- Florida will enforce English-only driver tests from February 6.
- The new rule eliminates interpreters and translation tools.
- Tens of thousands took tests in other languages last year.
Florida is tightening the rules on driver licensing with a move that could impact tens of thousands of residents. Starting February 6, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) will require all driver’s license exams to be conducted exclusively in English, eliminating any other language options across the board.
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The new rule applies to every part of the licensing process. From the written knowledge test to the hands-on driving exam, everything must now be completed in English without the help of an interpreter. This change cuts off the handful of language options that had been available before
One Language, No Exceptions
“Previously, knowledge exams for most non-commercial driver license classifications were offered in multiple languages, while Commercial Learner’s Permit and Commercial Driver License knowledge exams were only available in English and Spanish,” the agency said in a news release. “Under the updated policy, all driver license knowledge and skills testing will be conducted in English.”
In the official announcement, FLHSMV Executive Director Dave Kerner framed the decision around public safety. He pointed to “clear communication” and understanding of traffic laws as essential skills for all drivers. The idea is that anyone behind the wheel should be able to read road signs and respond to law enforcement instructions, both of which, the agency says, require a working knowledge of English.
Still, as the Orlando Sentinel reported, while road signs in Florida are already in English, they also employ standardized colors and shapes that communicate meaning without much reading. A stop sign is red and octagonal. Speed limit signs are black and white rectangles. Railroad crossing and yield signs have their own shapes and colors. However, some signage does rely on literacy.
The Numbers Behind the Concern
Speaking with Bay News 9, Hillsborough County Tax Collector Nancy Millan, whose parents immigrated from Cuba, expressed concern about the change. “This comes as a surprise because translations in administering road tests or skills tests have been in place for decades”, she said, adding that tests have been offered in languages such as Haitian-Creole, Portuguese, and Chinese.
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According to Millan, more than 13,500 exams in Hillsborough County were conducted in a language other than English last year, making up nearly 37 percent of all driving skills tests in 2025. Statewide, the numbers are likely much higher, meaning tens of thousands of residents could soon face a much tougher road to getting legally licensed.
Critics of the new policy argue it could have the opposite effect of what the state intends. Instead of making roads safer, they warn, the English-only requirement might drive up the number of unlicensed and uninsured motorists. Many residents in Florida rely on cars for commuting, especially in areas with little access to public transportation.
From 18-Wheelers to Compact Cars
Florida’s crackdown on drivers follows a pattern that first showed up in the commercial trucking world under the Trump administration. Last year, the federal government started strictly enforcing English proficiency rules for long-haul truckers, framing it as a safety measure.
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That policy targeted long-haul truckers first. Drivers of vehicles weighing up to 80,000 pounds (36,287 kg) were removed from service if they failed to demonstrate fluency in English, reviving a federal rule dating back to the 1930s. Florida’s new policy follows a similar logic but widens the scope. Now, it applies to every prospective driver, whether they’re in a box truck or a hatchback.