Frequently Asked Questions
Our FAQ section is designed to address common inquiries and provide
clarification on various aspects of the Keys to Independence program.
No, you do not. If you have a permit in hand and you have had it for 12 months or more, you are eligible to take the road test and get your license.
Yes. By law, you are required to complete this course before becoming eligible for your permit or license.
Yes. For the permit test to open, an adult over 21 years old must enter a valid driver’s license number for the test to launch. The DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) uses the license number as a proctor and nothing else.
No. In order for you to take driving lessons, you need to have a permit in hand. The driving schools will not provide you any lessons unless you show them your permit every time you have a scheduled lesson.
Unfortunately, you cannot. If you are over the age of 18 you have to go to the DMV in person and take the permit test there. The test will be approximately $10.00 to take and we can reimburse for that cost as long as you save the receipt.
Yes. Even if you are over the age of 18 you still have to take the permit test. You do not have to get the learner’s permit, but you do have to take the test.
The program does not pay for the learners permit fee directly to the DMV and no code is provided to pay, however whomever pays can get reimbursed by us as long as they send us the reimbursement form, the receipt and a clear picture of the permit for the file.
No. The Keys Program does not pay for any outstanding tickets you may have or any future tickets you may obtain.
No. The Keys Program does not pay for tag and title fees.
Yes. Keys to Independence will reimburse you for a learners permit replacement. Make sure to send K2I the reimbursement form, the receipt and the copy of the new permit.
No. Keys to Independence will not pay or reimburse for the reinstatement fees of a permit or a license.
Youth who have been removed from their homes and placed with a foster family, relative/non relative, in a group home or in a residential facility are considered to be in “out of home care.”
If the youth meets eligibility criteria, they will be accepted into the program even though they are in DJJ. It’s up to the DJJ program to let the youth participate in K2I and take the courses within their facility.
Anytime a youth moves placements K2I must be contacted that way the youths file can be updated with the most current information. K2I requests the youth’s new address, name of caregiver, caregivers email, caregiver’s number and youths contact number if available.
K2I does not impose specific time limits on enrolled youth. However, because funds are limited and must be expended on a first come, first serve basis, we recommend that youth move through the process at the normal pace allotted for each step.
No. The Florida Statutes 627.746 prohibit insurers from charging caregivers more for their car insurance for a youth who has a learner’s permit. Once the youth gets a driver’s license, the insurance agency can/will charge the policy holder for having another person with a license in their home.
No. Although DMV personnel at your local office may say that the adult co-signer assumes responsibility for the negligence of the youth, Florida Statutes 322.094(4) exempts foster parents/caregivers of a minor, an authorized representative of a residential group home at which the minor resides or the caseworker at the agency from assuming any obligation or liability for any damages by signing the application.
Keys to Independence is able to reimburse for the cost of insurance that is required for the youth under the caregiver’s basic auto insurance plan. The Keys Program cannot cover the cost of a policy that provides a higher level of protection to a caregiver including an umbrella policy or for a specific automobile primarily driven by the youth.
Yes. The youth can obtain their own car insurance policy. The K2I program requires that the youth obtains the state minimum required, also known as liability and no uninsured motorists.
Anytime a youth moves placements, a K2I Coordinator must be contacted. If a youth moves to different out of home placement, they are still eligible for the program, but must submit a new Participant Roles & Responsibilities Agreement signed with the appropriate caregiver. A K2I Coordinator will work with the youth and their new caregiver to transition insurance coverage, if applicable. If the youth is not covered by a policy during the transition, the youth should stop driving during this period.
If a youth’s status changes and they are no longer in out of home care, they are no longer eligible for the program or may be eligible for a limited time period of up to six months, contact your K2I Coordinator.
If a placement or status change occurs in a period for which insurance has already been reimbursed, the prorated insurance premium must be returned to the Keys to Independence Program. Contact a K2I Coordinator to discuss a reasonable timeline; insurance companies will reimburse the policyholder for the prorated amount effective the date a youth is removed from a policy. Once received by the policyholder, the funds should be repaid to the program. Each youth and caregiver is required to agree during the application process to notify the program in the case of such an event. Both are individually responsible to make this notification. Quality control checks of each participant will be conducted randomly to confirm placement status.
The youth should follow DMV guidelines for waiting periods between retake attempts at the skill or knowledge test. In between tests, we encourage the caregiver to actively assist in studying and/or enhancing driving skills in areas of deficiency.
The initial attempt at taking the skill and knowledge test are included in the cost of the license fee. Additional fees are charged by the DMV for each subsequent re-take of either test. The Keys to Independence Program is able to reimburse up to $100 in such testing fees
— just submit the payment receipts with the Reimbursement Request Form.