State laws for teen drivers

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Young drivers who lack experience behind the wheel may drive more irresponsibly and are at greater risk of being involved in accidents. Fortunately, there are graduated driver licensing (GDL) programs in place designed to train young drivers and help them attain good driving habits.

It’s smart to understand graduated driver’s license rules, GDL laws, and GDL restrictions, especially if you or a teenage loved one is preparing to drive soon for the first time.

Key Takeaways

State GDL laws put restrictions on licenses of inexperienced drivers and then allow them more freedom as they gain experience with age.
Young drivers are required to have a learner’s permit and hold it for an appropriate amount of time before applying for their licenses.
Drivers in an intermediate stage can get their state driver’s license, but you need to do more work before gaining the same rights as a more experienced driver.
After gaining experience, young drivers can enjoy full driving privileges. They can drive at any time, and they can have anyone in the car.

What is graduated driver licensing?

Graduated driver licensing rules enable new drivers to obtain experience on the road and adopt positive driving habits before they are allowed to drive with fewer restrictions.

“The laws vary from state to state. But generally speaking, a GDL program will apply certain rules to a new driver, such as prohibiting the driver from driving alone, driving with other unlicensed passengers, or driving at night,” explains Jobin Joseph, managing attorney for TrafficTickets.com in New York City.

Lyle Solomon, an attorney and financial expert with Oak View Law Group in Rocklin, California, believes GDL laws are the single most effective technique for minimizing teenage driver crashes.

“It involves a three-step licensing system aimed at reducing the factors that put novice drivers in danger,” he says. “GDL systems allow teenage drivers to obtain experience in lower-risk situations. Drivers gain more driving rights as they progress through three stages: the learner stage, the intermediate stage, and the full privilege stage.”

The idea is that as young new drivers gain more experience on the road, they “graduate” to the next level of licensing privileges, which will carry fewer restrictions than the previous level.

Teen driving risks and graduated driver licensing laws

Adolescent drivers are involved in crashes four times more than drivers over the age of 20, according to the Institute for Highway Safety. The CDC has also reported that motor vehicle crashes account for the deaths of more teenagers than any other cause.

“Hence, state governments have responded by restricting an adolescent’s ability to drive until they have more experience and are hopefully less likely to be involved in an accident,” says Joseph.

Learner stage

The first GDL level is the learner stage, which includes getting a learner’s permit, driving with supervision, and passing a driving test. Learner’s permits in most states mandate that the permit holder is of minimum age, only operate the vehicle in the presence of a fully licensed driver, and earn a particular number of hours while driving under these rules in order to graduate to the next level of licensing.

“A learner’s permit, or provisional driver’s license, is a restricted license that new drivers must get before being granted a full driver’s license. You can drive with this permit until you pass your driver’s test,” Solomon adds.

Lauren McKenzie, an insurance broker for Learnandserve.org, powered by A Plus Insurance, points out that drivers with learner’s permits are only permitted to operate a motor vehicle with a parent, legal guardian, or licensed trained professional while practicing driving.

In particular, your learner’s permit may require a minimum 12-month holding term, prohibit nighttime driving between 10 PM and 5 AM, and may not allow more than one passenger (not including parents or guardians) — or any passengers at all, per Solomon.

“The requirements for obtaining a learner’s permit differ from state to state, but most will require the driver to pass a vision test, prove their residency, and complete a driving exam that can be written, practical, or both,” Joseph continues.

A teenager may also be required to take a driver’s education course.

“In some states, they can take the course as young as 14 years old, but in most states, they usually must wait until they are 15 years old and first have their learner’s permit with a minimum number of hours logged,” cautions McKenzie. “The driver’s ed course requires a written test as well as a driving test that is supervised by an adult driver’s ed instructor. The teenager must pass both tests to be eligible for their full privilege driver’s license after maintaining their learner’s permit for a required amount of time. You must have an overall score of 80% on the written and driving test in order to pass.”

Here are the learner stage restrictions for each state:

State	Minimum entry age	Holding period	Minimum amount of supervised driving	Other regulations
Alabama	15	6 months	50 hrs. (none w/ driver ed.)	The supervising driver can only be parent, guardian or driving instructor.
Alaska	14	6 month	40 hrs., including 10 at night or in inclement weather
Arizona	15.5	6 month	30 hrs. including 10 at night (none w/ driver ed.)
Arkansas	14	6 months	None	Fourteen-year-olds can drive with a permit after they pass a written test. Unsupervised driving is not allowed if the driver has an instruction permit or a learner’s permit.
California	15.5	6 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night
Colorado	15	12 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	Fifteen-year-olds enrolled in a driver’s ed class can apply for an instruction permit. Supervising drivers must be a parent, stepparent, grandparent, guardian or driving instructor.
Connecticut	16	6 months (4 months with driver ed)	40 hrs.
District of Colombia	16	6 months	40 hrs. in learner’s stage; 10 hrs. at night in intermediate stage	Learner’s permit required for all applicants regardless of age. Drivers in the learner’s stage aren’t allowed to drive between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Delaware	16	6 month	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night
Florida	15	12 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	Drivers with a learner’s permit can’t drive between sunset and sunrise for the first three months.
Georgia	15	12 months	40 hrs. including 6 at night
Hawaii	15.5	6 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night
Idaho	14.5	6 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	The state has three learner’s permit levels — driver training for drivers 14 ½; supervised instruction with a nonprofessional supervisor; and an instruction permit for people who are 17 who completed driver education and supervised driving or drivers who are 17 and older without driver education or supervised driving.
Illinois	15	9 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	Driver education allowed for 15-year-old permit applicants. Permit applicants without driver education allowed at 17 years, three months.
Indiana	15	6 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	Permit applicants must be at least 15 years old and completed a driver education course. All 16-year-olds can apply for a permit.
Iowa	14	12 months	20 hrs. including 2 hrs. at night
Kansas	14	12 months	50 hrs. for learner phase,including 10 hrs. at night	Drivers who are 15 can drive without supervision to and from work or school. Fifteen-year-old drivers can get a restricted license if they complete driver education.
Kentucky	16	6 months	60 hrs. including 10 at night
Louisiana	15	6 months	50 hrs. including 15 hours at night	Driver education required for a permit for people under 17 years old.
Maine	15	6 months	70 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	Driver education required for a permit if the person is under 18 years old. Permit holding period apply for applicants under 21.
Maryland	15 yrs., 9 mos.	9 months	60 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night
Massachusetts	16	6 months	40 hrs. with 30 hrs. advanced driver training
Michigan	14 yrs., 9 mos.	6 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	Permit applicants under 18 must complete the first segment of driver education.
Minnesota	15	6 months	50 hrs. including 15 hrs. at night, or 40 hrs. with 15 hrs at night if parent completes 90-minute course	Permit applicants under 18 must take driver education. The permit stage is for all drivers over 18 unless they complete driver education.
Mississippi	15	12 months	None
Missouri	15	6 months	40 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night
Montana	14.5	6 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	Enrollment in driver education is required for permit applicants under 15.
Nebraska	15	6 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night (none with driver’s ed)	Drivers who are 14 years old and live at least 1.5 miles from a school and live outside of a metro area can get a learner’s permit or limited license. Limited license allows the teen to drive while supervised.
Nevada	15.5	6 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night
New Hampshire	15.5	None	40 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	No learner’s permits. At 15 ½, a person can drive while supervised by a licensed driver who’s at least 25.
New Jersey	16	6 months	None
New Mexico	15	6 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	Permit applicants under 18 must take driver education.
New York	16	6 months	50 hrs. including 15 hrs. at night
North Carolina	15	12 months	60 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	Driver education is required for permit applicants under 18.
North Dakota	14	Under 16: 12 months; 16: 6 months or until age 18, whichever comes first	under 16: 50 hours; 16 and over: none
Ohio	15.5	6 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night
Oklahoma	15.5	6 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	Fifteen-year-olds in Oklahoma can drive if supervised by an instructor.
Oregon	15	6 months	50 hrs.; 100 hrs. w/o driver’s ed.
Pennsylvania	16	6 months	65 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night and 5 of which must be in inclement weather
Rhone Island	16	6 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	Driver education is required for permit applicants under 18.
South Carolina	15	6 months	40 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night
South Dakota	14	6 months; 3 months w/ driver ed	None
Tennessee	15	6 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night
Texas	15	6 months	30 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	Teens between 15 and 17 must pass the classroom portion of a driver education course to get a permit.
Utah	15	6 months	40 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	Permit holders under 18 can only driver with supervisor of a driving instructor, parent, guardian or a responsible adult who accepts liability for the driver by signing the permit application. Permit applicants must enroll in driver education. Learner stage driving can include up to five hours in a driving simulator.
Vermont	15	12 months	40 yrs. including 10 hrs. at night
Virginia	15.5	9 months	45 hrs. including 15 hrs. at night
Washington	15 with driver’s ed; 15 1/2 without driver’s ed	6 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	Permit applicants must enroll in driver education. People 15 ½ can apply for a permit and not enroll in driver education.
West Virginia	15	6 months	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night (none with driver’s ed.)
Wisconsin	15.5	6 months	30 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night	Driver education enrollment is required for permit applicants under 18.
Wyoming	15	10 days	50 hrs. including 10 hrs. at night

Sources: Governor’s Highway Safety Association and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Highway Loss Data Institute

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I asked my car insurance company to remove my daughter as a driver from my car insurance policy because she got a new car and she is insured with her father (we’re divorced) with a different insurer. My auto insurer asked me to send it proof of my daughter’s insurance or of a different address if she is not living at my residence. Is it right for them to ask me for these items?

Intermediate stage

After you’ve logged sufficient time practicing on the road comes the intermediate GDL stage. Drivers in the intermediate stage are allowed to test for and get their state driver’s license but must do more work before having the same driving rights as more experienced drivers.

“The specific rules imposed upon an intermediate license holder will vary from state to state,” Joseph continues. “For example, in New Jersey, after completing a motor vehicle test and attaining a probationary driver’s license, the license holder will be permitted to drive unsupervised. But they will still be restricted to driving between 5 AM and 11 PM, and the number of passengers allowed with an intermediate license remains restricted.”

In other states, the rules will vary but the principle is the same: Get new drivers the experience they need to learn safe driving while not putting others at risk by restricting their access to the road, explains Joseph.

Here are the intermediate stage rules that apply to each state:

State	Minimum age	Times when unsupervised driving is prohibited	Passenger rules	Other regulations
Alabama	16	Midnight-6 a.m.	No more than 1 passenger; secondary enforcement	Full license privilege at 17 and after at least six months of driving.
Alaska	16	1 a.m.-5 a.m.	No passengers younger than 21
Arizona	16	Midnight-5 a.m.	No more than 1 passenger younger than 18; secondary enforcement
Arkansas	16	11 p.m.-4 a.m.	No more than 1 passenger younger than 21	Applicants for an intermediate license must be 16 and not have a crash or violation for six months. Drivers less than 18 can’t operate a motor vehicle with unrestrained passengers.
California	16	11 p.m.- 5 a.m.	First six months, no passengers younger than 20 (limited exception for immediate family); secondary enforcement	License applicants who didn’t take a driver’s ed course must wait until 18 for a license. Those drivers don’t have an intermediate license stage.
Colorado	16	Midnight-5 a.m.	No passengers for first 6 mos.; no more than 1 passenger for 2nd 6 mos.; secondary enforcement	A person who is 15 ½ can apply for an instruction permit, which allows driving while supervised by a parent, stepparent, grandparent or guardian. Sixteen-year-olds may apply for a permit, which lets them drive while supervised by a licensed driver who is 21 or older.
Connecticut	16 yrs., 4 mos.	11 p.m.-5 a.m.	First 6 mos. no passengers except parent or driving instructor; 2nd 6 mos. no passengers except immediate family or driving instructor	Driver education or home training required for applicants younger than 18. Parents must attend two hours of instruction about teen-driving laws if the applicant isn’t 18 years old yet.
District of Colombia	16.5	Sept.-June: 11 p.m.-6 a.m. Su-Th, Midnight-6 a.m. F-Sa; July-Aug.: Midnight-6 a.m.	First six months, no passengers; after that, no more than two passengers under 18	Applicants younger than 21 must go through the intermediate stage until they’ve achieved full status or turn 21.
Delaware	16.5	10 p.m.-6 a.m.	No more than 1 passenger	Everyone in a driver under 18 must have a seatbelt on. If not, the teen faces a two-month suspension. Driver education required for any applicant under 18.
Florida	16	11 p.m.-6 a.m.(age 16); 1 a.m.-5 a.m. (age 17)	None
Georgia	16	Midnight-5 a.m.; secondary enforcement	First 6 mos. no passengers; 2nd 6 mos. no more than 1 younger than age 21; thereafter no more than 3 passengers; secondary enforcement	License applicants younger than 17 must complete driver education.
Hawaii	16	11 p.m.-5 a.m.	No more than 1 passenger younger than 18 except household members	License applicants younger than 18 must complete driver education.
Idaho	15	Sunset to sunrise	Licensees 16 and younger can have no more than 1 passenger younger than 17	License applicants younger than 17 must complete driver education.
Illinois	16	10 p.m.-6 a.m. Su-Th, 11 p.m.-6 a.m. F-Sa	First yr. no more than 1 passenger younger than 20	License applicants older than 17 don’t need to take driver education or the intermediate stage.
Indiana	16 yrs., 3 mos.	First 180 days, 10 p.m.-5 a.m.; thereafter, 11 p.m.-5 a.m. Sun.–Fri.; 1 a.m.-5 a.m. Sat.–Sun.	No passengers	The minimum age for an intermediate license is 16 ½ with drivers education and 16 years, nine months, without that education.
Iowa	16	12:30 a.m.-5 a.m.	First six months, not more than one passenger under 18; parents may waive that requirement.	Driver education required for an intermediate license and for unrestricted license if the person is under 18. Full driving privilege occurs at 17 and after at least one year of driving. Ten supervised hours with two hours at night in the intermediate stage.
Kansas	16	9 p.m.-5 a.m. for first six months	No more than 1 non-sibling for first six months.
Kentucky	16.5	Midnight-6 a.m.	No more than 1 passenger younger than 20 except with driving instructor	License applicants who are 18 must complete a driver education course.
Louisiana	16	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	Driver education required for a intermediate license for people under 17 years old. Drivers who are 17 and older must complete an education program, but doesn’t require behind-the-wheel experience.
Maine	16	Midnight-5 a.m.	First nine months, no passengers	Driver education required for license if the person is under 18 years old.
Maryland	16.5	Midnight-5 a.m.	No passengers younger than 18 for first five months; secondary enforcement
Massachusetts	16.5	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)	First six months, 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)	Driver education required for license applicants under 18 years old.
Michigan	16	10 p.m.-5 a.m.	No more than 1 passenger younger than 21	License applicants under 18 must complete the second segment of driver education.
Minnesota	16	Midnight-5 a.m.	No more than 1 passenger younger than 20; 2nd 6 months no more than 3 passengers younger than 20
Mississippi	16	10 p.m.-6 a.m. Su-Thu; 11:30 p.m.-6 a.m. Fri-Sat.	None	License applicants 17 and older don’t have to go through 12-month learner’s permit holding period. License applicants 17 and older skip the intermediate license phase.
Missouri	16	1 a.m.-5 a.m.	No more than 1 passenger younger than 19 for first 6 mos.; no more than 3 passengers younger than 19 thereafter
Montana	15	11 p.m.-5 a.m.	First 6 mos. no more than 1 passenger younger than 18; second 6 mos. no more than 3 passengers younger than 18	License applicants under 16 must complete driver education.
Nebraska	16	Midnight-6 a.m.; secondary enforcement	First 6 mos. no more than 1 passenger younger than 19; secondary enforcement
Nevada	16	10 p.m.-5 a.m.; secondary enforcement	First 6 mos. no passengers younger than 18; secondary endorsement	Driver education is required for all license applicants under 18 unless there’s no driver education classes offered within a 30-mile radius of the person’s house.
New Hampshire	16	1 a.m.-4 a.m.	No more than 1 passenger younger than 25
New Jersey	17	11 p.m.-5 a.m.	No more than 1 passenger except dependents	Night driving and passenger restrictions waived for new drivers who are at least 21.
New Mexico	15.5	Midnight-5 a.m.	No more than 1 passenger younger than 21	License applicants under 18 must complete driver education.
New York	16.5	9 p.m.-5 a.m. unsupervised driving prohibited at all times in NYC; limited daytime unsupervised driving allowed on Long Island	No more than 1 passenger younger than 21
North Carolina	16	9 p.m.-5 a.m.	No more than 1 passenger younger than 21; if a family member younger than 21 is already a passenger then no other passengers younger than 21 who are not family members	Driver education is required for license applicants under 18.
North Dakota	16; 15 for a parent- requested restricted license	Sunset or 9 p.m. (whichever is earlier) to 5 a.m.	No passenger restrictions
Ohio	16	age 16: midnight-6 a.m.; age 17: 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.; secondary enforcement	No more than one passenger unless supervised	Driver education is required for license applicants under 18.
Oklahoma	16	10 p.m.-5 a.m.	No more than 1 passenger
Oregon	16	Midnight-5 a.m.	First 6 mos. no passengers younger than 18	Driver education is required for license applicants under 18.
Pennsylvania	16.5	11 p.m.-5 a.m.	First 6 months, no more than 1 passenger younger than 18; thereafter, no more than 3 passengers
Rhone Island	16.5	1 a.m.-5 a.m.	First 12 mos. no more than 1 passenger younger than 21	Driver education is required for license applicants under 18.
South Carolina	15.5	6 p.m.-6 a.m. EST; 8 p.m.-6 a.m. EDT	No more than 2 passengers under 21 except when driving to and from school
South Dakota	14.5 yrs.; 14 yrs., 3 mos. w/ driver ed.	10 p.m.-6 a.m.	None
Tennessee	16	11 p.m.-6 a.m.	No more than 1 passenger
Texas	16	Midnight-5 a.m.; secondary enforcement	No more than 1 passenger under 21; secondary enforcement	The minimum license is 18 for applicants who don’t complete driver education.
Utah	16	Midnight-5 a.m.	for first six months, no passengers; secondary enforcement	All license applicants must complete driver education. Passenger restrictions end after six months or when the driver turns 18, whichever comes first.
Vermont	16	None	First 3 mos. No passengers; second 3 mos. no passengers except family; secondary enforcement	Driver education is required for license applicants under 18.
Virginia	16 yrs., 3 mos.	Midnight-4 a.m.; secondary enforcement	Learner’s permit: no more than one passenger under 21; provisional license and under 18: no more than one passenger under 21; secondary enforcement	Driver education is required for license applicants under 19.
Washington	16	1 a.m.-5 a.m.; secondary enforcement	First 6 mos. No passengers younger than 20; 2nd 6 mos. No more than 3 passengers younger than 20; secondary enforcement	Driver education is required for license applicants under 18. Intermediate license holders aren’t eligible for a full license until 18 with a crash or violation history.
West Virginia	16	10 p.m.-5 a.m.	No passengers younger than 20 for first 6 mos. No more than 1 passenger younger than 20 for second 6 mos.
Wisconsin	16	Midnight-5 a.m.	No more than 1 passenger	Driver education is required for license applicants under 18.
Wyoming	16	11 p.m.-5 a.m.	No more than 1 passenger younger than 18	Applicants for full license who are under 17 must complete driver education and have an intermediate license for at least six months.

Sources: Governor’s Highway Safety Association and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Highway Loss Data Institute

Full privilege

After getting sufficient supervised driving experience behind the wheel, young drivers attain a level of full driving privileges. In most states, at this stage, the driver is allowed to have anyone in the car and drive at any time.

“Once drivers have completed the learner’s permit stage with a minimum number of hours logged and graduated to the intermediate stage with less supervision and a minimum number of months, they can apply for a full privilege driver’s license so long as they meet the minimum age requirement in their state,” McKenzie notes.

Here’s when each state allows full privileges:

State	Full privilege minimum age
Alabama	17 years
Alaska	16 years, six months
Arizona	16 years, six month
Arkansas	18 years
California	17 years
Colorado	17 years
Connecticut	17 years, four months driving with passengers; 18 years for nighttime driving
Delaware	17 years
District of Columbia	18 years
Delaware	17 years
Florida	18 years
Georgia	18 years
Hawaii	17 years
Idaho	15 years, six months, driving with passengers; 16 years, nighttime driving
Illinois	17 years, driving with passengers; 18 years, nighttime driving
Indiana	17 years with drivers ed, driving with passengers; 17 years, three months, without drivers ed; 18 years, nighttime driving
Iowa	17 years
Kansas	16 years, six months
Kentucky	17 years
Louisiana	17 years
Maine	16 years, nine months
Maryland	16 years, 11 months, driving with passengers; 18 years, nighttime driving
Massachusetts	17 years, driving with passengers; 18 years, nighttime driving
Michigan	17 years
Minnesota	16 years, six months, nighttime driving; 17 years, driving with passengers
Mississippi	16 years, six months
Missouri	18 years
Montana	16 years
Nebraska	16 years, six months, driving with passengers; 17 years, nighttime driving
Nevada	16 years, six months, driving with passengers; 18 years, nighttime driving
New Hampshire	16 years, six months, driving with passengers; 17 years, one month, nighttime driving
New Jersey	21 years
New Mexico	16 years, six months
New York	17 years with drivers ed; 18 years without drivers ed
North Carolina	16 years, six months
North Dakota	16 years
Ohio	17 years, driving with passengers; 18 years, nighttime driving
Oklahoma	16 years, six months with drivers ed; 17 years without drivers ed
Oregon	17 years
Pennsylvania	17 years with drivers ed and 12 months free of crash or conviction; 18 years without drivers ed
Rhode Island	17 years, six months
South Carolina	16 years, six months
South Dakota	16 years
Tennessee	17 years
Texas	18 years
Utah	16 years, six months, driving with passengers; 17 years, nighttime driving
Vermont	16 years, six months
Virginia	18 years
Washington	18 years
West Virginia	17 years
Wisconsin	16 years, nine months
Wyoming	16 years, six months

Can a 12-year-old drive?

In most states, teen drivers are not legally allowed to drive at age 12. However, a few states, such as California, Florida, Arizona, etc., let teenagers drive at the age of 15.

What states allow 13-year-old drivers?

Currently, no state in the country allows you to drive at younger than 14 years of age. So if you are age 13, you will have to wait at least a year until you can apply for and receive your learner’s permit, depending on your state of residency.

What state can you drive at age 14?

Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota are among the states that currently allow you to drive with a learner’s permit as young as age 14. Some of these states require you to wait a few months after your 14th birthday.

What state can you drive at age 15?

Currently, you can drive at the age of 15 in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Be aware that some of these states mandate that you be a few months older than 15 years.

What states allow 16-year-old drivers?

In all other states – including Connecticut, Washington DC, Delaware, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island – you must be a minimum of 16 years old to begin driving with a learner’s permit.

The purpose of state laws for teen drivers is to ensure that new and inexperienced drivers are safe on the road. For instance, new drivers in most states are not allowed night driving or unsupervised driving. These rules may seem restrictive, but they can help prevent tragic accidents. Ultimately, following the state laws is the best way to ensure a safe driving experience for everyone.

Know more about car insurance teen drivers

Frequently asked questions on teen driving

Can a 16-year-old drive out of state?

According to attorney Jobin Joseph, whether or not a teenage driver can drive to another state will depend on their home state’s rules that issued their license in the state they intend to go to. Some states allow drivers with valid learner’s permits from any other state to drive into their state. Other states prohibit drivers with learner’s permits from doing so. Joseph recommends contacting the Department of Motor Vehicles in your state and the state you intend to drive into to determine what rules and restrictions apply.

Can a 17-year-old drive out of state?

This will depend on the rules of the state that issued your permit or license as well as the rules of the state you want to drive to, per attorney Jobin Joseph. He recommends contacting the Department of Motor Vehicles in both states to understand applicable laws.

How many passengers can a 16-year-old driver have?

While every state has its own set of rules regarding who can drive and how many passengers they are permitted, most states allow no more than one passenger if you are 16 or younger, according to attorney Jobin Joseph. It’s always best to check first with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles regarding passenger rules for young drivers.

How old do you have to be to have a passenger in your car?

When driving with a learner’s permit, you are typically only allowed to operate a motor vehicle with an adult parent, legal guardian, or licensed trained professional present as a passenger. As you graduate to higher levels of driving, more passengers with fewer restrictions are allowed. Even after receiving your full privilege driver’s license, your state may still impose restrictions on who can ride with you and the age of those passengers. To learn more, contact your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles.

Can a 17-year-old drive with passengers in Florida?

Seventeen-year-olds with a Class E driver’s license are subject to several passenger restrictions in Florida, according to attorney Lyle Solomon. From 1 AM to 5 AM, 17-year-olds are barred from driving unless accompanied by a 21-year-old licensed driver or traveling to and from the workplace. Since Florida requires full privilege drivers to be at least 18 years old, drivers with their instruction permit are only permitted to have one passenger over the age of 21, per insurance broker Lauren McKenzie. Because 17-year-olds in Florida only have their learner’s permit, they cannot carry younger passengers with them in the vehicle.

Is drivers education for teens required?

Every state has its own rules on whether drivers ed is required for new drivers. Driver education classes are for teens to learn road rules and safe driving practices.

Are there any 17 year old driving restrictions?

Yes. Many states have Graduated Driver License (GDL) laws that restrict where and when a 17-year-old can drive. These laws typically require a new driver’s drive time to be limited to daytime hours, a passenger over a certain age to be present in the vehicle, passengers under a certain age shouldn’t be present in the vehicle, no cell phone use and limited to and from trips to work and school

What are the safest cars for teen drivers?

Safety is a major factor for all drivers, but especially for teen drivers. Look for vehicles earning a top rating from the IIHS and vehicles that come with electronic stability control (ESC). Some of the safest options for teen drivers are the 2016 Toyota Camry LE, 2016 Honda Civic LX, 2016 Subaru Legacy 2.5i, 2017 Hyundai Tucson SE and the 2015 Chevy Traverse LT.

What is the best insurance for teen drivers?

Adding your teen to your policy is almost always more cost-effective than getting the teen their own policy. Speak with your insurance agent to find out what it will cost to add your teen, but also be sure to shop around to find the best insurance option for your teen driver.

Sources:

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.“Teenagers” Accessed June 2022.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Graduated Driver Licensing“Accessed June 2022.

Erik Martin

Contributing Researcher

Erik J. Martin is a Chicago area-based freelance writer whose articles have been published by AARP The Magazine, The Motley Fool, The Costco Connection, USAA, US Chamber of Commerce, Bankrate, The Chicago Tribune, and other publications. He often writes on topics related to insurance, real estate, personal finance, business, technology, health care, and entertainment. Erik also hosts a podcast and publishes several blogs, including Martinspiration.com and Cineversegroup.com.

Table of contents

What is graduated driver licensing?
Teen driving risks and graduated driver licensing laws
Learner stage
Intermediate stage
Full privilege
Can a 12-year-old drive?
What states allow 13-year-old drivers?
What state can you drive at age 14?
What state can you drive at age 15?
What states allow 16-year-old drivers?
Frequently asked questions on teen driving