Most states have driving restrictions on teen drivers for safety reasons. Read our guide to learn about state laws for young 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 learn good driving habits.
GDL programs are crucial for ensuring the safety and development of young drivers. These programs introduce driving responsibilities in phases, allowing new drivers to gain essential experience under less risky conditions before earning full driving privileges.
By gradually exposing teens to more complex driving situations, such as driving at night or with multiple passengers, GDL programs help reduce the likelihood of accidents caused by inexperience. Additionally, they reinforce critical safety habits, like avoiding distractions and not driving under the influence.
Ultimately, GDL programs play a vital role in reducing traffic fatalities and injuries among young drivers, creating safer roads for everyone.
However, teen driving laws aren’t uniform nationwide. Each state has its own laws for teen drivers, such as when they can start driving. Read on to learn more about teen driving laws in your state.
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,” says Jobin Joseph, managing attorney for Rosenblum Law.
These regulations are designed to gradually introduce young drivers to more challenging driving situations. By gradually easing these restrictions, the GDL program helps young drivers transition smoothly from novice to fully licensed drivers.
“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,” says Lyle Solomon, an attorney and financial expert with Oak View Law Group in Rocklin, California.
Adolescent drivers are involved in crashes three times more than drivers over the age of 20, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the CDC. 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,” Joseph says.
Graduated Driver Licensing programs allow teen drivers to gain driving experience before they get full driving privileges. Most programs include the following three stages.
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 operates the vehicle in the presence of a fully licensed driver and earns a particular number of hours while driving under these rules to graduate to the next level of licensing.
Here are the learner stage restrictions for each state:
| State | Minimum entry age | Mandatory holding period | Minimum amount of supervised driving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 15 years | 6 months | 50 hours (None with driver education) |
| Alaska | 14 years | 6 months | 40 hours, 10 of which must be at night or in inclement weather |
| Arizona | 15 years, 6 months | 6 months | 30 hours, 10 of which must be at night (None with driver education) |
| Arkansas | 14 years | 6 months | None |
| California | 15 years, 6 months | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night |
| Colorado | 15 years | 12 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night |
| Connecticut | 16 years | 6 months (4 months with driver education) | 40 hours |
| District of Colombia | 16 years | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night |
| Delaware | 16 years | 6 months | 40 hours in learner’s stage; 10 hours at night in intermediate stage |
| Florida | 15 years | 12 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night |
| Georgia | 15 years | 12 months | 40 hours, 6 of which must be at night |
| Hawaii | 15 years, 6 months | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night |
| Idaho | 14 years, 6 months | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night |
| IlliNois | 15 years | 9 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night |
| Indiana | 15 years | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night |
| Iowa | 14 years | 12 months | 20 hours, 2 of which must be at night |
| Kansas | 14 years | 12 months | 25 hours, in learner phase; 25 hours before age 16; 10 of the 50 hours must be at night |
| Kentucky | 16 years | 6 months | 60 hours, 10 of which must be at night |
| Louisiana | 15 years | 6 months | 50 hours, 15 of which must be at night |
| Maine | 15 years | 6 months | 70 hours, 10 of which must be at night |
| Maryland | 15 years, 9 months | 9 months | 60 hours, 10 of which must be at night |
| Massachusetts | 16 years | 6 months | 40 hoursFootNote33 |
| Michigan | 14 years, 9 months | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night |
| Minnesota | 15 years | 6 months | 40 hours, 15 of which must be at night |
| Mississippi | 15 years | 12 months | None |
| Missouri | 15 years | 6 months | 40 hours, 10 of which must be at night |
| Montana | 14 years, 6 months | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night |
| Nebraska | 15 years | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night (None with driver education) |
| Nevada | 15 years, 6 months | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night (None with defensive driving course) |
| New Hampshire | 15 years, 6 months | None | 40 hours, 10 of which must be at night |
| New Jersey | 16 years | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night (effective 02/01/25) |
| New Mexico | 15 years | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night |
| New York | 16 years | 6 months | 50 hours, 15 of which must be at night |
| North Carolina | 15 years | 9 months | 60 hours, 10 of which must be at night, learner phase; 12 hours, 6 of which must be at night, intermediate phase |
| North Dakota | 14 years | ||
| Ohio | 15 years, 6 months | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night |
| Oklahoma | 15 years | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night |
| Oregon | 15 years | 6 months | 50 hoursFootNote62(100 hours without driver education) |
| Pennsylvania | 16 years | 6 months | 65 hours, 10 of which must be at night and 5 of which must be in inclement weather |
| Rhone Island | 16 years | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night |
| South Carolina | 15 years | 6 months | 40 hours, 10 of which must be at night |
| South Dakota | 14 years | 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 |
| Tennessee | 15 years | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night |
| Texas | 15 years | 6 months | 30 hours, 10 of which must be at night |
| Utah | 15 years | 6 months | 40 hours, 10 of which must be at night |
| Vermont | 15 years | 12 months | 40 hours, 10 of which must be at night |
| Virginia | 15 years, 6 months | 9 months | 45 hours, 15 of which must be at night |
| Washington | 15 years | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night |
| West Virginia | 15 years | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night (None with driver education) |
| Wisconsin | 15 years | 6 months | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night |
| Wyoming | 15 years | 10 days | 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night |
Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
After you’ve logged sufficient time practicing on the road comes the intermediate stage. Drivers in the intermediate stage are allowed to test for and get their state driver’s license but must drive with restrictions 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 says. “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 a.m. and 11 p.m., 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, Joseph says.
Here are the intermediate-stage rules in each state:
| State | Minimum entry age | Nighttime restrictions | Passenger restrictions (family members excepted unless Noted) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16 years | Midnight-6 a.m. | No more than one passenger |
| Alaska | 16 years | 1 a.m.-5 a.m. | No passengers younger than 21 |
| Arizona | 16 years | Midnight-5 a.m. secondary enforcement | No more than 1 passenger younger than 18; secondary enforcement |
| Arkansas | 16 years | 11 p.m.-4 a.m. | No more than 1 passenger younger than 21 |
| California | 16 years | 11 p.m.-5 a.m. secondary enforcement | No passengers younger than 20 (limited exception for immediate family); secondary enforcement |
| Colorado | 16 years | Midnight-5 a.m. secondary enforcement | First 6 months—No passengers; second 6 months—No more than one passenger; secondary enforcement |
| Connecticut | 16 years, 4 months | 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 |
| District of Colombia | 16 years, 6 months | 10 p.m.-6 a.m.FootNote8 | No more than 1 passenger |
| Delaware | 16 years, 6 months | 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. | No passengers |
| Florida | 16 years | 11 p.m.-6 a.m. for 16 year-olds; 1 a.m.-5 a.m. for 17 year-olds | None |
| Georgia | 16 years | 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 |
| Hawaii | 16 years | 11 p.m.-5 a.m. | No more than 1 passenger younger than 18 (household members excepted) |
| Idaho | 15 years | 10 p.m.-5 a.m. | licensees 16 and younger can have No more than 1 passenger younger than 17 |
| IlliNois | 16 years | 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 |
| Indiana | 16 years, 3 months | 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. | No passengers |
| Iowa | 16 years | 12:30 a.m.-5 a.m. | Parental discretion |
| Kansas | 16 years | 9 p.m. – 5 a.m. | No more than one passenger younger than 18 |
| Kentucky | 16 years, 6 months | Midnight-6 a.m. | No more than 1 passenger younger than 20 unless supervised by a driving instructor; secondary enforcement |
| Louisiana | 16 years | 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 |
| Maine | 16 years | Midnight-5 a.m. | No passengers |
| Maryland | 16 years, 6 months | Midnight-5 a.m | No passengers younger than 18; secondary enforcement |
| Massachusetts | 16 years, 6 months | 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) |
| Michigan | 16 years | 10 p.m.-5 a.m. | No more than 1 passenger younger than 21 |
| Minnesota | 16 years | Midnight-5 a.m. | No more than 1 passenger younger than 20; second 6 months—No more than 3 passengers younger than 20 |
| Mississippi | 16 years | 10 p.m.-6 a.m. Sun.-Thur., 11:30 p.m.-6 a.m. Fri.-Sat. | None |
| Missouri | 16 years | 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 |
| Montana | 15 years | 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 |
| Nebraska | 16 years | Midnight-6 a.m. secondary enforcement | No more than 1 passenger younger than 19; secondary enforcement |
| Nevada | 16 years | 10 p.m.-5 a.m. secondary enforcement | No passengers younger than 18; secondary enforcement |
| New Hampshire | 16 years | 1 a.m.-4 a.m. | No more than 1 passenger younger than 25 |
| New Jersey | 17 years | 11 p.m. – 5 a.m. | No more than 1 passenger (exception is limited to drivers’ dependents) |
| New Mexico | 15 years, 6 months | Midnight-5 a.m. | No more than 1 passenger younger than 21 |
| New York | 16 years, 6 months | 9 p.m.-5 a.m. except for NYC (unsupervised driving prohibited at all times) and Long Island (limited daytime unsupervised driving) | No more than 1 passenger younger than 21 |
| North Carolina | 16 years | 9 p.m.-5 a.m. | No more than 1 passenger younger than 21 |
| North Dakota | 16 years; 15 years for a parent requested restricted license | 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 |
| Ohio | 16 years | 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 |
| Oklahoma | 16 years | 10 p.m.-5 a.m. | No more than 1 passenger |
| Oregon | 16 years | Midnight-5 a.m. | First 6 months–No passengers younger than 20; second 6 months–No more than 3 passengers younger than 20 |
| Pennsylvania | 16 years, 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 |
| Rhone Island | 16 years, 6 months | 1 a.m.-5 a.m. | No more than 1 passenger younger than 21 |
| South Carolina | 15 years, 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 |
| South Dakota | 14 years, 9 months (14 years, 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 |
| Tennessee | 16 years | 11 p.m.-6 a.m. | No more than 1 passenger |
| Texas | 16 years | Midnight-5 a.m. secondary enforcement | No more than 1 passenger younger than 21; secondary enforcement |
| Utah | 16 years | Midnight-5 a.m. | No passengers; secondary enforcement |
| Vermont | 16 years | None | First 3 months—No passengers without exception; second 3 months—No passengers; secondary enforcement |
| Virginia | 16 years, 3 months | Midnight-4 a.m. FootNote74 secondary enforcement | First 12 months—No more than 1 passenger younger than 21; thereafter, No more than 3 passengers younger than 21; secondary enforcement |
| Washington | 16 years | 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 |
| West Virginia | 16 years | 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 |
| Wisconsin | 16 years | Midnight-5 a.m. | No more than 1 passenger |
| Wyoming | 16 years | 11 p.m.-5 a.m. | No more than 1 passenger younger than 18 |
Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
