The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles began offering driver’s license knowledge and skills tests exclusively in English on Friday, ending a long-standing practice of providing exams in multiple languages.

Previously, the tests were available in languages including Spanish, Haitian-Creole, Portuguese, and Chinese. Language translation services are no longer permitted, and printed exams in languages other than English have been removed from use.

Tax collector’s offices, which administer the exams, received only one week’s notice of the change. Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano said the decision was made by the state department, which sets policies that county offices must follow.

The policy affects a significant portion of test-takers. Hillsborough County’s tax collector’s office reported that about 37% of the more than 13,000 skills tests it administered in 2025 were conducted in languages other than English.

Itamar Martinez, who runs Centro De Ayuda Hispano, a service connecting Hispanic newcomers to Tampa Bay with resources, said the change creates barriers for immigrants. Martinez, whose mother immigrated from Cuba in 1989 and obtained her license using a Spanish-language exam, noted that many of his clients speak only Spanish.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles did not provide a specific reason for the policy change. In a statement, the department said it “remains committed to ensuring safe roadways for all Floridians and visitors by promoting clear communication, understanding of traffic laws, and responsible driving behavior.”

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