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Bay County Florida

Panama City DHSMV

Panama City DHSMV serves Bay County and the central Florida Panhandle including Panama City Beach, Lynn Haven, and surrounding communities. The area recovered strongly from Hurricane Michael (2018) and serves military families from Tyndall Air Force Base.

519 W 15th St, Panama City, FL 32401
(850) 872-4111
Mon-Fri 8 AM - 4:30 PM
3
Google Rating
350
Reviews
1-2 weeks
Wait Time
Moderate
Difficulty
Book Appointment
Hurricane Season Notice: DHSMV offices may close during hurricanes and tropical storms (June-November). Check flhsmv.gov before your appointment.

Services

Class E Driver License
REAL ID
ID Cards
Written Tests
Road Tests
Renewals

Gotcha Spots

Specific spots on test routes where students frequently fail.

🏖️

Spring Break Traffic

Failure Rate: Medium

Panama City Beach is a major spring break destination. March-April sees heavy tourist traffic.

Tip: If possible, schedule your test outside of spring break season (March-April).
🛑

Stop Sign Compliance

Failure Rate: Automatic Fail

Complete stops required at all stop signs.

Tip: Full stop, count 1-2-3, then proceed.
✈️

Tyndall AFB Traffic

Failure Rate: Low

Tyndall Air Force Base traffic can affect routes during shift changes.

Tip: Be patient near military areas and expect occasional traffic patterns.

Road Test Information

Test routes use W 15th Street and surrounding Panama City streets. Watch for beach-bound tourist traffic during peak season.

Test Route Areas

W 15th StreetUS-231 corridorDowntown Panama CityHarrison Ave area

Route Characteristics

Tourist traffic
Beach bound vehicles
Military families
Suburban roads

Tips for Success

DO THESE

  • Complete TLSAE course before your permit appointment
  • Practice in Panama City area streets
  • Book appointments outside of spring break season if possible
  • Be aware of beach-bound tourist traffic patterns
  • Arrive 15-20 minutes early
  • Know that military families have specific documentation needs

AVOID THESE

  • Don't roll through stop signs
  • Don't test during peak spring break weeks if avoidable
  • Don't forget your documents
  • Don't speed in residential areas

Driving Schools

Lynn Haven Precision Driving School

946 Main St, Lynn Haven, FL 32444, Lynn Haven, FL

(407) 384-2379

5
Spanish

Panama City Quick Learn Driving

7388 Commerce Blvd, Panama City, FL 32401, Panama City, FL

(407) 726-3401

4.9
Spanish

Lynn Haven Excellence Driving School

5031 Third Blvd, Lynn Haven, FL 32444, Lynn Haven, FL

(407) 838-8138

4.8
Spanish

Lynn Haven Premier Driving School

746 Sunset Dr, Lynn Haven, FL 32444, Lynn Haven, FL

(407) 534-3832

4.8
Spanish

Lynn Haven Road Masters Driving

4872 Park Rd, Lynn Haven, FL 32444, Lynn Haven, FL

(407) 858-4208

4.7
Spanish

Panama City Beach Liberty Driving School

9000 River Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413, Panama City Beach, FL

(407) 206-8064

4.7
Spanish

Florida Requirements

Learner Permit15+
Restricted License16+
Full License18+
TLSAE course completion required before permit