Forms page.

Additional Resources from Trusted Sources

Always verify the most current requirements and form versions on the official FLHSMV website, as procedures or form revisions can change. Local tax collector offices may also provide helpful checklists specific to their location.

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