DL-180C is the Parent Or Guardian Certification Form published by PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services. On it, a parent, guardian, person in loco parentis or spouse at least 18 years of age certifies that a minor with a learner's permit has completed the required supervised driving experience and has viewed PennDOT's distracted-driving materials. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the original form is published by PennDOT at pa.gov.
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What is DL-180C?
Form DL-180C, Parent Or Guardian Certification Form, is the PennDOT form on which a parent, guardian, person in loco parentis or spouse certifies that a minor applicant has finished at least 65 hours of supervised practical driving and has printed or viewed PennDOT's educational materials on the dangers of distracted driving.
The form is a one-page certification, identified on its face as DL-180C (6-25). It names the minor and the learner's permit number, then carries two certifications:
- The minor has completed at least 65 hours of supervised practical driving experience, including 10 hours of nighttime driving and 5 hours of inclement weather driving. The behind-the-wheel experience must have been given by one or more licensed drivers 21 years of age or older.
- The minor has printed or viewed the educational materials on PennDOT's website about the dangers of distracted driving.
Motorcycle permit applicants are treated differently. They are not asked for the 10 nighttime hours and 5 inclement weather hours. Instead, completing a Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program basic rider course is required, and it counts toward the 65-hour requirement.
The signature must be made in front of an authorized witness, and a notarized signature is required only in one situation described on the form (see who needs it). The form is a certification; it does not issue a permit or license by itself.
Who needs to file DL-180C?
The main signer is the parent, guardian, person in loco parentis or spouse, at least 18 years of age, of a minor applicant who holds a learner's permit. That person certifies the minor's driving experience and distracted-driving education, then signs and prints their name as it appears in the signature.
Conditions printed on the form:
- Minor applicants are identified by printed name and learner's permit number at the top of the form.
- Motorcycle permit applicants are excused from the 10 hours of nighttime driving and 5 hours of inclement weather driving. They must instead complete a Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program basic rider course, which counts toward the 65 hours.
- Notarized signature: it is required only if the parent or guardian is not accompanying the teen driver to the Driver License Center for the Skills Test. The signature is then made before a notary and the person administering the oath completes the "Subscribed and sworn to before me" block.
- Other witnesses: the form also allows the signature to be made in the presence of a Driver License Examiner, an end-of-course skill test teacher, a certified third party examiner or a motorcycle safety instructor.
When to file DL-180C
The form is signed once the minor has actually completed the certified experience: at least 65 hours of supervised practical driving, including 10 hours of nighttime driving and 5 hours of inclement weather driving (motorcycle permit applicants complete a basic rider course instead of those two categories), and has printed or viewed PennDOT's distracted-driving materials. The form prints no separate due date.
The signature has to be made in the presence of a notary, Driver License Examiner, end-of-course skill test teacher, certified third party examiner or motorcycle safety instructor. The form ties the Skills Test at a Driver License Center to its notary rule: a notarized signature is required only if the parent or guardian will not accompany the teen driver to that test, so plan the signing around who will be there.
How to fill out DL-180C
Print the minor's name
At the top, enter the printed name of the minor applicant on the line labeled (PRINT NAME OF MINOR).
Enter the learner's permit number
On the line labeled (LEARNER'S PERMIT NUMBER), enter the number of the minor's learner's permit.
Confirm the supervised driving hours
Read the first certification: at least 65 hours of supervised practical driving, including 10 hours of nighttime and 5 hours of inclement weather driving, given by a licensed driver or drivers 21 years of age or older. Sign only if this is true.
Confirm the distracted-driving materials
The second certification states that the minor has printed or viewed the educational materials on PennDOT's website about the dangers of distracted driving.
Apply the motorcycle permit rule
For a motorcycle permit applicant, a Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program basic rider course replaces the nighttime and inclement weather hours and counts toward the 65 hours.
Sign before an authorized witness
Sign on the line marked X (signature of parent, guardian, person in loco parentis or spouse at least 18 years of age) in front of a notary, Driver License Examiner, end-of-course skill test teacher, certified third party examiner or motorcycle safety instructor.
Print your name
On the second X line, print your name as it appears in your signature.
Complete the witness block
The witness completes the section for a notary (Subscribed and Sworn, with MO. DAY YEAR and the signature of the person administering the oath) or for a Driver License Examiner, with the Exam Center Examiner # or Instructor #. A notarized signature is required only if the parent or guardian is not accompanying the teen driver to the Driver License Center for the Skills Test.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check the minor's name, permit number and printed name against the signature. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF, then sign it in front of the witness.
How to submit DL-180C
The form prints no mailing address, portal or fee. Its only reference to where it is used is the Skills Test at a Driver License Center, so the details below follow what the form says.
- At the Driver License Center: the form refers to the teen driver's Skills Test at a Driver License Center. If the parent or guardian accompanies the teen there, the signature can be witnessed by a Driver License Examiner, whose examiner number is entered in the box on the form.
- If the parent or guardian will not be there: the signature must be notarized before the teen goes to the Skills Test. The notary completes the "Subscribed and sworn to before me" block with the date and the signature of the person administering the oath.
- Other witnesses: an end-of-course skill test teacher, certified third party examiner or motorcycle safety instructor may witness the signature; the form has a space for their number.
For questions about the process, check PennDOT's forms and publications page at https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dmv/forms-publications. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Signing the form before the witness is present; the signature must be made in the presence of a notary, Driver License Examiner, end-of-course skill test teacher, certified third party examiner or motorcycle safety instructor.
- Skipping the notarized signature when the parent or guardian will not accompany the teen driver to the Driver License Center for the Skills Test.
- Certifying fewer than 65 hours of supervised driving, or leaving out the 10 hours of nighttime and 5 hours of inclement weather driving for a non-motorcycle applicant.
- Counting driving supervised by someone under 21; the experience must be given by licensed drivers 21 years of age or older.
- Having someone under 18 sign as the parent, guardian, person in loco parentis or spouse; the form asks for a signer at least 18 years of age.
- Leaving off the minor's printed name or the learner's permit number at the top of the form.
- Applying the nighttime and bad-weather hours to a motorcycle permit applicant instead of the Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program basic rider course.
- Printing a name that does not match the signature; the second line asks for the name as it appears in the signature.
Frequently asked questions
What is the DL-180C form?
DL-180C is PennDOT's Parent Or Guardian Certification Form. A parent, guardian, person in loco parentis or spouse at least 18 years old certifies that a minor has completed at least 65 hours of supervised driving and has viewed PennDOT's distracted-driving materials.
Who can sign the DL-180C form?
A parent, guardian, person in loco parentis or spouse who is at least 18 years of age can sign. The form asks that person to sign in front of a notary, Driver License Examiner, end-of-course skill test teacher, certified third party examiner or motorcycle safety instructor, and to print their name.
Does the DL-180C need to be notarized?
Only in one case: the form says a notarized signature is required only if the parent or guardian is not accompanying the teen driver to the Driver License Center for the Skills Test. Otherwise another listed witness, such as a Driver License Examiner, can witness the signature.
How many driving hours does DL-180C certify?
At least 65 hours of supervised practical driving, including 10 hours of nighttime driving and 5 hours of inclement weather driving. The experience must have been given by a licensed driver or drivers 21 years of age or older.
Do motorcycle permit applicants need the 10 night and 5 bad-weather hours?
No. The form excepts motorcycle permit applicants from those hours. They must complete a Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program basic rider course, which takes the place of the nighttime and inclement weather driving and counts toward the 65-hour requirement.
What does the second certification on DL-180C cover?
It certifies that the minor has printed or viewed the educational materials on PennDOT's website about the dangers of distracted driving. The parent or guardian signs one signature that covers both certifications on the form.
Can I fill out the DL-180C online?
You can fill out the DL-180C PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is independent of PennDOT and does not file the form; the signature still has to be made in the presence of an authorized witness listed on the form.
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