Graduated licensing laws

Graduated driver licensing (GDL) reduces the risk of driving for teens. Use our GDL calculator to see how changing specific GDL components affects teen safety. Read more on our main teenagers page.

This material has been prepared for general information purposes only. It is not guaranteed to be current and should be independently verified. Do not rely on it when considering how a law may apply to your circumstances.

December 2024

State	Minimum entry age	Mandatory holding period	Minimum amount of supervised driving	Minimum entry age	Nighttime restrictions	Passenger restrictions (family members excepted unless noted)	Nighttime restrictions may be lifted	Passenger restrictions may be lifted
	Learner stage			Intermediate stage			Unrestricted stage
AL	15^{Footnote 1}	6 months^{Footnote 1}	50 hours (none with driver education)	16	midnight-6 a.m.	no more than one passenger	17 and licensed for 6 months (min. age: 17)	17 and licensed for 6 months (min. age: 17)
AK	14	6 months	40 hours, 10 of which must be at night or in inclement weather	16	1 a.m.-5 a.m.	no passengers younger than 21	6 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 mos.)	6 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 mos.)
AZ	15, 6 months^{Footnote 2}	6 months	30 hours, 10 of which must be at night (none with driver education)	16	midnight-5 a.m. secondary enforcement	no more than 1 passenger younger than 18 secondary enforcement	6 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 mos.)	6 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 mos.)
AR	14^{Footnote 3}	6 months^{Footnote 3}	none	16^{Footnote 4}	11 p.m.-4 a.m.	no more than 1 passenger younger than 21	until age 18 (min. age: 18)	until age 18 (min. age: 18)
CA	15, 6 months^{Footnote 5}	6 months	50 hours, 10 of which must be at night	16^{Footnote 5}	11 p.m.-5 a.m. secondary enforcement	no passengers younger than 20 (limited exception for immediate family) secondary enforcement	12 months after initial license (min. age: 17)	12 months after initial license (min. age: 17)
CO	15^{Footnote 6}	12 months	50 hours, 10 of which must be at night	16	midnight-5 a.m. secondary enforcement	first 6 months—no passengers; second 6 months—no more than one passenger secondary enforcement	12 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17)	12 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17)
CT	16^{Footnote 7}	6 months^{Footnote 7} (4 months with driver education)	40 hours^{Footnote 7}	16, 4 months^{Footnote 7}	11 p.m. - 5 a.m.	first 6 months—no passengers other than parents or a driving instructor; second 6 months—no passengers other than parents, driving instructor or members of the immediate family	until age 18 (min. age: 18)	12 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17, 4 mos.)
DE	16^{Footnote 8}	6 months^{Footnote 8}	50 hours, 10 of which must be at night^{Footnote 8}	16, 6 months^{Footnote 8}	10 p.m.-6 a.m.^{Footnote 8}	no more than 1 passenger^{Footnote 8}	6 months or the issuance of a class D license (min. age: 17)	6 months or the issuance of a class D license (min. age: 17)
DC	16^{Footnote 9}	6 months^{Footnote 9}	40 hours in learner’s stage; 10 hours at night in intermediate stage	16, 6 months^{Footnote 10}	September–June: 11 p.m.-6 a.m. Sun.–Thur., 12:01 a.m.-6 a.m. Sat.–Sun.; July–August: 12:01 a.m.-6 a.m.^{Footnote 10}	no passengers^{Footnote 10}	6 months or until age 21, whichever occurs first (min. age: 18)^{Footnote 10}	6 months or until age 21, whichever occurs first (min. age: 18)^{Footnote 10}
FL	15^{Footnote 11}	12 months	50 hours, 10 of which must be at night	16	11 p.m.-6 a.m. for 16 year-olds; 1 a.m.-5 a.m. for 17 year-olds	none	until age 18 (min. age: 18)	none
GA	15	12 months	40 hours, 6 of which must be at night	16^{Footnote 12}	midnight-5 a.m. secondary enforcement	first 6 months—no passengers; second 6 months—no more than 1 passenger younger than 21; thereafter, no more than 3 passengers secondary enforcement	until age 18 (min. age: 18)	until age 18 (min. age: 18)
HI	15, 6 months	6 months	50 hours, 10 of which must be at night	16^{Footnote 13}	11 p.m.-5 a.m.	no more than 1 passenger younger than 18 (household members excepted)	6 months and age 17 (min. age: 17)	6 months and age 17 (min. age: 17)
ID	14, 6 months^{Footnote 14}	6 months	50 hours, 10 of which must be at night	15^{Footnote 14}	10 p.m.-5 a.m.	licensees 16 and younger can have no more than 1 passenger younger than 17	until age 16 (min. age: 16)	6 months or age 17 (min. age: 15, 6 mos.)
IL	15^{Footnote 15}	9 months	50 hours, 10 of which must be at night	16^{Footnote 16}	starts 10 p.m. Sun.-Thur., 11 p.m. Fri.-Sat., ends 6 a.m.	first 12 months—no more than 1 passenger younger than 20	until age 18 (min. age: 18)	12 months or until age 18 (min. age: 17)
IN	15^{Footnote 17}	6 months	50 hours, 10 of which must be at night	16, 3 months^{Footnote 17}	first 6 months, 10 p.m.-5 a.m.; thereafter, 11 p.m.-5 a.m. Sun.–Fri.; 1 a.m.-5 a.m. Sat.–Sun.^{Footnote 18}	no passengers^{Footnote 18}	6 months and age 18 or until age 21, whichever occurs first (min. age 18)^{Footnote 18}	6 months or until age 21, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 9 or 17, 3 mos. without driver education)^{Footnote 18}
IA	14^{Footnote 19}	12 months	20 hours, 2 of which must be at night^{Footnote 20}	16^{Footnote 20}^,^{Footnote 21}	12:30 a.m.-5 a.m.	parental discretion ^{Footnote 22}	12 months and age 17 or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17)	none
KS	14^{Footnote 23}	12 months	25 hours, in learner phase; 25 hours before age 16; 10 of the 50 hours must be at night^{Footnote 23}	16^{Footnote 23}	9 p.m. - 5 a.m.	no more than one passenger younger than 18	6 months or age 17, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 mos.)	6 months or age 17, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 mos.)
KY	16^{Footnote 24}	6 months^{Footnote 24}	60 hours, 10 of which must be at night^{Footnote 24}	16, 6 months^{Footnote 25}	midnight-6 a.m.	no more than 1 passenger younger than 20 unless supervised by a driving instructor secondary enforcement	6 months or age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17)	6 months or age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17)
LA	15	6 months	50 hours, 15 of which must be at night	16^{Footnote 26}	11 p.m. - 5 a.m.	no more than one passenger younger than 21 between the hours of 6 pm-5 am; no passenger restriction from 5 am-6 pm	until age 17 (min. age: 17)	until age 17 (min. age: 17)
ME	15^{Footnote 27}	6 months^{Footnote 27}	70 hours, 10 of which must be at night	16^{Footnote 27}	midnight-5 a.m.^{Footnote 27}	no passengers^{Footnote 27}	9 months (min. age: 16, 9 mos.)^{Footnote 27}	9 months (min. age: 16, 9 mos.)^{Footnote 27}
MD	15, 9 months^{Footnote 28}	9 months^{Footnote 29}	60 hours, 10 of which must be at night^{Footnote 30}	16, 6 months	midnight-5 a.m.^{Footnote 31}	no passengers younger than 18^{Footnote 31} secondary enforcement	until age 18 (min. age: 18)	5 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 11 mos.)
MA	16^{Footnote 32}	6 months^{Footnote 32}	40 hours^{Footnote 33}	16, 6 months^{Footnote 34}	12:30 a.m.-5 a.m. (between 12:30 a.m.-1 a.m. and 4 a.m.-5 a.m. the night driving and passenger restrictions are subject to secondary enforcement; enforcement is primary at all other times)	no passengers younger than 18 (between 12:30 am–1 am and 4 am–5 am the night driving and passenger restrictions are secondarily enforced; enforcement is primary at all other times)	until age 18 (min. age: 18)	6 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17)
MI	14, 9 months^{Footnote 35}	6 months	50 hours, 10 of which must be at night	16^{Footnote 36}	10 p.m.-5 a.m.	no more than 1 passenger younger than 21	6 months and age 17 or until age 18 (min. age 17)	6 months and age 17 or until age 18 (min. age 17)
MN	15^{Footnote 37}	6 months^{Footnote 38}	40 hours, 15 of which must be at night^{Footnote 39}	16^{Footnote 40}	midnight-5 a.m.	no more than 1 passenger younger than 20; second 6 months—no more than 3 passengers younger than 20	6 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 mos.)	12 months or at age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17)
MS	15	12 months	none	16^{Footnote 41}	10 p.m.-6 a.m. Sun.-Thur., 11:30 p.m.-6 a.m. Fri.-Sat.	none	6 months or age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 mos.)	none
MO	15	6 months	40 hours, 10 of which must be at night	16	1 a.m.-5 a.m.	first 6 months—no more than 1 passenger younger than 19; thereafter, no more than 3 passengers younger than 19	entire intermediate stage (min. age: 17, 11 mo.)	entire intermediate stage (min. age: 17, 11 mo.)
MT	14, 6 months^{Footnote 42}	6 months	50 hours, 10 of which must be at night^{Footnote 43}	15^{Footnote 44}	11 p.m.-5 a.m.	first 6 months—no more than 1 passenger younger than 18; second 6 months—no more than 3 passengers younger than 18	12 months or at age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16)	12 months or at age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16)
NE	15^{Footnote 45}	6 months	50 hours, 10 of which must be at night (none with driver education)	16	midnight-6 a.m. secondary enforcement	no more than 1 passenger younger than 19 secondary enforcement	12 months or at age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17)	6 months or age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 mos.)
NV	15, 6 months	6 months	50 hours, 10 of which must be at night (none with defensive driving course)	16^{Footnote 46}	10 p.m.-5 a.m. secondary enforcement	no passengers younger than 18 secondary enforcement	until age 18 (min. age: 18)	6 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 mos.)
NH	15, 6 months^{Footnote 47}	none	40 hours, 10 of which must be at night	16	1 a.m.-4 a.m.	no more than 1 passenger younger than 25	until age 18 (min. age: 18)	6 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 mos.)
NJ	16^{Footnote 48}	6 months^{Footnote 48}	50 hours, 10 of which must be at night (effective 02/01/25)	17^{Footnote 48}	11 p.m. - 5 a.m.	no more than 1 passenger (exception is limited to drivers' dependents)	12 months or until age 21, whichever occurs first (min. age: 18)	12 months or until age 21, whichever occurs first (min. age: 18)
NM	15^{Footnote 49}	6 months	50 hours, 10 of which must be at night	15, 6 months^{Footnote 50}	midnight-5 a.m.	no more than 1 passenger younger than 21	12 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 mos.)	12 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 mos.)
NY	16	6 months	50 hours, 15 of which must be at night	16, 6 months	9 p.m.-5 a.m. except for NYC (unsupervised driving prohibited at all times) and Long Island (limited daytime unsupervised driving)^{Footnote 51}	no more than 1 passenger younger than 21^{Footnote 51}	until age 17 with driver education; until age 18 without (min. age: 17)^{Footnote 52}	until age 17 with driver education; until age 18 without (min. age: 17)^{Footnote 52}
NC	15^{Footnote 53}^,^{Footnote 54}	9 months	60 hours, 10 of which must be at night, learner phase; 12 hours, 6 of which must be at night, intermediate phase	16^{Footnote 55}^,^{Footnote 56}	9 p.m.-5 a.m.	no more than 1 passenger younger than 21^{Footnote 57}	6 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 mos.)	6 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 mos.)
ND	14	<16: 12 months; 16: 6 months or until age 18, whichever comes first	<16: 50 hours; ≥ 16: none	16; 15 for a parent requested restricted license^{Footnote 58}	The holder of a restricted license may only drive a car belonging to a parent or guardian and may not drive between the later of sunset or 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.	none	until age 16 (min. age: 16)	none
OH	15, 6 months	6 months	50 hours, 10 of which must be at night	16^{Footnote 59}	midnight-6 a.m. (first 12 months), 1 a.m.-5 a.m. (second 12 months) secondary enforcement	first 12 months—no more than 1 passenger	24 months (min. age: 18)	12 months (min. age: 17)
OK	15	6 months	50 hours, 10 of which must be at night^{Footnote 60}	16	10 p.m.-5 a.m.	no more than 1 passenger^{Footnote 61}	6 months with driver education, 12 months without or until age 18 (min age: 16, 6 mos.)	6 months with driver education, 12 months without or until age 18 (min age: 16, 6 mos.)
OR	15	6 months	50 hours^{Footnote 62}(100 hours without driver education)	16^{Footnote 62}	midnight-5 a.m.	first 6 months–no passengers younger than 20; second 6 months–no more than 3 passengers younger than 20	12 months or age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17)	12 months or age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17)
PA	16	6 months	65 hours, 10 of which must be at night and 5 of which must be in inclement weather	16, 6 months	11 p.m.-5 a.m.	first 6 months— no more than 1 passenger younger than 18; thereafter, no more than 3 passengers	12 months and age 17 if completed driver education or age 18 (min. age: 17)	12 months and age 17 if completed driver education or age 18 (min. age: 17)
RI	16^{Footnote 63}	6 months	50 hours, 10 of which must be at night	16, 6 months^{Footnote 64}	1 a.m.-5 a.m.	no more than 1 passenger younger than 21	12 months or age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17, 6 mos.)	12 months or age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17, 6 mos.)
SC	15	6 months^{Footnote 65}	40 hours, 10 of which must be at night	15, 6 months	6 p.m.-6 a.m. EST; 8 p.m.-6 a.m. EDT	no more than 2 passengers younger than 21 unless transporting students to and from school	12 months and age 17 if intermediate license has been held for at least 6 months (min. age: 16, 6 mos.)	12 months and age 17 if intermediate license has been held for at least 6 months (min. age: 16, 6 mos.)
SD	14^{Footnote 66}	9 months (6 months with driver education)	50 hours, 10 of which must be at night and 10 of which must be during inclement weather	14, 9 months (14, 6 months with driver education)	10 p.m.-6 a.m.	first 6 months—no passengers; thereafter—no more than 1 passenger younger than 18	until age 16 (min. age: 16)	6 months or at age 16, whichever occurs first (min. age: 15, 6 mos.)
TN	15^{Footnote 67}	6 months	50 hours, 10 of which must be at night^{Footnote 67}	16	11 p.m.-6 a.m.	no more than 1 passenger	12 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17)	12 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17)
TX	15^{Footnote 68}	6 months	30 hours, 10 of which must be at night	16^{Footnote 69}	midnight-5 a.m. secondary enforcement	no more than 1 passenger younger than 21 secondary enforcement	until age 18 (min. age: 18)	until age 18 (min. age: 18)
UT	15^{Footnote 70}	6 months	40 hours, 10 of which must be at night^{Footnote 70}^,^{Footnote 71}	16^{Footnote 72}	midnight-5 a.m.	no passengers secondary enforcement	until age 17 (min. age: 17)	6 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 mos.)
VT	15	12 months	40 hours, 10 of which must be at night	16^{Footnote 73}	none	first 3 months—no passengers without exception; second 3 months—no passengers secondary enforcement	none	6 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 mos.)
VA	15, 6 months^{Footnote 74}	9 months^{Footnote 74}	45 hours, 15 of which must be at night	16, 3 months^{Footnote 75}	midnight-4 a.m. ^{Footnote 74} secondary enforcement	first 12 months—no more than 1 passenger younger than 21; thereafter, no more than 3 passengers younger than 21 secondary enforcement	until age 18 (min. age: 18)	until age 18 (min. age: 18)
WA	15^{Footnote 76}	6 months	50 hours, 10 of which must be at night	16^{Footnote 77}	1 a.m.-5 a.m. secondary enforcement	first 6 months—no passengers younger than 20; second 6 months—no more than 3 passengers younger than 20 secondary enforcement	12 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17)	12 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17)^{Footnote 78}
WV	15^{Footnote 79}	6 months^{Footnote 79}	50 hours, 10 of which must be at night (none with driver education)	16	10 p.m. - 5 a.m.	first 6 months—no passengers younger than 20; second 6 months–no more than 1 passenger younger than 20	12 months and age 17 or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17)	12 months and age 17 or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 17)
WI	15^{Footnote 80}	6 months^{Footnote 80}	50 hours, 10 of which must be at night^{Footnote 80}	16^{Footnote 81}	midnight-5 a.m.	no more than 1 passenger	9 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 9 mos.)	9 months or until age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 9 mos.)
WY	15	10 days	50 hours, 10 of which must be at night	16^{Footnote 82}	11 p.m.-5 a.m.	no more than 1 passenger younger than 18	6 months or until age 17, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 mos.)^{Footnote 82}	6 months or until age 17, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 mos.)^{Footnote 82}

Footnotes

^{Footnote 1} In Alabama, the supervising driver must be a parent, guardian, grandparent or driving instructor. At age 16, permit holders may drive with a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old. ↩
^{Footnote 2} In Arizona, a driver education instructor can authorize an enrolled student who is 15 to drive only while supervised by the authorizing instructor. ↩
^{Footnote 3} In Arkansas, 14 year-olds can drive with an instruction permit after passing a written test. After passing a road test they are eligible for a learner's license. Unsupervised driving is not permitted by holders of either the instruction permit or learner's license. The combined holding period for the permit and learner's license is six months. ↩
^{Footnote 4} In Arkansas, applicants for an intermediate license must be 16 and must be crash/violation-free for six months. Licensees younger than 18 are prohibited from transporting passengers who are unrestrained. ↩
^{Footnote 5} In California, students enrolled in driver education may drive while supervised by an instructor. License applicants who do not take driver education must wait until age 18 for a license. They are not required to go through an intermediate license stage. ↩
^{Footnote 6} In Colorado, license applicants younger than 18 must have completed driver education. Applicants who are 18 through 20 years must complete a 4-hour prequalification driver awareness program. ↩
^{Footnote 7} In Connecticut, either driver education or home training is required for license applicants younger than 18. Permit holders may not carry any passengers aside from the person providing instruction, parents or guardians. Time spent practice driving with a professional instructor counts toward the 40-hour certification requirement. Before an applicant who under 18 may take the driver’s test, parents or guardians must attend two hours of instruction regarding teen driving laws and related issues with such applicant. Anyone 18 years of age or older must hold an adult learner’s permit for three months before obtaining a driver's license. ↩
^{Footnote 8} In Delaware, a driver education student does not need a permit to drive with a driver education instructor. After completing the on-road requirements of driver education, a driver education student who is at least 15 years, 10 months may apply for a Driver Education Learner's Permit, which allows the student to drive while supervised by an experienced driver. Upon completion of driver education, and if the student passes both the road and written tests, the student receives a Level 1 permit that for the first six months allows driving only while supervised. There also is a passenger restriction during the first six months of the Level 1 permit. No more than one passenger (family members excepted) is permitted in addition to the supervising driver. The Level 1 permit for the second six months is the equivalent of an intermediate license. During that period, holders may drive unsupervised between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. and may only carry one passenger. Applicants for a driver's license who are younger than 18 must have held a Driver Education Learner's Permit and/or a Level 1 permit for at least 12 months. Driver education is required for all license applicants younger than 18. ↩
^{Footnote 9} In the District of Columbia, license applicants younger than 21 must go through the intermediate stage until they have completed it or until they turn 21. The learner's stage is mandatory for the intermediate stage. A nighttime restriction (9 p.m.-6 a.m.) applies in the learner stage. ↩
^{Footnote 10} In the District of Columbia, drivers younger than 18 who have completed the intermediate stage must continue to comply with the nighttime driving restriction until they turn 18. In addition, these drivers may not carry more than 2 passengers younger than 21. ↩
^{Footnote 11} In Florida, learners permit holders may not drive after sunset for the first three months and thereafter may not drive after 10 p.m. ↩
^{Footnote 12} In Georgia, license applicants younger than 18 must have completed driver education. ↩
^{Footnote 13} In Hawaii, license applicants younger than 18 must have completed driver education. ↩
^{Footnote 14} In Idaho, license applicants younger than 17 must have completed driver education. Parent-student on-road driver's training is permitted in specified circumstances. There are three classes of learner's permits — a training instruction permit for people 14, 6 months taking driver education; a supervised instruction permit for practice driving with a nonprofessional supervisor; and an instruction permit for people younger than 17 who have completed driver education and supervised driving or for people 17 and older without either driver education or supervised driving. ↩
^{Footnote 15} In Illinois, enrollment in driver education is required for permit applicants. ↩
^{Footnote 16} In Illinois, license applicants 18 through 20 years of age who did not take driver's education in school must complete a 6 hour adult driver education course. ↩
^{Footnote 17} In Indiana, driver education determines the minimum age for permits and the intermediate license. People enrolled in or who have completed driver education must be age 15 to have a permit; otherwise, they must be age 16. The minimum age for an intermediate license is 16, 3 months with driver education and 16, 9 months, without. ↩
^{Footnote 18} Holders of operator licenses issued to individuals younger than 21 must adhere to both the night and passenger restriction for six months or until age 21, whichever occurs first. In addition, holders of operator licenses issued to individuals younger than age 18 have a graduated night restriction that goes beyond the initial 6 months and lasts until age 18. ↩
^{Footnote 19} In Iowa, the department may issue a special minor’s restricted license to an applicant between the ages of 14 and 18 years if the applicant has completed driver education or demonstrates hardship and has held an instruction permit for at least 6 months. A special minor’s restricted license limits unsupervised driving to specified locations such as work or school within a 25-mile radius. Under this license, drivers may not transport more than one unrelated minor passenger or operate the vehicle except during the hour before and after the beginning and the end of school, work shift or extracurricular activities as applicable. ↩
^{Footnote 20} Iowa requires a certification of 10 additional hours of supervised driving during the intermediate stage, two of which must be at night. ↩
^{Footnote 21} In Iowa, driver education is required for an intermediate license and for an unrestricted license if the applicant is younger than 18. ↩
^{Footnote 22} In Iowa, parents are permitted to waive at the time of licensure a discretionary six-month passenger limit of no more than one unrelated passenger younger than 18, effective Jan. 1, 2014. ↩
^{Footnote 23} In Kansas, drivers age 15 but not yet 16 may be granted a restricted license if they have completed driver training. Restricted license holders younger than 16 may not drive unless supervised other than to and from school or work via the most direct route and may not carry minor passengers other than siblings. To get a restricted license, applicants must have driven at least 25 of the 50 hours required for a full license and must have held an instruction permit for 12 months. ↩
^{Footnote 24} Kentucky law prohibits learner's permit holders from driving between midnight and 6 a.m. or from carrying more than one passenger younger than 20 unless supervised by a driving instructor. ↩
^{Footnote 25} In Kentucky, license holders younger than 18 must complete a driver education course or a state-sponsored traffic school. ↩
^{Footnote 26} In Louisiana, all driver’s license applicants must complete a driver education course. ↩
^{Footnote 27} In Maine, driver education is required for a permit and a license if the applicant is younger than 18. The learner's permit holding period and the certification of practice driving applies to license applicants younger than 21. The period of license restrictions may extend beyond the person's 18th birthday. ↩
^{Footnote 28} In Maryland, driver education is required regardless of applicant age. ↩
^{Footnote 29} In Maryland, license applicants who are 19 years old (or 18 with a high school diploma) but younger than 25 must hold a learner's permit for three months before taking the road test. All applicants 25 and older must hold the permit for 45 days. ↩
^{Footnote 30} In Maryland, 60 supervised driving hours are required for all applicants younger than 25. Applicants age 25 and older are requrired to drive for fourteen supervised hours. ↩
^{Footnote 31} In Maryland, the night and passenger restrictions only apply to intermediate license holders younger than 18. ↩
^{Footnote 32} In Massachusetts, the night driving restriction for permit holders younger than 18 is midnight to 5 a.m., unless they are accompanied by a licensed parent or guardian. ↩
^{Footnote 33} In Massachusetts, the requirement for supervised driving is 30 hours for applicants who have successfully completed a driver skills development program in a closed, off-road course licensed by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles. ↩
^{Footnote 34} In Massachusetts, driver education is required of license applicants younger than 18. ↩
^{Footnote 35} In Michigan, permit applicants younger than 18 must have completed the first segment of driver education. ↩
^{Footnote 36} In Michigan, license applicants younger than 18 must have completed the second segment of driver education. Neither driver education nor an intermediate license is required for license applicants 18 and older. ↩
^{Footnote 37} In Minnesota, permit applicants younger than 18 must be enrolled in driver education. An optional 90-minute supplemental curriculum for parents is to be established by July 1, 2014, to provide information concerning graduated licensing, safety risks and the potential influence of adults on driving behavior. ↩
^{Footnote 38} In Minnesota, the permit holding period also applies to license applicants 18 and older unless they have completed driver education. ↩
^{Footnote 39} In Minnesota, license applicants younger than 18 must provide proof that a parent has taken a course for parents of teen drivers or perform an additional 10 certified practice hours. ↩
^{Footnote 40} In Minnesota, license applicants younger than 18 must have completed driver education. Provisional license holders must be crash-free to qualify for a full license. ↩
^{Footnote 41} In Mississippi, license applicants younger than 18 must have completed driver education. ↩
^{Footnote 42} In Montana, enrollment in or completion of driver education is required for permit applicants younger than 15. ↩
^{Footnote 43} If a Montana license applicant completed an alternative online traffic education course approved by the department of justice and the hands-on driving component was taught by the parent or guardian, then the supervised driving requirement is 75 hours with 15 at night. ↩
^{Footnote 44} In Montana, license applicants younger than 16 must have completed driver education. ↩
^{Footnote 45} In Nebraska, students who are at least 14 years and two months of age and who either live outside or attend school outside a metropolitan area may be issued a learner’s permit (called an “LPE permit”) and a limited license (called a “school permit”). The LPE permit authorizes supervised driving for the purpose of preparing for the school permit, which allows driving to and from school independently or anyplace else while supervised by a parent or guardian. ↩
^{Footnote 46} In Nevada, driver education is required of all license applicants younger than 18 unless there is no driver education program offered within a 30-mile radius of the applicant's residence. ↩
^{Footnote 47} New Hampshire does not issue learner's permits. At age 15, 6 months a person can drive while supervised by a licensed driver 25 or older. License applicants who are younger than 18 must take driver education. ↩
^{Footnote 48} In New Jersey, the permit becomes an intermediate license after six months for drivers younger than 21 and after 3 months for drivers 21 and older. The graduated licensing law applies to adults, except that the night driving and passenger restrictions are waived for new drivers 21 and older. If the applicant has not completed driver education, the minimum permit age is 17 and the minimum intermediate license age is 17, 6 months. Learner's permit holders may not drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. and may carry only one passenger in addition to the supervising driver or any parent, guardian or dependent. ↩
^{Footnote 49} In New Mexico, permit applicants younger than 18 must be enrolled in driver education. ↩
^{Footnote 50} In New Mexico, license applicants younger than 18 must have completed driver education. ↩
^{Footnote 51} In the five boroughs of New York City, Class DJ or MJ junior license holders are prohibited from driving under all circumstances, regardless of where the license was obtained; therefore, there are no applicable passenger restrictions in the city. Unsupervised New York City driving may begin as early as age 17, provided that a Class D license has been obtained and a State Education Department approved Driver and Traffic Safety Education Course has been completed. In other words, a 17 year old driver may transition from completely supervised city driving to a full unrestricted license. On Long Island, Class DJ or MJ junior license holders are limited to driving between the hours on 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. only if traveling to work, school or driver education, proof is required. ↩
^{Footnote 52} In New York, the minimum age for an unrestricted driver's license is 18 (17 if the applicant has completed driver education). New York has a passenger restriction that applies to permit holders and license holders younger than 18 (17 if the applicant has completed driver education). ↩
^{Footnote 53} In North Carolina, driver education is required for permit applicants younger than 18. ↩
^{Footnote 54} In North Carolina, learner’s permit holders may not drive between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. for the first six months. ↩
^{Footnote 55} In North Carolina, driver education is required for license applicants younger than 18. ↩
^{Footnote 56} In North Carolina, a person who is at least 16 but younger than 18 must complete a minimum of 12 additional hours (six of which must be at night) of supervised driving to obtain a full provisional license. ↩
^{Footnote 57} In North Carolina, when the license holder is driving the vehicle and is not accompanied by a supervising driver, there may be no more than one passenger under 21 years of age in the vehicle. This limit does not apply to passengers who are members of the license holder's immediate family or whose primary residence is the same household as the license holder. However, if a family member or member of the same household as the license holder who is younger than 21 years of age is a passenger in the vehicle, no other passengers under 21 years of age, who are not members of the license holder's immediate family or members of the license holder's household, may be in the vehicle, except that one other passenger under 21 years of age who is not a member of the license holder's immediate family or member of the license holder's household may be in the vehicle when that passenger is a student being driven directly to or from school. ↩
^{Footnote 58} In North Dakota, driver education is required for license applicants younger than 16. ↩
^{Footnote 59} In Ohio, driver education is required of license applicants younger than 18. Applicants who are 18 and older and who have failed the road test must complete an abbreviated driver training course. ↩
^{Footnote 60} In Oklahoma, learner's permit holders may only operate a motor vehicle between the hours of 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. ↩
^{Footnote 61} In Oklahoma, a person who has been issued an intermediate Class D license shall not operate a motor vehicle with more than one passenger unless all passengers live in the same household as the custodial legal parent or legal guardian or a licensed driver at least 21 years of age is actually occupying a seat beside the intermediate Class D licensee. ↩
^{Footnote 62} In Oregon, driver education is required of license applicants younger than 18. However, it is waived for applicants who certify an additional 50 hours of supervised driving. The night and passenger restrictions do not apply to the holder of a provisional driver license who is 18 or older. ↩
^{Footnote 63} In Rhode Island, driver education is required of permit applicants younger than 18. ↩
^{Footnote 64} In Rhode Island, driver education is required of license applicants younger than 18. Effective January 1, 2018, parents or guardians of applicants who are younger than 18 will be required to attend a course of instruction on the content of the driver education curriculum and the requirements of graduated licensing. ↩
^{Footnote 65} In South Carolina, applicants 18 and older must hold the learner permit for 30 days before attempting the driving test. ↩
^{Footnote 66} In South Dakota, learner's permit holders may not drive between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. unless under the supervision of a parent or guardian. ↩
^{Footnote 67} Learner’s permit holders in Tennessee may not drive from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. ↩
^{Footnote 68} In Texas, people who are 15 or older but under 18 must satisfactorily complete and pass the classroom phase of an approved driver education course to be issued a permit. ↩
^{Footnote 69} In Texas, the minimum license age is 18 for applicants who have not completed driver education. ↩
^{Footnote 70} In Utah, permit holders younger than 18 may only drive under the supervision of a driving instructor, a parent or guardian, or a responsible adult who has accepted liability for the permit holder's driving by signing the permit application. Permit applicants younger than 19 must be enrolled in driver education. ↩
^{Footnote 71} In Utah, supervised driving in the learner stage may include up to five hours in a driving simulator. ↩
^{Footnote 72} In Utah license applicants who are younger than 19 must have completed driver education. ↩
^{Footnote 73} In Vermont, driver education is required for license applicants younger than 18. ↩
^{Footnote 74} In Virginia, the night driving restriction and passenger restrictions apply to learner's permit holders. ↩
^{Footnote 75} In Virginia, driver education is required for license applicants younger than 18. Virginia has implemented a 90-minute segment for parents of driver education students. Participation shall be required in Planning District 8 (Northern Virginia) and shall be encouraged but not required outside of Planning District 8. ↩
^{Footnote 76} In Washington, permit applicants must be enrolled in driver education; otherwise, the minimum permit age is 15, 6 months. ↩
^{Footnote 77} In Washington, driver education is required for license applicants younger than 18. ↩
^{Footnote 78} In Washington, intermediate license holders with a crash or violation history are ineligible for an unrestricted license until age 18. ↩
^{Footnote 79} In West Virginia, learner’s permit holders younger than 18 may not drive between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. and may not carry more than two passengers in addition to the supervising driver. ↩
^{Footnote 80} In Wisconsin, enrollment in driver education is required for permit applicants younger than 18. During the learner’s stage, permit holders may carry three passengers if supervised by a driving instructor in a dual-control vehicle. Permit holders 16 and older may carry one passenger 25 or older who has been licensed at least two years. ↩
^{Footnote 81} In Wisconsin driver education is required for license applicants younger than 18. ↩
^{Footnote 82} In Wyoming, all applicants for an unrestricted license who are younger than 17 must have completed driver education and must have held an intermediate license for at least six months. ↩