Teens on the Road: The Process to Getting a Driver's License - Part Two

In Part One of “Teens on the Road” we discussed the process of obtaining an Instructional Permit.  Today we will discuss stage two of the New Mexico Graduated Licensing System, the Provisional License.

Stage Two: The Provisional License

To obtain a Provisional License the teen driver must be at least 15 ½ years old, fully completed Stage One of the Graduated Licensing System, held a clean driving record for 90 days preceding the application of the Provisional License, and go into an MVD Express office with the following documents:

• Expired Instructional Permit
• 50 Hour Driving Log (must include a minimum of 10 hours of night driving)
• Certificate of Completion (from a driving school such as McGinnis School of Driving)
• Parent/Legal Guardian

In addition to the above items, if the teen driver does not hold a State issued Instructional Permit they must also bring in the following documents:

• Original State Issued Birth Certificate
• Original Social Security Card
• One Proof of New Mexico Residency

Once the Provisional License has been received it will need to be held for a minimum of one year or until the teen reaches the age of 18.  The teen driver may not have more than one passenger in the car under the age of 21 who is not an immediate family member.  The teen driver may not operate the car between the hours of midnight and 5:00 a.m. unless accompanied by a licensed driver who is 21 years or older.  Exceptions are permitted for school, employment, family and medical need, or religious functions.  During times of these exceptions the teen driver must carry a statement from the appropriate school, employer, Doctor, Religious Official or Parent/Legal Guardian.

Effective June 17, Senate Bill 9, enacted by the 2011 Legislature, amends Sections 66-5-8 and 66-5-9 NMSA 1978 to provide that:


The 12-month minimum period for which an individual is required to hold a provisional license before obtaining a regular driver's license is also extended by 30 days for each traffic violation, committed during the time the individual was driving with the provisional license, for which the individual was convicted or adjudicated delinquent.

Teens on the Road: The Process to Getting a Driver's License - Part One

Having a teenager begin to drive can be stressful enough; add in trying to understand the process to get them their first driver's license, and the experience can be downright frustrating.  In this three part series we are going to discuss the process, the steps you need to take, and the documents you will need along the way. 

The first thing you need to know is that it is a three stage process referred to as the New Mexico Graduated Licensing System.

Stage One: Instructional Permit

To get an Instructional Permit, a teen must be at least 15 years old, enrolled in Driver’s Education and go into a MVD Express office with the following documents: 

·         Driver Education Referral Card

·        Original State Issued Birth Certificate

·         Original Social Security Card

·         One Proof of New Mexico Residency

·         A Parent/Legal Guardian must accompany new teen driver

Once the permit has been received it must be held for a minimum of six months.  The Driver will be issued a maximum of two Instructional Permits.  The Driver must drive with an adult 21 or older who has been licensed for a minimum of three years.  The Driver must also complete a detailed log of at least 50 hours of supervised driving practice, in which 10 of these hours must be at night.  A parent or guardian must certify in writing that these hours have been completed.  The Driver will need to maintain a clean driving record for the 90 days preceding the application of stage two - the provisional license. 

Effective June 17, Senate Bill 9, enacted by the 2011 Legislature, amends Sections 66-5-8 and 66-5-9 NMSA 1978 to provide that:

The six-month minimum period for which an individual is required to hold an instruction permit before obtaining a provisional license is extended by 30 days for each traffic violation, committed during the time the individual was driving with the instruction permit, for which the individual was convicted or adjudicated delinquent.

Who is MVD Express?

As the old saying goes, there are three things that are unavoidable in life: death, taxes, and waiting in line at the Motor Vehicle Department.


And so the concept of MVD Express was born - charge the customer a fair, additional fee for processing a driver's license, title or registration - in exchange for providing fast and friendly service.


It all began in 1994, when MVD Express CEO Janice Lucero was awarded a contract to develop and run a statewide DWI awareness program called "None for the Road."  Lucero found that the class participants were unhappy because after the course, they then had to return to the MVD and wait in line to receive their license.  One year later, MVD Express partnered with New Mexico Taxation and Revenue to provide driver's licenses on-site to Albuquerque participants in the class - a service that had never been allowed before.  The Motor Vehicle Division saw this as an opportunity to offer additional services to the public without any additional costs to the State of New Mexico; Lucero saw this as an opportunity to make the process more convenient for citizens.  By 1996, in an unprecedented move by any MVD in the nation, Lucero was awarded a two-year pilot program which would allow her company to provide MVD services in a private office setting.  In the first year she processed more than 50,000 MVD transactions.


At first, her business proposition was seen to most as simply ridiculous.  Who would pay for a service at MVD Express, when the same service could be provided at a State office absolutely free? However, Lucero's argument for success was solid: Americans are working more hours than ever, and would pay to regain some of their valuable time.


Over the past sixteen years, MVD Express has both created and transformed an industry.  From one small location located inside a grocery store, MVD Express has grown to assist approximately 22,000 customers a month through their 11 operations in Albuquerque, and branches in Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Rio Rancho and Los Lunas, New Mexico.


What began as a modest endeavor has evolved into a $5 million company employing 124 people, serving the public six days a week.  Lucero realized early on that in order to remain the market leader, innovation and continual improvement in the delivery of service would be critical.  At their own expense, MVD Express has developed proprietary software with many capabilities, including specialized features which ensure accurate reporting while identifying possible avenues for fraud.  The software, known as WebExpress also provides a training loop for employees, and a special communication section allowing all employees to be informed in real-time of important information such as regulation updates, new reporting procedures, fraud alerts, and messages received from Santa Fe TRD, and MVD Express internal operations.


MVD Express is a company which understands that each day, their customers vote with their checkbooks.  Their growth and success is due to a leader who engages her employees and lives the concept that their very livelihood depends on offering nothing less than superior service.

Written by: Melissa T. Stock

COO, MVD Express

Janice Lucero, MVD Express CEO