Driving age by state ranges from 14 to 18, by license stage.
Sources State statutes and licensing agencies, 51 jurisdictions
Updated · Dallas, Texas
This table lists the learner permit, provisional license and full license ages for all 50 states and the District of Columbia, verified September 16, 2026.
Every age links to the statute that sets it, so a reporter, a parent or a teen can check the source directly.
J Alexander Law compiled it from each state's own statute and licensing agency.
Learner permit ages run from 14 to 16, the first license that allows unsupervised driving lands between 14 years, 6 months and 17, and the last nighttime or passenger rule comes off between 16 and 18. Every figure in the table links to the statute that sets it.
Hurt in a crash? Go straight to your accident type
6 months on the instruction permit before the provisional license. 28.15.055. Must be accompanied by someone 21 or older who has held a license for that vehicle type at least a year, seated beside the driver. 28.15.051(a).
Nighttime rule
May not drive from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m., unless with a parent, guardian, or a licensed driver 21 or older, or going to or from work. 28.15.057(b).
Passenger rule
May carry no passenger unless one is a parent, guardian, or someone 21 or older. Siblings may ride along without that adult present. 28.15.057(b).
Phones and devices
No phone rule is tied to the provisional license. Alaska's general distracted driving law covers every driver the same way. 28.35.161.
Other limits
Restrictions do not apply on a license limited to off highway system areas. A violation is a $200 fine and 2 points. 28.15.057(c).
Nighttime rule ends
Ends after 6 clean months on the provisional license, once removed by DMV, or automatically at 18. 28.15.057(a).
Passenger rule ends
Same as nighttime: ends after 6 clean months, once DMV removes it, or automatically at 18. 28.15.057(a).
Full license age
The unrestricted license needs 6 months on the permit and 6 months on the provisional license, clean for the last 6 months. The binding limit is the provisional hold, earliest 16 years 6 months. 28.15.057(a).
Other routes
No shortcut route exists; the only credential before 16 is a case by case hardship license. 28.15.051(e).
Exceptions
Hardship: DMV may issue a special license under 16 case by case, with no fixed age or published criteria. 28.15.051(e).
School: a restricted permit for a school year goes to a 14 year old in driver's ed, supervised by an approved instructor. 28.15.051(b).
Other: a moped permit is available at 14 with parental consent, void where local ordinance bars riders under 16. 28.15.051(d).
Learner: Stage I learner's license. Provisional: Stage II restricted driver's license.
Learner permit
6 months on the Stage I license before Stage II. 32-6-7.2(a). Must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, a licensed driver 21 or older, or a certified instructor. Passes a written and vision exam, no driving test. 32-6-8(b).
Nighttime rule
No driving from midnight to 6 a.m., unless with a parent, guardian, or licensed adult 21 or older, or going to work, school, or a religious event. 32-6-7.2(c)(1).
Passenger rule
No more than one passenger, other than parents, guardians, family members, or an accompanying licensed driver 21 or older. 32-6-7.2(c)(2).
Phones and devices
No handheld communication device that is not essential to driving the vehicle. 32-6-7.2(c)(3).
Other limits
Age 16 applicants need parent consent and 50 hours of practice or a driver's ed course. A first violation extends the restriction 6 months. 32-6-7.2(b),(d).
Nighttime rule ends
Ends at Stage III: age 17 with 6 months held and a clean record, or at 18. 32-6-7.2(f),(g)(3).
Passenger rule ends
Same as nighttime: Stage III at 17 with 6 clean months, or at 18. 32-6-7.2(f),(g)(3).
Full license age
The license is deemed a Stage III unrestricted license once the driver is 17 and has held the Stage II license 6 months with no violation in that time. Anyone turning 18 gets it automatically. 32-6-7.2(f),(g)(3).
Other routes
17 years old, only if the Stage II license began by 16 years 6 months, giving a full 6 month hold, and the record stays clean. 32-6-7.2(f).
Exceptions
Other: a married or head of household teen, or anyone 18 or older, skips the whole Stage I to III structure. 32-6-7.2(g).
Farm: driving a farm tractor or road machine on a highway needs no license at all, with no minimum age set. 32-6-2(2).
Permit held 6 months clean before intermediate license. 27-16-804(g)(1)(B). Must be accompanied by a licensed driver 21 or older. No practice hours are required. At 16, after passing the driving test, accompaniment ends. 27-16-802(a)(2)(A),(B).
Nighttime rule
May not drive from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m., unless with a licensed driver 21 or older, or going to a school, church, or job activity, or an emergency. 27-16-804(g)(1)(F).
Passenger rule
May not carry more than one unrelated minor passenger, unless a licensed driver 21 or older rides in the front passenger seat. 27-16-804(g)(1)(E).
Phones and devices
No cell phone or wireless device use while driving, except to report a crime, fire, accident, or an impaired or reckless driver. 27-16-804(g)(1).
Other limits
All occupants must wear seat belts. 27-16-804(g)(1).
Nighttime rule ends
Ends when the intermediate license itself ends, normally at 18 with a clean record. 27-16-901(a)(1)(C).
Passenger rule ends
Same as nighttime: ends with the intermediate license, normally at 18. 27-16-901(a)(1)(C).
Full license age
Arkansas has no separate unrestricted license. The intermediate license expires at 18 and renews as a regular license if the driver stayed clean for the 12 months before that birthday. Without that record, it renews as an intermediate license again. 27-16-901(a)(1)(C).
Other routes
A 16 or 17 year old can get an unrestricted license early with 6 months of experience, if emancipated, a high school graduate, married, or enlisted. 27-16-804(b)(2).
Exceptions
School: an applicant in driver's ed may get a restricted permit before age 14, on a designated route, instructor only. 27-16-802(b)(1).
Hardship: a waiver lets a 14 or 15 year old with 6 clean months drive unsupervised for true hardship, capped at 30 miles. 27-16-804(b)(2).
Other: a 16 or 17 year old can get an unrestricted license early if emancipated, a graduate, married, or enlisted, plus 6 months experience. 27-16-804(b)(2).
Changes, 2024 to 2026
HB1913 (Act 928 of 2025): removed the under 18 cap on the intermediate license and raised the clean record for conversion from 6 to 12 months. Effective 2025-08-03.
Learner: Ark. Code Ann. section 27-16-802(a)(1), as enacted by Act 1199 of 2015 (SB49) section 4; section 27-16-802(a)(2)(A)-(B), as amended by Act 1199 of 2015 section 4 and Act 617 of 2019 (HB1867) section 2, with the 24-month permit period set by Act 908 of 2021 (SB606) section 1; see also section 27-16-804(f) (learner's license)
Provisional: Ark. Code Ann. section 27-16-804(g)(1)(A), as amended by Act 928 of 2025 (HB1913) section 4; section 27-16-804(g)(1)(B), (E), (F), as enacted by Act 394 of 2009 (SB309) section 2, unamended since
Full license: Ark. Code Ann. section 27-16-901(a)(1)(C), as amended by Act 928 of 2025 (HB1913) section 6
6 months on the instruction permit, or until 18. 28-3174(A)(2). Must be accompanied by a licensed driver 21 or older seated beside the permittee. No wireless device use, except in a genuine emergency. 28-3154(B),(C).
Nighttime rule
No driving from midnight to 5 a.m., unless with a parent or guardian holding a Class A through D license, or going to school, work, or a religious event. 28-3174(D).
Passenger rule
No more than one passenger under 18, unless they are the licensee's siblings or a parent or guardian holding a Class A through D license rides along. 28-3174(E).
Phones and devices
No wireless device use while driving, except in a genuine emergency or for a hands free navigation system already set. 28-3174(F).
Other limits
An officer cannot stop or cite a driver only for these rules without another reason. A violation runs $75 to $100 and adds 30 to 60 restricted days. 28-3174(G),(H).
Nighttime rule ends
Ends 6 months after the Class G license issues, or automatically at 18. 28-3174(D),(K).
Passenger rule ends
Same as nighttime: 6 months after issuance, or automatically at 18. 28-3174(E),(K).
Full license age
Arizona keeps one Class G license and drops its own restrictions. The curfew and passenger rules run for the first 6 months of holding it, ending at 18 if that comes first. Earliest age is 16 years 6 months. 28-3174(D),(E),(K).
Other routes
None on the standard path. All three routes to the Class G license share the same age 16 minimum and the same 6 month or age 18 restriction period. 28-3174(A)(3).
Exceptions
School: a 15 year old in an approved driver training program may get a restricted permit for a school year, instructor only. 28-3155.
6 months on the permit before the provisional license. 12509. Requires driver's ed and driver training first. Supervised only by a licensed parent, spouse, guardian, instructor, or a driver 25 or older. 12509(a).
Nighttime rule
For the first 12 months, no driving from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., unless with a parent, guardian, an adult 25 or older, or an instructor. 12814.6(b).
Passenger rule
For the first 12 months, no passengers under 20, unless with the same qualifying adult required for the nighttime rule. 12814.6(b).
Phones and devices
Under 18, no wireless phone or device use while driving, even hands free, except calling police, a hospital, or fire services. 23124.
Other limits
Officers may not stop a driver only to check these rules. 12814.6(c).
Nighttime rule ends
Ends 12 months after the provisional license issues. 12814.6(b)(1).
Passenger rule ends
Same as nighttime: 12 months after the provisional license issues. 12814.6(b)(1).
Full license age
California issues no separate unrestricted license. The last restriction, the curfew and passenger rule, runs 12 months from when the provisional license issues. On the standard path that ends the restrictions at 17 years old. 12814.6(b)(1).
Other routes
A no driver's ed route allows a permit at 17 years 6 months, but no license issues until driver's ed is done or the driver turns 18. 12509(a)(5).
Exceptions
Hardship: a junior permit lets a 14 to 17 year old drive for needed school, family illness, or work transportation. 12513.
Other: a 16 or 17 year old enlisted in the National Guard may get a restricted license for Guard vehicles only. 12814.7.
Other: a permit without driver's ed starts at 17 years 6 months; the license waits for driver's ed or age 18. 12509(a)(5).
Learner: Instruction permit. Provisional: Minor driver's license.
Learner permit
12 months on the instruction permit before any driver's license. 42-2-104(4)(a)(I). Requires a 30 hour driver's ed course first. Supervised only by the parent, guardian, or other adult who signed the liability affidavit, front seat, licensed in Colorado. 42-2-106(1)(b)(I).
Nighttime rule
No driving from midnight to 5 a.m. until licensed a full year, unless with a qualifying adult, or going to school, work, or a medical emergency. 42-4-116(2)(a).
Passenger rule
No passenger under 21 outside family for the first 6 months; after that, no more than one such passenger, until licensed a full year. 42-4-116(1).
Phones and devices
No permit specific phone rule. A statewide ban on holding a phone to text, talk, or watch video applies to all drivers. 42-4-239.
Other limits
All occupants must wear seat belts, only one passenger up front, and rear passengers cannot exceed the seat belts available. 42-2-105.5(3),(4).
Nighttime rule ends
Ends once licensed 12 months, or at 18, whichever comes first. 42-4-116(4)(b).
Passenger rule ends
Same as nighttime: 12 months of licensing, or at 18. 42-4-116(4)(b).
Full license age
Colorado keeps one minor driver's license; its restrictions apply only to a driver under 18 and end once the license has been held 12 months. The license starts no earlier than 16, so the earliest restriction free age is 17. 42-4-116.
Other routes
Reachable only if the minor license issued at exactly 16 years 0 months and ran a full 12 months without a gap. 42-4-116(4)(b).
Exceptions
Other: two driver's ed shortcuts exist at 15 years 6 months or at 16, both still needing the 12 month permit hold. 42-2-106(1)(a),(d).
Other: a child under state care can skip the parent signed affidavit, using a guardian ad litem or case worker instead. 42-2-108(1)(b).
Other: a motorcycle endorsement on the permit needs written parent or guardian permission since August 2026, unless the minor is emancipated. 42-2-106(1)(f).
Changes, 2024 to 2026
HB 24-1021: requires a 30 hour driver's ed course for every under 18 applicant, ending the old 3 track system. Applies to applications from 2027-01-01.
HB 26-1079, the Cole Bradley Act: requires written parent or guardian permission for a motorcycle endorsement on the permit, unless the minor is emancipated. Effective 2026-08-12.
Learner: C.R.S. 42-2-106(1)(b)(I) and 42-2-104(4)(a)(I) (2023 replacement-volume text; this is the version that governs instruction permit and driver's license applications made on the access date, because the 2024-enacted amendments to these two sections do not apply to applications until 2027-01-01; see recent_changes and notes)
Learner: Youth instruction permit. Provisional: Operator's license, 16 to 17.
Learner permit
120 days with driver's ed, 180 at home. 14-36(d)(1). Must be under instruction of an instructor, or an adult 20 or older licensed 4 years with no suspension. Only a parent or sibling may ride along. 14-36(c).
Nighttime rule
No driving at or after 11 p.m. through 5 a.m., unless for work, school, religious activities, or medical necessity. 14-36g(a).
Passenger rule
First 6 months: only a parent, guardian, or one instructor may ride along. Second 6 months: also other immediate family. 14-36g(a).
Phones and devices
No cell phone or mobile device use while driving, even hands free, including any device with a video display. 14-36g(a).
Other limits
Home training route needs a 180 day permit hold instead of 120 days. No vehicle needing a passenger endorsement, and no more riders than seat belts. 14-36(d)(1).
Nighttime rule ends
Ends on the driver's 18th birthday; the license carries no 6 or 12 month trigger of its own. 14-36g(a).
Passenger rule ends
Ends 12 months after the license issues, or at 18, whichever comes first. 14-36g(a).
Full license age
Connecticut issues one operator's license. Its curfew and phone ban apply only to a 16 or 17 year old holder and end automatically on the 18th birthday. No other end point is stated. 14-36g(a).
Other routes
If the license issues before 17, the passenger cap alone can end sooner than 18, 12 months after issuance; curfew and phone rules still run to 18. 14-36g(a).
Changes, 2024 to 2026
SB 413 (PA 26-24): lets a permit holder's sibling ride along if that sibling also holds a youth instruction permit. Effective 2026-10-01.
6 months on the learner permit before the provisional permit. 50-1401.01(a)(2A). Drive only 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., for pleasure only, always with an instructor or licensed adult 21 or older beside you, seat belts on. 50-1401.01(a)(2).
Nighttime rule
No driving 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. on school nights, or 12:01 to 6 a.m. other nights, unless for work, school, or with a licensed adult 21 or older. 50-1401.01(a)(2A).
Passenger rule
No passengers except one licensed adult 21 or older beside you, plus any sibling or parent, all belted. 50-1401.01(a)(2A).
Phones and devices
No GDL specific phone rule is stated in the statute; DC's general handheld device law was not researched for this record. 50-1401.01.
Other limits
Requires 6 clean months on the learner permit and 40 hours of supervised driving. All riders must wear seat belts. Permit valid up to 1 year. 50-1401.01(a)(2A).
Nighttime rule ends
Applies only under 18 and ends at 18. 50-1401.01(a)(1)(D).
Passenger rule ends
Same mechanism: applies only under 18, ends at 18. 50-1401.01(a)(1)(D).
Full license age
DC has no separate full license name. The curfew and passenger caps only apply to a permittee under 18, so they end automatically on the 18th birthday. DC DMV confirms this for both rules. 50-1401.01(a)(1)(D).
Other routes
At 17, with a clean 12 month record and 10 certified night hours, a full license with conditions is available, still curfew and passenger capped until 18. 50-1401.01(a)(1).
Exceptions
School: a pupil 15 or older in driver's ed may drive a dual control car with no permit at all, instructor present. 50-1401.01(a)(3).
Other: a driver's ed student may carry extra passengers who are also getting instruction, with a licensed instructor along. 50-1401.01(a)(3A).
Learner: D.C. Code section 50-1401.01(a)(2); the 6-month holding period is stated as a prerequisite for the provisional permit at (a)(2A)(B)(i)
Provisional: D.C. Code section 50-1401.01(a)(2A)
Full license: D.C. Code section 50-1401.01(a)(1), specifically (a)(1)(C) (eligibility at 17 for an under-21 applicant) and (a)(1)(D) (restrictions ending at 18)
6 months of full supervision before unsupervised driving. 2710(c)(3). Requires an approved driver's ed course first. Supervised only by a parent, guardian, or a driver 25 or older licensed 5 years, seated up front. 2710(b),(c)(2).
Nighttime rule
Unsupervised driving runs only 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. From 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., only with supervision, except church, work, or school travel. 2710(c)(4).
Passenger rule
No more than 1 extra passenger for the whole first 12 months, family excepted when the supervisor rides along. 2710(c)(5).
Phones and devices
No cell phone, text messenger, or similar device use, unless the vehicle is stopped off the travel lanes. 2710(c)(8).
Other limits
Permit must be on hand while driving, and every passenger under 18 must wear a seat belt or use a child seat. A violation counts as unlicensed driving. 2710(c)(1),(7),(h).
Nighttime rule ends
Ends when the Class D license issues at 17, after 12 months on the permit. 2710(c)(4),(d).
Passenger rule ends
Same as nighttime: ends at the Class D license, 17, after 12 months on the permit. 2710(c)(5),(d).
Full license age
The statute states the age directly: a driver at least 17 who has held the Level 1 permit 12 months may get the Class D license, which carries no further restrictions. 2710(d).
Other routes
None. 17 years old is already the earliest possible age, since Class D needs 12 months on a permit that cannot start before 16. 2710(d).
12 months on the learner license, or until 18. 322.05(2). Requires a driver's ed course and always a licensed adult 21 or older beside you. Daylight only for 3 months, then until 10 p.m. 322.1615(1)-(3).
Nighttime rule
Under 17: no unsupervised driving from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. unless going to or from work. At 17: the curfew narrows to 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. 322.16(2),(3).
Passenger rule
None. Florida sets no passenger limit for teen drivers on the standard path.
Phones and devices
No teen specific phone rule exists. Florida's general texting ban covers drivers of every age under 316.305, not tied to license stage.
Other limits
Getting this license needs 12 months on the learner license clean of moving violations, plus 50 hours of practice with 10 at night. 322.05(2),(3).
Nighttime rule ends
Ends at 18; the curfew statute only reaches drivers under 17 or who are 17. 322.16.
Passenger rule ends
Not applicable; Florida has no passenger restriction to end.
Full license age
Florida keeps one Class E license for life. The curfew law only names drivers under 17 or who are 17, reaching no one who has turned 18, so the restriction ends there by omission, not by a stated number. 322.16(2),(3).
Other routes
None on the standard path. Getting the license after 18 simply means no curfew ever applies, which is not an earlier route.
Exceptions
School: a minor loses driving privileges for falling out of school compliance, but may seek a hardship waiver from the school principal. 322.091(1),(3).
Changes, 2024 to 2026
SB 994 (2025): changed the required driver's ed course from the old 4 hour class to the new 6 hour DETS course. Effective 2025-07-01.
Learner: Class CP Instruction Permit. Provisional: Class D driver's license.
Learner permit
12 months and a day on the permit before Class D. 40-5-24(a)(1). Must be accompanied by a Class C licensed driver 21 or older, seated beside you. Must also be enrolled in school or hold a diploma. 40-5-22(a),(a.1).
Nighttime rule
No driving a Class C vehicle from midnight to 5 a.m., with no exceptions stated, no matter the driver's age. 40-5-24(b)(1).
Passenger rule
First 6 months: only immediate family may ride. Second 6 months: 1 non family passenger under 21. After a year: up to 3. 40-5-24(b)(2).
Phones and devices
No teen specific phone ban exists; the old under 18 wireless ban was repealed in 2018 for the age neutral hands free law. 40-6-241.
Other limits
Needs 12 straight clean months on the permit, no serious offense conviction, and the Joshua's Law course plus 40 supervised hours, 6 at night. 40-5-22(a.2).
Nighttime rule ends
Tied to the license class, not age; it ends only once Class C issues, earliest at 18. 40-5-24(b)(3).
Passenger rule ends
Same as nighttime: caps out at 3 passengers and stays there until Class C issues, earliest 18. 40-5-24(b)(3).
Full license age
Georgia issues a separate Class C license. The statute states the age directly: at least 18, a clean 12 month record, and an unsuspended Class D license, with no automatic age 18 conversion. 40-5-24(b)(3).
Other routes
A proviso lets a 17 year old military enlistee skip the 12 month Class D hold, though whether this issues Class C before 18 is unclear from the text. 40-5-24(b)(3).
Exceptions
Hardship: a minor as young as 14 may get a restricted permit to drive a medically impaired parent or guardian who cannot be licensed. 40-5-22(b).
School: no permit or license under 18 without proof of school enrollment, a diploma, or postsecondary study. 40-5-22(a.1).
Other: a military family member may credit an out of state driving record toward the 12 month permit hold. 40-5-24(b)(1)(B).
Changes, 2024 to 2026
SB 10 (Act 513): added reckless stunt driving to the offenses that block a Class D or Class C license. Effective 2024-07-01.
180 days on the instruction permit. Haw. Rev. Stat. 286-102.6(a)(2). Must be supervised by a licensed driver 21 or older; under 18 driving 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. needs a parent or guardian instead. Haw. Rev. Stat. 286-110(e).
Nighttime rule
Driving 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. requires a parent or guardian in the car, unless going to work or a school activity with a signed statement. Haw. Rev. Stat. 286-102.6(b)(4).
Passenger rule
No more than one passenger under 18 unless a household member, without a licensed parent or guardian along. 286-102.6(b)(3).
Phones and devices
No provisional-specific phone rule. Hawaii's general ban on texting or handheld calls applies to drivers of any age. Haw. Rev. Stat. 291C-137.
Other limits
Must carry the license while driving. All occupants need seat belts or, under 4, a child seat. The license expires at 19. 286-102.6(b)(1) to (2), (g).
Nighttime rule ends
Ends when the provisional license converts to a driver's license. 286-102.6(f).
Passenger rule ends
Ends at the same point, when the provisional license converts to a driver's license. 286-102.6(f).
Full license age
Directly stated: 286-102.6(f) requires age 17 and either six months on the provisional license or turning 18, whichever comes first. Since the provisional issues no earlier than 16, the six-month hold never beats the age-17 floor. 286-102.6(f)(3).
Other routes
None faster than 17. The six-month provisional hold cannot beat the direct age-17 floor for anyone provisional at the earliest age of 16. 286-102.6(f)(1), (3).
Exceptions
Farm: operating farm equipment or road machinery on a highway needs no license, but no one under 13 may do it. 286-105(2).
Other: an emancipated minor is exempt from the provisional license's age floor, hold, and driving restrictions. 286-102.6(i).
12 months on the instruction permit. Iowa Code 321.180B(1). Needs parent consent and a qualifying supervising adult in the seat beside the driver at all times. Iowa Code 321.180B, subsection 1.
Nighttime rule
Unsupervised driving barred 12:30 a.m. to 5 a.m. unless a qualifying supervising adult rides beside them, or a school or work waiver applies. Iowa Code 321.180B, subsection 2.
Passenger rule
No more passengers than seat belts. Unless waived at issuance, the first 6 months bars more than one unrelated minor passenger while driving unsupervised. Iowa Code 321.180B, subsection 2.
Phones and devices
No teen-specific device rule remains; the prior ban was repealed and folded into the general hands-free law. Iowa Code 321.276.
Other limits
A moving violation on the permit delays intermediate eligibility until 6 clean months pass; a violation on the intermediate license delays full licensing 12 months. Iowa Code 321.180B, subsection 3.
Nighttime rule ends
At the earliest, at 17, when the driver qualifies for a full license. Iowa Code 321.180B, subsection 4.
Passenger rule ends
Ends 6 months after issuance, or immediately if a parent or guardian waives it. Iowa Code 321.180B(2)(a).
Full license age
Directly stated: a full license may issue at 17 after 12 months on the intermediate license, 10 hours of supervised driving with 2 at night, and a clean 12-month record. Iowa Code 321.180B, subsection 4.
Other routes
None faster than 17. A driver who turns 18 on the intermediate license may fall outside the restrictions anyway, though the statute does not explain how. Iowa Code 321.180B.
Exceptions
School: a special minor's restricted license, ages 14 to 18, allows unsupervised driving up to 25 miles to school, work, or farm work. 321.194.
Other: a restricted work license for 16 to 18 year olds not in school covers travel to confirmed employment only. Iowa Code 321.178(2).
Other: a new 16 or 17 year old resident with a year on an out-of-state license can skip Iowa's permit and intermediate steps. 321.178(3).
Changes, 2024 to 2026
Senate File 22 rewrote the phone law into a general all-driver hands-free ban and repealed the teen-specific device rules; no age or holding period changed. Effective July 1, 2025.
Senate File 2109 replaced the Minor School License with the special minor's restricted license, adding work and farm destinations. No standard-path age changed. Effective July 1, 2024.
Learner: Class D Instruction Permit. Provisional: Class D driver's license.
Learner permit
6 months on the instruction permit. Idaho Code 49-307(8). Needs a supervising driver 21 or older beside them and 50 hours of practice over 6 months, 10 at night. Idaho Code 49-307(8)(a) to (b).
Nighttime rule
Under 16, driving is daylight hours only, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., unless a licensed driver 21 or older rides beside them. Idaho Code 49-307(10).
Passenger rule
Under 17, for the first 6 months after licensing, no more than one passenger under 17 unless related by blood, adoption, or marriage. Idaho Code 49-307(11).
Phones and devices
No graduated-license-specific phone rule. Idaho's general texting and device ban covers all drivers statewide. Idaho Code 49-1401A.
Other limits
Must stay free of moving violations, suspensions, and restriction violations for 6 months, or a new supervised-permit period starts over. Idaho Code 49-307(8)(f) to (g).
Nighttime rule ends
Ends at 16, when full privileges apply regardless of issue date. Idaho Code 49-307(10)(a).
Passenger rule ends
Ends 6 months after the class D license is issued. Idaho Code 49-307(11).
Full license age
Idaho has two restrictions ending on different triggers. The daylight-only rule lifts at a fixed age 16. The passenger cap lifts 6 months after issuance, earlier than 16 on the fastest path. So age 16 controls. Idaho Code 49-307(10)(a), (11).
Other routes
Idaho lets a 15 to 17 year old new resident with an out-of-state license skip the supervised period, but this does not change the ages. Idaho Code 49-303(1).
Exceptions
School: a restricted permit lets a 14 or 15 year old with no bus service drive to school, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. 49-307A.
Other: a principal can waive the school-enrollment rule for a minor with a hardship needing a license for work or medical care. 49-303(12), 49-303A.
9 months on the instruction permit. 625 ILCS 5/6-107(b). Needs parental consent and supervision by an adult 21 or older with a year of driving experience, driver education, and 50 hours of practice, 10 at night. 625 ILCS 5/6-107.1(a).
Nighttime rule
Invalid 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights, and 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, with parent, work, or emergency exceptions. 625 ILCS 5/6-107.1(b).
Passenger rule
For the first 12 months, or until 18, no more than one passenger under 20, except siblings or children. Under 18, only one front-seat passenger. 625 ILCS 5/6-107(g), (e).
Phones and devices
No wireless phone use at all under 19, not even hands free, except to report an emergency. 625 ILCS 5/12-610.1(b) to (c).
Other limits
Needs written parental consent, which can be withdrawn any time before 18, suspending driving privileges until restored. 625 ILCS 5/6-107(b).
Nighttime rule ends
Ends at 18; no earlier off-ramp under the law. 625 ILCS 5/6-110(a-1).
Passenger rule ends
Ends 12 months after licensing, or at 18, whichever comes first. 625 ILCS 5/6-107(g).
Full license age
Illinois keeps the same license issued at 16; restrictions expire by law. The nighttime curfew binds until 18 with no earlier off-ramp, making it the last restriction to end. The Secretary of State calls 18 the Full Licensing Phase. 625 ILCS 5/6-110(a-1).
Other routes
No route reaches full license before 18. The one-passenger cap alone can lift as early as 17 if licensed at 16 with a clean 12 months. 625 ILCS 5/6-107(g).
Exceptions
School: a graduated license cannot issue to a habitual or chronic truant under 18 who is not emancipated. 625 ILCS 5/6-107(b-1).
180 days on the learner's permit. IC 9-24-3-2.5(1)(B). At 15, must be enrolled in driver education; otherwise the minimum is 16. Practice driving needs a supervising adult, usually 25 or older. IC 9-24-7-1(a)(5), 9-24-7-4.
Nighttime rule
For 180 days, no driving 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Until 18, no driving after 11 p.m. weeknights or 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. weekends, with exceptions. IC 9-24-11-3.5, 3.6.
Passenger rule
For 180 days, passengers must be the driver's child, sibling, spouse, parent, guardian, or grandparent, unless a licensed driver 25 or older rides along. IC 9-24-11-3.5(b)(2).
Phones and devices
Under 21, no telecommunications device while driving except to call 911. This runs on age, not the 180-day mark. IC 9-24-11-3.7.
Other limits
If under 18, a parent or guardian must sign a financial liability agreement. Probationary holders do not qualify for court diversion programs.
Nighttime rule ends
Nighttime restriction lasts until 18, since the second curfew law outlasts the 180-day mark. IC 9-24-11-3.6.
Passenger rule ends
Ends 180 days after the probationary license issues; Indiana does not extend it to 18. IC 9-24-11-3.5(a)(2).
Full license age
Indiana runs two restrictions. The passenger cap ends 180 days after issuance. The nighttime curfew under IC 9-24-11-3.6 binds anyone under 18 regardless of how long they have been licensed, so it outlasts the passenger cap and controls. It ends at 18. IC 9-24-11-3.6.
Other routes
The phone ban and the 'probationary' license label both continue past 18, until 21, but neither is a nighttime or passenger restriction. IC 9-24-11-3.7, 9-24-12-1(c).
Exceptions
Hardship: the bureau may waive up to 6 months of the probationary license age or experience requirements for hardship conditions. IC 9-24-3-3.
Other: a certified disability rehabilitation track allows licensing at 16 with standard hours, or at 18 with no set holding period. IC 9-24-3-2.5(a)(5) to (6).
Changes, 2024 to 2026
House Enrolled Act 1200 (P.L. 156-2026) lowered the driver-education pathway's probationary age from 16 years 90 days to a flat 16. Effective July 1, 2026. IC 9-24-3-2.5(a)(1)(A).
Learner: IC 9-24-7-1(a) (issuance; conditions; age); holding period at IC 9-24-3-2.5(1)(B) and (2)(B); supervised-driving conditions at IC 9-24-7-4
Provisional: IC 9-24-3-2.5(a)(1) and (2) (age/eligibility, driver-education vs. non-driver-education paths); IC 9-24-11-3.5, IC 9-24-11-3.6, IC 9-24-11-3.7 (restrictions)
Full license: IC 9-24-11-3.6 (nighttime curfew for a holder under 18, the later-ending of the two real restrictions; its pre-2016 revision citation was IC 9-24-11-3.3); the passenger restriction it outlasts is IC 9-24-11-3.5(b)(2), ending 180 days after licensing
One year on the instruction permit. K.S.A. 8-2,100. Under 16 needs a parent's written application. A supervising driver, 21 or older with a year's experience, must sit beside the permit holder. No wireless device while driving. K.S.A. 8-2,100.
Nighttime rule
General driving is 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Outside that window, only for work, farm work, school activities, religious activity, or with a qualifying adult. K.S.A. 8-2,101(b)(2).
Passenger rule
No more than one passenger under 18 outside immediate family, for six months after turning 16. K.S.A. 8-2,101(d)(1)(B).
Phones and devices
No wireless communication device while driving, except to report illegal activity or summon emergency help. K.S.A. 8-2,101.
Other limits
The qualifying adult supervisor must be 21 or older with a class A, B, or C license, seated beside the driver. K.S.A. 8-2,101.
Nighttime rule ends
Ends after six months, or at 17, whichever comes first, with a clean record. K.S.A. 8-2,101(b)(2).
Passenger rule ends
Same timing as the nighttime restriction, six months after 16 or age 17. K.S.A. 8-2,101(b)(2).
Full license age
Kansas does not issue a separate unrestricted license; the restricted license itself drops all restrictions six months after the holder turns 16, if the record stayed clean, making 16 years 6 months the earliest full license. K.S.A. 8-2,101(b)(2).
Other routes
No route reaches full driving earlier than 16 years 6 months. Both the age-15 and the direct age-16 entry routes carry the same six-month wait. K.S.A. 8-2,101(b), (c).
Exceptions
Farm: a farm resident or employee age 14 to 17 may drive without a plain permit, on the same 16-plus-6-month timeline. K.S.A. 8-296.
180 days on the instruction permit. KRS 186.450(3)(b). Needs a parent's signature if under 18, and a licensed driver 21 or older beside them. No driving midnight to 6 a.m. without good cause. KRS 186.450.
Nighttime rule
No driving midnight to 6 a.m. unless the driver shows good cause, such as an emergency, school, or work. KRS 186.452(4).
Passenger rule
No more than one unrelated passenger under 20, except with an affiliated driving instructor. Does not apply to a registered agricultural vehicle. KRS 186.452(5).
Phones and devices
No personal communication device while driving, except to summon medical help or police in an emergency. Applies to any driver under 18. KRS 189.294.
Other limits
Must have the license on hand. Requires 60 hours of supervised driving, 10 at night, before issuance. A violation adds another 180 days before a full license. KRS 186.452(6).
Nighttime rule ends
Ends at the operator's license or age 18, whichever comes first; usually 17 on the standard path. KRS 186.452(4).
Passenger rule ends
Same as the nighttime restriction, ending at the operator's license or 18, whichever is first. KRS 186.452(4).
Full license age
Directly stated: the operator's license can issue at 17 after 180 days on the intermediate license with no disqualifying conviction, plus a driver training program. House Bill 15 (2025) added this age-17 floor. KRS 186.454(1).
Exceptions
Other: an enlistee in the armed forces or National Guard can skip the intermediate stage after 180 days on a permit. KRS 186.415.
Other: a driver who turns 18 while still intermediate must still hold it 180 days and complete driver training first. KRS 186.454(2).
Changes, 2024 to 2026
House Bill 15 lowered the permit age from 16 to 15, set age 16 for the intermediate license, and age 17 for the operator's license. Effective March 25, 2025.
180 days on the learner's license. R.S. 32:407(A)(2)(a). Must be 15 to 16, complete driver education, and pass the vision and knowledge tests, driving only with a licensed parent, guardian, or adult 21 or older. R.S. 32:407(A)(2)(a).
Nighttime rule
No driving 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. for those under 17, unless with a licensed parent, guardian, adult 21 or older, or sibling 18 or older. R.S. 32:407(A)(3).
Passenger rule
No more than one passenger under 21 outside immediate family, from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m., unless with a licensed parent, guardian, or adult 21 or older. R.S. 32:407(A)(4).
Phones and devices
No permit-specific phone rule remains. The former teen ban was repealed; a general law now bans handheld use only, hands-free excluded. R.S. 32:59.
Other limits
Every occupant must be belted before the vehicle moves. A first-time applicant's license under 21 must show a distinctive color or marking. R.S. 32:407.
Nighttime rule ends
Ends automatically at 17, even before the 12 clean months for full privileges finish. R.S. 32:407(A)(3).
Passenger rule ends
Lasts as long as intermediate status does, ending only when full privileges are issued. R.S. 32:407(A)(4).
Full license age
Full privileges require 12 consecutive clean months after the intermediate license issues, earliest at 16, making 17 the earliest full license. A separate statute sets an absolute floor of 17 for any Class E license. R.S. 32:407(A)(5), 32:405.1.
Other routes
A first-time applicant can also reach an unrestricted license at 17 by skipping the permit and intermediate stages, with 50 hours of supervised driving, 15 at night. R.S. 32:405.1.
Exceptions
Other: a 16 or 17 year old moving to Louisiana with equivalent out-of-state driver education can skip straight to intermediate. R.S. 32:407(A)(2)(b).
Changes, 2024 to 2026
Act 2025, No. 288 repealed the total teen phone ban and enacted a general handheld-only rule for all drivers, hands-free excluded. No age changed. Effective August 1, 2025.
Learner: La. R.S. 32:407(A)(2)(a); see also R.S. 32:402.1 (driver education and the Class E temporary instructional permit) and R.S. 32:405.1 (fifty hours supervised practice, fifteen at night)
Provisional: La. R.S. 32:407(A)(3), (A)(4)
Full license: La. R.S. 32:407(A)(5); La. R.S. 32:405.1
6 months on the learner's permit. G.L. c. 90, section 8(a). Any 16 year old may apply. A licensed driver at least 21 with 1 year experience must ride along. Under 18 needs signed parental consent. G.L. c. 90, section 8B.
Nighttime rule
No driving 12:30 a.m. to 5 a.m. unless with a parent or guardian. G.L. c. 90, section 8.
Passenger rule
No passengers under 18 outside immediate family for the first 6 months, unless a licensed driver 21 or older with 1 year experience rides along. Section 8.
Phones and devices
No phone use, handheld or hands-free, for any driver under 18, permit or license. Emergency calls allowed. G.L. c. 90, section 8M.
Other limits
May not drive a commercial vehicle. No hardship licenses. Violating passenger or night rules means 60 days, then 180 days, then 1 year suspension. Section 8.
Nighttime rule ends
Runs until age 18 on the standard path, since no statute sets an earlier end.
Passenger rule ends
6 months after the license issues, as early as age 17. A violation extends it.
Full license age
The statute never states a full license age. The nighttime and phone restrictions run until 18 with no earlier exit, so that is the last restriction to end. RMV's own pages say restrictions last until you turn 18. G.L. c. 90, sections 8 and 8M.
Other routes
The passenger restriction alone can end at 17, 6 months after the earliest license. Nighttime and phone rules still apply until 18, so this is not full.
Learner: G.L. c. 90, section 8B (learner's permit); section 8(a) (6-month permit-holding prerequisite for a junior operator's license)
Provisional: G.L. c. 90, section 8 (junior operator's license age, driver-education and supervised-hours prerequisites, passenger and nighttime restrictions); section 8M (device ban)
Full license: G.L. c. 90, section 8 (18-year floor for a standard operator's license, with the junior operator's license as the stated exception; nighttime restriction tied to 'holding a junior operator's license'); section 8M (device ban applies to 'a person under 18 years of age')
9 months on the learner's permit. Transp. 16-105(d)(2). Under 16 needs a school attendance record with no more than 10 unexcused absences. Must drive with a supervisor 21 or older, licensed 3 years, beside them. Transp. 16-105(a)(3), (b).
Nighttime rule
Unsupervised driving is limited to 5 a.m. to midnight. Midnight to 5 a.m. needs a licensed adult 21 or older, or a work or school trip. Transp. 16-113(d).
Passenger rule
No passenger under 18, except a spouse, child, sibling, or relative at the same address, or with a qualifying supervising driver. Runs until day 151. Transp. 21-1123(a)(1) to (3).
Phones and devices
No wireless communication device, handheld or hands free, while driving, except to contact 911. Transp. 21-1124(b) to (c).
Other limits
Every occupant must wear a seat belt. A zero-tolerance alcohol rule applies under 21. A violation restarts the 18-month clock toward a full license. Transp. 16-113(d-1), (b), 16-111(d).
Nighttime rule ends
Expires at 18, along with the seat belt restriction. Transp. 16-113(d)(4), (d-1)(3).
Passenger rule ends
Ends 151 days after the provisional license issues, about 16 years 11 months on the fastest path. Transp. 21-1123(a)(3)(i).
Full license age
Directly stated at 18 in one section, and independently confirmed by an 18-month provisional hold that, starting from the earliest provisional age of 16 years 6 months, also lands on 18. Transp. 16-103(c)(3), 16-111(d).
Other routes
No route reaches the full license before 18, which is an independent floor regardless of how early the provisional stage started. Transp. 16-103(c)(3).
Learner: Md. Code Ann., Transportation section 16-103(c)(1) (minimum age); section 16-105(a)(3), (b), (d)(2) (school-attendance record, supervision requirements, 9-month holding period and driver-education/60-hour supervised-driving prerequisites for an applicant under 19); section 21-1124(b)-(c) (wireless communication device ban for a driver under 18)
Provisional: Md. Code Ann., Transportation section 16-103(c)(2) (minimum age); section 16-111(a)-(c) (eligibility and entitlement to a provisional license); section 16-113(d), (d-1) (nighttime hour restriction and seat belt restriction, both expiring at 18); Transportation section 21-1123 (passenger restriction, 151 days); section 21-1124(b)-(c) (wireless communication device ban)
Full license: Md. Code Ann., Transportation section 16-103(c)(3) (minimum age of 18 for "a license"); section 16-111(d) (18-month provisional-license holding period, restarts on a moving-violation or restriction-violation conviction or on restoration after suspension/revocation); section 16-111.1(a)-(b) (entitlement to the license, requiring both the age-18 floor and satisfaction of the section 16-111(d) holding period)
6 months on the learner's permit. 29-A M.R.S. 1304(1)(H). Must complete driver education if under 18, and drive with a licensed operator 20 or older, licensed 2 years, beside them. 29-A M.R.S. 1304(1)(E).
Nighttime rule
Under 18, no driving between midnight and 5 a.m. 29-A M.R.S. 1311(1)(B).
Passenger rule
May not carry passengers other than immediate family, unless a qualifying licensed operator is also along. 29-A M.R.S. 1311(1)(A).
Phones and devices
No handheld device or mobile phone use while driving, even stopped in traffic. Allowed only after pulling over and stopping. 29-A M.R.S. 1311(1)(C).
Other limits
A violation is a $250 to $500 fine and triggers mandatory suspension: 60 days first offense, 180 days second, a year for a third. 29-A M.R.S. 1311(3), (4).
Nighttime rule ends
Ends 270 days after the intermediate license issues; each violation adds another 270 days. 29-A M.R.S. 1311(2).
Passenger rule ends
Same 270-day mark as the nighttime restriction; both run for one period. 29-A M.R.S. 1311(2).
Full license age
No bare full-license age is stated. A license issues at 16, and the restrictions run 270 days from issuance, ending at 16 years 9 months on the fastest path. 29-A M.R.S. 1311(2), 1251(5).
Other routes
No faster route exists on the standard path; a restriction-period extension for a violation can only push the unrestricted date later. 29-A M.R.S. 1311(3).
Exceptions
Hardship: a 15 year old can get a special restricted license for school, work, or medical need, limited to specific destinations. 29-A M.R.S. 1256.
Provisional: 29-A M.R.S. section 1311(1)-(5); minimum age of 16 for any driver's license (other than the section 1256 special restricted license) set by section 1251(5)
Full license: 29-A M.R.S. section 1311(2) (270-day restriction period; age 16 minimum for the underlying license set by section 1251(5))
6 months on Level 1. MCL 257.310e(4). Age 14 years 9 months, with Segment 1 driver education and parent approval. Ride with a parent, guardian, or adult 21+. Log 50 hours, 10 at night. MCL 257.310e(3)-(5).
Nighttime rule
May not drive 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. unless with a parent, guardian, designated adult 21+, or driving to work, school, or an authorized activity. MCL 257.310e(6)(a).
Passenger rule
No more than 1 passenger under 21, unless a parent, guardian, designated adult 21+, or immediate family rides along, or for employment or an authorized activity. MCL 257.310e(6)(b).
Phones and devices
No cell phone use under Kelsey's Law, texting included, except in an emergency. Agency guidance, not in the statute text itself.
Other limits
Seat belts required for front seat riders and anyone under 16. MCL 257.310e; agency PDF.
Nighttime rule ends
Ends at Level 3: age 17, after 6 months on Level 2 and 12 clean months. MCL 257.310e(9).
Passenger rule ends
Same as night: ends at Level 3, age 17 with a clean 12 month record.
Full license age
Level 3 issues at 17, once 12 consecutive clean months are completed on Level 2, which itself has a 16 year floor. The 12 month clean record, not the separate 6 month Level 2 minimum stay, sets the 17 year floor. MCL 257.310e(6), (9).
Other routes
None earlier. Driver education is mandatory under 18, so there is no faster ordinary route to a full license.
6 months on the instruction permit. 171.05, subd. 2a. Age 15 to 17, with driver education or a prior license. Parent approval plus an eyesight and knowledge test. Accompanied by an instructor, parent, or adult 21+. 171.05.
Nighttime rule
No driving midnight to 5 a.m. the first 6 months, unless going to work or a school event, or with a driver 25 or older. 171.055, subd. 2(d).
Passenger rule
First 6 months: 1 passenger under 20 outside family. Second 6 months: 3 passengers. Waived with a parent or guardian along. 171.055, subd. 2(c).
Phones and devices
No handheld or hands-free phone use at any point on the provisional license, except a listed emergency. 171.055, subd. 2(a).
Other limits
A DWI, a crash related violation, or more than 1 other moving violation blocks a license for 12 months or until 18. 171.055, subd. 2(b).
Nighttime rule ends
Stated for the first 6 months only. The statute does not restate it after that point.
Passenger rule ends
Steps from 1 to 3 passengers at 6 months, with no cap stated after 12 months.
Full license age
No bare full license age is stated. It needs a 6 month permit hold plus, for anyone under 18, 12 straight clean months on the provisional license. Since that starts at 16, the earliest full license is 17. Section 171.04, subd. 1.
Other routes
Turning 18 gives a full license without the 12 month provisional hold, but that is later, not earlier, than the standard 17 year path.
Exceptions
Farm: Farm work license at 15, no permit or hold required. Daylight only, within 40 miles of the farmhouse. 171.041.
Hardship: Medical hardship license at 15, for the driver's or a relative's medical needs, no permit or hold required. 171.042.
6 months (182 days) on the permit. 302.178.1(3). Age 15. Must ride with a licensed driver 21 or older. 40 hours of practice logged, 10 at night, before graduating. No violations for 6 months. 302.130.1; 302.178.1.
Nighttime rule
No driving 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. unless with a qualifying supervisor, or going to school, work, or an emergency. 302.178.2.
Passenger rule
First 6 months: 1 passenger under 19 outside family. After that: 3 passengers. Farm work driving is exempt. 302.178.3.
Phones and devices
None specific to this stage in Chapter 302. Missouri's statewide hands-free law, 304.822, covers every driver and is a secondary offense only.
Other limits
Seat belts required for everyone in the vehicle. 6 or more points in 12 months can trigger a mandatory driver improvement program. 302.178.3, .5.
Nighttime rule ends
Ends only when the intermediate license becomes a full license at 18. 302.178.6(1).
Passenger rule ends
Caps rise from 1 to 3 at 6 months, but the restriction itself lasts until the full license.
Full license age
Stated directly: at 18, with no alcohol contacts and no point convictions in the prior 12 months, the intermediate licensee may get a full license after only a vision test. Application is allowed up to 30 days before the 18th birthday. 302.178.6(1).
Other routes
Applying up to 30 days early may or may not start full privileges sooner; both sources still list 18 as the eligible age, so that is used here.
Exceptions
School: A restricted school year permit for a high school driver training student past 15, valid only with the certified instructor beside the driver. 302.130.3.
Other: An emancipated minor may have the supervising adult, not a parent or guardian, sign the intermediate license application. 302.178.1(4).
12 months on the permit, or until age 17. Section 63-1-9(2)(b). Age 15, with proof of school enrollment. Valid 2 years. Must ride with a licensed driver 21 or older. Section 63-1-9(2)(a); section 63-1-21(2).
Nighttime rule
Unsupervised 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, to 11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, plus any time for work or school. Otherwise supervised for 6 months. Section 63-1-21(3).
Passenger rule
None found in the statute sections reviewed for this record.
Phones and devices
None found specific to this license stage in section 63-1-21. A general texting law exists separately, not confirmed as age specific.
Other limits
The Commissioner may add further first year rules under section 63-1-9(2)(e). None had been published as of the access date.
Nighttime rule ends
6 months after the license issues, or age 18, whichever comes first. Section 63-1-21(3).
Passenger rule ends
Not applicable. No passenger restriction exists to lift.
Full license age
The Class R license issues at 16; its night restriction ends 6 months later or at 18, whichever is first, giving 16 years 6 months. A DPS rule instead says 17; this record follows the statute. Section 63-1-21(3).
Other routes
None found. The Commissioner may add rules during the first 12 months but cannot end the restriction earlier.
Exceptions
Hardship: Hardship license, age 15 to 17, after a 30 day clean permit record and driver education. Limited destinations; no DUI history.
Changes, 2024 to 2026
Senate Bill 2695, 2024: lets the Commissioner add first year license rules and, starting July 1, 2027, requires driver education before any first license. Effective July 1, 2024.
6 months on the learner license. 61-5-132(1)(a). Age 14 years 6 months with traffic education, or 15 without it. Must ride with a parent, guardian, or licensed adult 18 or older. 61-5-105(1); 61-5-106(1)-(2).
Nighttime rule
No driving 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. unless with a licensed adult 18+, or for work, school, religious, emergency, or farm and ranch trips. 61-5-133(1)(b).
Passenger rule
First 6 months: 1 passenger under 18 outside family. Second 6 months: 3 passengers. Motorcycle passengers under 18 barred the first 6 months. 61-5-133(1)(c).
Phones and devices
None found tied to this license stage. Section 61-5-135 only promotes distracted driving education, with no driving ban.
Other limits
Seat belts required, with no more riders than belts. A first violation means 20 to 60 hours of community service; a second means a 6 month suspension. 61-5-133(1)(a); 61-5-134.
Nighttime rule ends
1 year after the license issues, or age 18, whichever is first. At 15, that is 16.
Passenger rule ends
Same 1 year or age 18 mark ends the passenger caps entirely, after the step up at 6 months.
Full license age
No single full license age is stated. The first year restrictions run 1 year from issuance or to age 18, whichever is first. Issued at the earliest age of 15, that year ends at 16, the earliest full license age. 61-5-133(1); 61-5-132(1)(a).
Other routes
The slower, non driver's education route reaches the license at 15 years 6 months, so its own restriction free date lands a year later, at 16 years 6 months.
Exceptions
Hardship: A restricted license at 13, below the standard floor, for individual hardship such as an unavailable or unlicensed parent. 61-5-105(1); 61-14-201(12).
Farm: Within the night curfew, a restricted licensee may drive to haul farm or ranch goods within 150 miles of the headquarters. 61-5-133(1)(b)(vi).
Changes, 2024 to 2026
Senate Bill 380, 2025: dropped the non driver's education learner age from an effective 16 to a flat 15. Effective October 1, 2025.
Learner: MCA 61-5-106(2) (driver-education-linked learner license, minimum age 14 1/2); 61-5-105(1) and 61-5-106(1)(a) (general learner license without driver's-education enrollment, minimum age 15, current text per Ch. 395, L. 2025); 61-5-132(1)(a) (6-month minimum holding period required before a driver's license may issue)
Provisional: MCA 61-5-132(1)(a) (issuance prerequisites, including the 6-month learner-license/traffic-education-permit holding period that sets the earliest issuance age); 61-5-133 (first-year restrictions)
Full license: MCA 61-5-133(1) (1-year restriction period or age 18, whichever occurs first); 61-5-132(1)(a) (earliest license-issuance age used to compute when that 1-year period starts)
9 months on the Level 1 permit. N.C. Gen. Stat. 20-11(d)(1). Age 15 to 18, after driver education and a written test. Always supervised by a licensed driver of 5+ years. No phone use. N.C. Gen. Stat. 20-11(b).
Nighttime rule
Unsupervised only 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., or to and from work or volunteer fire, rescue or EMS duty. Otherwise a licensed supervisor is required. N.C. Gen. Stat. 20-11(e).
Passenger rule
No more than 1 passenger under 21 outside the household, unless supervised. One extra student passenger is allowed for a direct school trip. N.C. Gen. Stat. 20-11(e).
Phones and devices
No mobile phone or related device use while driving on any public street or highway. N.C. Gen. Stat. 20-11(e).
Other limits
Every occupant must wear a seat belt or an age appropriate child restraint. N.C. Gen. Stat. 20-11(e).
Nighttime rule ends
Ends at Level 3, earliest 16 years 6 months, after 6 months on Level 2. N.C. Gen. Stat. 20-11(f).
Passenger rule ends
Same as night: ends at Level 3, earliest 16 years 6 months. N.C. Gen. Stat. 20-11(f).
Full license age
Level 3 removes every Level 1 and Level 2 restriction once Level 2 is held 6 months with a clean record; earliest is 16 years 6 months, since Level 2 starts at 16. N.C. Gen. Stat. 20-11(f), (g).
Other routes
No faster ordinary route; driver education is mandatory for every applicant. A faster path exists only for a new resident with an out of state license. See exceptions.
Exceptions
Other: A new resident age 15 to 17 with an out of state license may skip to a higher NC credential. N.C. Gen. Stat. 20-11(h).
Changes, 2024 to 2026
Senate Bill 157 (S.L. 2023-13): set the Level 1 hold permanently at 9 months and added a school transport passenger exception. Effective January 1, 2024.
Senate Bill 245 (S.L. 2025-91): dropped the 12 hour driving log requirement for Level 3 and expanded remote license issuance. Effective September 30, 2025.
House Bill 1094 (S.L. 2026-46): eliminated the driving eligibility certificate requirement for Level 1, 2 and 3 licensing. Effective October 1, 2026.
Learner: N.C. Gen. Stat. section 20-11(b) and (c) (Level 1 eligibility and restrictions), as amended by Session Law 2026-46, section 9(a), in effect since October 1, 2026, which repealed former section 20-11(b)(3); the 9 month holding period itself is set as a Level 2 eligibility condition at section 20-11(d)(1), a subsection that act left unchanged
Provisional: N.C. Gen. Stat. section 20-11(d) (Level 2 eligibility) and (e) (Level 2 restrictions)
Full license: N.C. Gen. Stat. section 20-11(f) (Level 3 eligibility) and (g) (Level 3 restrictions), (f) as amended by Session Law 2026-46, section 9(a), in effect since October 1, 2026, which repealed former section 20-11(f)(3)
Learner: Class D instruction permit. Provisional: none, same as the Class D license.
Learner permit
6 months on the instruction permit. N.D.C.C. 39-06-04(4). Age 14 or older, after a written test, vision exam and parental approval. Supervised by a licensed adult 18 or older with 3 years experience. N.D.C.C. 39-06-04.
Nighttime rule
None. The standard Class D license issued at 16 carries no nighttime curfew. A curfew applies only to the age 15 restricted license. N.D.C.C. 39-06-17(4)(d).
Passenger rule
None. The standard Class D license issued at 16 has no age based passenger limit. N.D.C.C. 39-06-03.
Phones and devices
The talk or text ban applies only to permit holders, not to the standard license issued at 16. N.D.C.C. 39-06-04(5).
Other limits
None beyond the ordinary road test and fees required of any new licensee. N.D.C.C. 39-06-14.
Nighttime rule ends
Not applicable. The standard license carries no nighttime restriction from the start. N.D.C.C. 39-06-03.
Passenger rule ends
Not applicable. The standard license carries no passenger restriction from the start. N.D.C.C. 39-06-03.
Full license age
The statute bars any license before 16 except two named exceptions. Once 16 and the permit held 6 months, the Class D license issues unrestricted immediately, with no separate restricted stage. N.D.C.C. 39-06-03(1); 39-06-04(4).
Other routes
A parent request restricted license is available at 15, requiring a parent's recommendation, the director's necessity finding, driver education and 50 logged hours. N.D.C.C. 39-06-17(2).
Exceptions
Other: Parent request restricted license at 15, limited to a relative's vehicle, with a curfew after sunset or 9 p.m. N.D.C.C. 39-06-17.
Farm: A restricted license holder may drive a farm vehicle up to 50,000 pounds within 150 miles of the farm. N.D.C.C. 39-06-17(3).
School: A restricted instruction permit at 14 lets a student drive only with an approved training instructor beside them. N.D.C.C. 39-06-05(1).
Learner: N.D.C.C. 39-06-04(1) (minimum age of fourteen for a class D instruction permit); 39-06-04(4) (six-month or twelve-month permit-holding period before class D license eligibility)
Provisional: N.D.C.C. 39-06-03(1) (no operator's license under sixteen except an instruction permit under 39-06-04, a restricted permit under 39-06-05, or a license under 39-06-17); 39-06-04(4) (permit-hold prerequisite that must also be satisfied)
Full license: N.D.C.C. 39-06-03(1) (age floor); 39-06-04(4) (permit-hold prerequisite); 39-06-14 (the ordinary, unrestricted classified operator's license issued once those conditions are met)
6 months held before the Provisional Operator's Permit. 60-4,120.01(1)(b)(i). Age 15, after a written test. Must ride with a licensed driver 21 or older beside the driver. No unsupervised driving of any kind on this permit. 60-4,123.
Nighttime rule
Unsupervised driving allowed only 6 a.m. to midnight, except to and from work or a school activity. Enforced as a secondary offense only. 60-4,120.01(3)(a).
Passenger rule
First 6 months only: no more than 1 passenger under 19 outside immediate family. Enforced as a secondary offense only. 60-4,120.01(3)(b).
Phones and devices
No interactive wireless device use while driving. Enforced as a secondary offense only. 60-4,120.01(3)(c)-(d).
Other limits
Everyone riding with a POP holder must be belted. All three restrictions are secondary offenses only, enforced only after a stop for another violation. 60-4,120.01(3)(d).
Nighttime rule ends
No stated end inside this section; it runs until the POP is replaced or expires at 18. 60-4,120.01(1)(a).
Passenger rule ends
6 months after the POP issues, at the earliest age 16 years 6 months. No waiver is provided.
Full license age
Stated directly: no operator's license issues before 17. Under 18, the applicant must also have held a POP 12 full months with fewer than 3 points. Since the POP floor is 16, both conditions meet at 17. 60-4,118.05.
Other routes
Reaching 18 while still on a POP waives the written and drive tests for the same operator's license, per DMV guidance.
Exceptions
School: LPE permit at 14, tied to a School Permit for unsupervised driving to school outside cities of 5,000 or more. 60-4,124.
Farm: Farm permit at 13 if living on a farm, or 14 if employed there, for farm tractors and implements on the highway. 60-4,126.
Learner: No permit issued; a supervised learning to drive exception applies. Provisional: Youth operator's license.
Learner permit
No minimum hold; 40 hours logged, 10 at night. RSA 263:19, II. Age 15 years 6 months to drive while learning, with a licensed adult 25 or older beside the driver, who is liable for violations. RSA 263:25, I.
Nighttime rule
No driving 1 a.m. to 4 a.m. for a holder under 18. RSA 263:14, II(b).
Passenger rule
First 6 months: no more than 1 passenger under 25 outside family, unless with a licensed adult 25 or older. RSA 263:14, II(c).
Phones and devices
None found in RSA 263:14; a general statewide device law sits outside this graduated license structure.
Other limits
No more riders than seat belts. A first violation of these rules costs up to $100 and 30 days; later violations cost more. RSA 263:14, II(b), (d).
Nighttime rule ends
Runs until the holder turns 18. RSA 263:14, II(f).
Passenger rule ends
Lifts 6 months after issuance, or at 18 at the latest, whichever comes first.
Full license age
No bare full license age is stated; the youth operator's license runs to 21. The night, occupant, and passenger rules simply stop applying once the holder turns 18, per RSA 263:14, II(f), matching DMV's own under 18 framing of every rule. RSA 263:14, II(a), (f).
Other routes
None found; the school hardship license is a separate, destination limited path recorded under exceptions.
Exceptions
School: School hardship license, ages 16 to 18, limited to travel to and from school when no other transportation exists. RSA 263:21.
Learner: Special learner's permit. Provisional: Probationary driver's license.
Learner permit
6 months on a validated special learner's permit. N.J.S.A. 39:3-13.4(a)(3). Age 16, while taking behind the wheel driver education. No driving 11:01 p.m. to 5 a.m. Must ride with a driver 21+, 3 years licensed. Decals required. N.J.S.A. 39:3-13.1; 39:3-13.2a.
Nighttime rule
No driving 11:01 p.m. to 5 a.m., unless for a documented emergency, work, or a religious activity. N.J.S.A. 39:3-13.4(b).
Passenger rule
Only 1 extra passenger besides a dependent, unless the holder is 21 or older or is with a parent or guardian. N.J.S.A. 39:3-13.4(b).
Phones and devices
No handheld or hands-free device use while driving, except in an emergency. Seat belts required for all riders. N.J.S.A. 39:3-13.4(c).
Other limits
Reflectorized red decals required on both plates at all times. 2 or more points, or a serious conviction, triggers a course, then a 3 month suspension. N.J.S.A. 39:3-13.4(d)-(f).
Nighttime rule ends
Applies only under 21; on the standard path it ends when the basic license issues at 18.
Passenger rule ends
Same under 21 limit; ends at 18 on the standard path when the basic license issues.
Full license age
No bare full license age is stated. A basic license needs both being over 18 and 1 full year on the probationary license, which itself starts at 17. Both conditions meet at exactly 18 for a standard path teen. N.J.S.A. 39:3-10(g); 39:3-13.4(a)(1).
Other routes
None earlier; a no driver's education permit at 17 leads to the same 17 and 18 year ages.
Exceptions
Farm: Farm vehicle license, ages 16 to 17, after a 6 hour course, with no supervision required for farm use. N.J.S.A. 39:3-11.1.
Changes, 2024 to 2026
Senate Bill 2789, 2023: added a 50 hour, 10 at night practice log before a probationary license issues. No age changed. Effective February 1, 2025.
Learner: N.J.S.A. 39:3-13.1 (issuance, age over 16); 39:3-13.2a (validation, hours, supervision, decals, expiry at 17); 39:3-13.4(a)(3) (6-month holding requirement); 39:3-13(o) (50-hour practice-driving requirement, added/amended by P.L.2023, c.216); 39:3-13(b) (alternate examination permit, age over 17, no driver's education required)
Provisional: N.J.S.A. 39:3-13.4(a)-(h)
Full license: N.J.S.A. 39:3-10(g) (basic-license eligibility: over 18, not less than one year from probationary issuance); 39:3-13.4(a)(1) (probationary license at 17); 39:3-13.4(b)-(c) (restrictions capped at 'under 21 years of age')
6 months on the instruction permit. NMSA 1978 66-5-8(A)(2). Must complete or be enrolled in an approved driver education course with DWI prevention content. Accompanied by a licensed driver 21 or older, licensed 3 years. NMSA 1978 66-5-8(E).
Nighttime rule
No driving midnight to 5 a.m. unless with a licensed adult 21 or older, or by exception: family, medical, work, school, religious activity, emergency. NMSA 1978 66-5-8(A), (C).
Passenger rule
No more than 1 passenger under 21 who is not immediate family. NMSA 1978 66-5-8(A), (C).
Phones and devices
No provisional-specific phone rule. New Mexico's general texting ban applies to all drivers regardless of age. NMSA 1978 66-7-374.
Other limits
No pending traffic citation at application. The provisional license must look distinct from an unrestricted license and show the holder may drive unsupervised. NMSA 1978 66-5-8(A), (C).
Nighttime rule ends
Ends at the full license, earliest 16 years 6 months, after 12 months on the provisional license. NMSA 1978 66-5-9(L).
Passenger rule ends
Same as night: ends at the full license, earliest 16 years 6 months. NMSA 1978 66-5-9(L).
Full license age
Stated directly in the statute: 16 years 6 months, after holding the provisional license 12 months with a clean record. NMSA 1978 66-5-5(A)(3); 66-5-9(L).
Learner: Instruction permit. Provisional: Driver's license issued at 16 or 17 (no separate name).
Learner permit
6 months on the instruction permit. NRS 483.2521(1)(g). Age 15 years 6 months, after passing every exam but the driving test. Must ride with a driver 21+, 1 year experienced. 50 hours, 10 at night. NRS 483.280(1); 483.2521.
Nighttime rule
10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew unless going to or from a scheduled event like work or school. Enforced as a secondary offense only. NRS 484B.907.
Passenger rule
First 6 months: no passenger under 18 outside immediate family. Enforced as a secondary offense only. NRS 483.2523(1).
Phones and devices
None found tied to this license stage; a general statewide phone ban covers drivers of any age. NRS 484B.165.
Other limits
A violation based suspension runs its full term even if the driver turns 18 before it ends. NRS 483.2529.
Nighttime rule ends
Runs to age 18 by DMV guidance, since NRS 484B.907 sets no earlier end tied to issuance.
Passenger rule ends
6 months after issuance, as early as age 16 years 6 months on the standard path.
Full license age
Two restrictions end on different clocks. The passenger cap ends 6 months after issuance, at 16 years 6 months. The curfew, per DMV guidance, runs to 18 regardless of issuance date. The later of the two, 18, is the full license age. NRS 484B.907; 483.2523(1).
Exceptions
Hardship: Restricted license, ages 14 to 18, when a household member's medical condition creates a hardship needing the applicant to drive. NRS 483.267.
School: Restricted license, ages 14 to 18, for a pupil with no school transportation in a small county or city, school trips only. NRS 483.270.
6 months on the learner's permit. VTL 501-b(1)(d). Age 16 with parental consent. Always supervised by a licensed adult 21 or older. Must certify 50 hours of practice, 15 after sunset. VTL 502(2)(d).
Nighttime rule
Unsupervised 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. From 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., unsupervised only to and from work or approved school course; otherwise a licensed supervisor is required. VTL 501(3)(b).
Passenger rule
No more than 1 passenger under 21 who is not immediate family, unless the required licensed supervisor is also in the vehicle. VTL 501-b(2)(b).
Phones and devices
General handheld and texting bans apply to all drivers. A junior license gets a 120 day suspension on a first conviction. VTL 1225-c.
Other limits
No driving in New York City's five boroughs. In Nassau and Suffolk, unsupervised driving is allowed only for specified work, school or training purposes. VTL 501(3)(a), (c).
Nighttime rule ends
Ends at 18 automatically, or at 17 with an approved driver education course. VTL 501(2)(a)(vi); 502(2)(c).
Passenger rule ends
Ends at the same conversion, 18 by default or 17 with driver education. VTL 502(2)(c).
Full license age
Stated directly in the statute: 17 with an approved driver education course, or 18 by default when the junior license automatically converts. VTL 502(2)(c); 501(2)(a)(vi).
Other routes
Without driver education, the license stays junior until it converts to Class D or M automatically at 18. VTL 501(2)(a)(vi), (viii).
Learner: VTL 502(2)(d) (Class DJ/MJ age of 16, parental consent, 50-hour supervised-driving certification); VTL 501(5) (general learner's permit supervision rule); VTL 501-b(1) (regional/time permit restrictions in NYC and Nassau/Suffolk; 6-month minimum permit-holding period before a DJ, MJ, D, or M license may be issued)
Provisional: VTL 502(2)(d) (Class DJ/MJ age); VTL 501(2)(a)(vi),(viii) (automatic conversion to Class D/M at 18); VTL 501(3) (regional/time restrictions on DJ/MJ license use in NYC, Nassau/Suffolk, and elsewhere); VTL 501-b(1)(d) (6-month permit-holding prerequisite), 501-b(2) (passenger and seatbelt restrictions on DJ/MJ license use)
Full license: VTL 502(2)(c) (Class D/M age: 18 by default, 17 with an approved driver education course and required supervised-driving-hours proof); VTL 501(2)(a)(vi),(viii) (automatic Class DJ-to-D and MJ-to-M conversion at age 18)
6 months on the TIPIC. Ohio Rev. Code 4507.071(A). Age 15 years 6 months. Supervised by an eligible adult, or by any licensed driver 21 or older once 16. No phone use. Ohio Rev. Code 4507.05(A).
Nighttime rule
First 12 months: no driving midnight to 6 a.m. unless with a parent. After that: no driving 1 to 5 a.m. unless with a parent. R.C. 4507.071(B)(1).
Passenger rule
For the first 12 months, no more than 1 non family passenger, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. R.C. 4507.071(B)(4).
Phones and devices
No use of an electronic wireless device in any manner while driving, with narrow emergency exceptions. R.C. 4511.205(A).
Other limits
Occupants may not exceed the seat belt count, and all must be belted. A court may order parent accompaniment after an early violation. R.C. 4507.071(E), (D).
Nighttime rule ends
Eases to the lighter curfew after 12 months, then runs until the 18th birthday. R.C. 4507.071(B)(1)(b).
Passenger rule ends
Ends automatically after 12 months on the license, regardless of age. R.C. 4507.071(B)(4).
Full license age
Ohio has no separate full license. A holder is 'probationary' from 16 to 18 by definition; every age based restriction, including the last one, the phone ban, ends automatically at 18. R.C. 4507.01; 4507.071(A).
Other routes
None on the standard path. The only under 16 credential is the hardship restricted license for a 14 or 15 year old, which is more restricted, not less. R.C. 4507.071(F).
Exceptions
Hardship: A restricted license may issue to a 14 or 15 year old on proof of hardship to the registrar. R.C. 4507.071(F).
Other: A probationary license cannot issue to a minor adjudicated for a drug, disorderly conduct or OVI-equivalent offense without a court ordered program. R.C. 4507.08(A).
Changes, 2024 to 2026
House Bill 96: extended the driver training and 50 hour practice requirement from applicants under 18 to those under 21. Effective September 30, 2025.
House Bill 434: added exemptions to the under 21 driver education rule for certain military and foreign visa applicants. Effective November 25, 2025.
Learner: Ohio Rev. Code 4507.05(A), (A)(1)-(2), (F)(2) (issuance, age, supervision, curfew); 4507.071(A) (6-month minimum hold before probationary eligibility); 4507.21(B)(1)-(2) (driver-education and 50-hour practice prerequisite); 4511.205(A) (device ban for TIPIC holders under 18)
Full license: Ohio Rev. Code 4507.01 ('Probationary license' definition, ages 16 to 18); 4507.071(A) (no driver's license under 18 except the probationary license)
6 months (180 days) on the learner permit. 47 O.S. 6-105(D)(1)(a). Age 15 with driver education, or 16 without. Drive only 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. with a licensed adult 21 or older beside you. 47 O.S. 6-105(C).
Nighttime rule
Only 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., except to and from work, school, activities or church, or with a licensed adult 21 or older. 47 O.S. 6-105(D)(2)(a).
Passenger rule
No more than 1 passenger, unless all live in the licensee's household or a licensed adult 21 or older rides along. 47 O.S. 6-105(D)(2)(b).
Phones and devices
Handheld device use for a non emergency purpose can suspend the permit or license. A separate law bans it in work zones. 47 O.S. 6-105(F).
Other limits
Must complete a free state approved course on teen driver work zone and first responder safety before the license issues. 47 O.S. 6-105(D)(1)(c).
Nighttime rule ends
Ends at the unrestricted license, earliest 16 years 6 months, after 180 days on the intermediate license. 47 O.S. 6-105(E).
Passenger rule ends
Same as night: ends at the unrestricted license, earliest 16 years 6 months. 47 O.S. 6-105(E).
Full license age
Derived from the 180 day intermediate hold after driver education. The intermediate license issues at 16, so the earliest unrestricted license is 16 years 6 months. 47 O.S. 6-105(E).
Other routes
Without driver education, the permit starts at 16, the intermediate license at 16 years 6 months, and the unrestricted license arrives at 17 years 6 months. 47 O.S. 6-105(E).
Exceptions
Farm: A farm resident age 14 to under 17 may get a farm permit for farm work at a younger age. 47 O.S. 6-105(I).
Other: A motorcycle only restricted license is available at 14 after a written exam and rider course, with an accompaniment requirement. 47 O.S. 6-105(H).
Other: A parent or guardian may file an objection that blocks or cancels any license or permit for their minor. 47 O.S. 6-105(A).
Changes, 2024 to 2026
Senate Bill 2184 (2026 O.S.L. c. 217): lowered the driver education learner permit age from 15 and a half to 15. Effective May 6, 2026.
Learner: 47 O.S. Section 6-105(C) (learner permit eligibility and driving privileges, current text per 2026 O.S.L. c. 217 section 42 / SB 2184, emergency effective May 6, 2026)
Provisional: 47 O.S. Section 6-105(D) (intermediate Class D license eligibility and restrictions)
Full license: 47 O.S. Section 6-105(E) (minimum intermediate-license holding period, 180 days or 1 year, before an unrestricted Class D license may issue)
6 months on the instruction permit. ORS 807.065(1)(b). Accompanied by a licensed adult 21 or older. No phone use at all, even hands free. Must certify 50 hours of supervised driving. ORS 807.280(8).
Nighttime rule
For the first year, no driving midnight to 5 a.m., except to work, a school event, or with a licensed driver 25 or older. ORS 807.122(1)(b).
Passenger rule
First 6 months: no passenger under 20 outside the family. Second 6 months: up to 3. Exceptions apply with an instructor or parent present. ORS 807.122(1)(a).
Phones and devices
No mobile device use of any kind while driving; the hands free defense applies only at 18 or older. ORS 811.507.
Other limits
Violating a provisional license restriction is punished the same as any other license restriction violation. ORS 807.010.
Nighttime rule ends
Ends 1 year after issuance, or at 18, whichever comes first. ORS 807.122(1), (4).
Passenger rule ends
Same: 1 year after issuance, or at 18, whichever comes first. ORS 807.122(1), (4).
Full license age
Both restrictions run 1 year from issuance. The provisional license issues earliest at 16, so 1 year later, 17, both restrictions lift, before the age 18 cutoff. ORS 807.122(1), (4).
Other routes
Both supervised-driving-hours options (50 hours with driver education, 100 without) reach the license at the same age. No second route.
6 months on the learner's permit. 75 Pa.C.S. 1505(e)(1). Age 16. Supervised by a licensed adult 21 or older, seated beside the permit holder. Must log 65 hours, including 10 at night. 75 Pa.C.S. 1505.
Nighttime rule
No driving 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent, spouse 18 or older, or guardian. Exceptions exist for certain jobs and volunteer service. 75 Pa.C.S. 1503(c)(1).
Passenger rule
First 6 months: no more than 1 non family passenger under 18, unless a parent is present. After that: up to 3. 75 Pa.C.S. 1503(c)(2.1).
Phones and devices
No junior-specific phone rule; since June 2025, a general ban on interactive mobile devices covers every driver, junior included. 75 Pa.C.S. 3316.1.
Other limits
Never more passengers than seat belts. An at-fault accident or a conviction can suspend a junior license until 18 or for 90 days. 75 Pa.C.S. 1503(c)(1), (3).
Nighttime rule ends
Ends at conversion to regular: automatic at 18, or as early as 17 years 6 months. 75 Pa.C.S. 1503(b), (c).
Passenger rule ends
Rises to 3 passengers at 6 months; some cap remains until conversion, at 17 years 6 months or 18.
Full license age
Derived: the statute names 17, but only after 12 clean months on the junior license, which cannot start before 16 years 6 months; so earliest is 17 years 6 months, matching the agency's own figure. 75 Pa.C.S. 1503(b).
Other routes
Without the early conversion route, the junior license and all its restrictions continue automatically until conversion to a regular license at 18. 75 Pa.C.S. 1503(c).
Changes, 2024 to 2026
Senate Bill 37 (Act 18 of 2024, Paul Miller's Law): added a distracted driving certification and a general phone ban. Effective June 5, 2025.
Learner: 75 Pa.C.S. Section 1505(a), (b), (d)(1), (e)(1)-(2) (learner's permit issuance, supervision, duration, six-month hold and 65-hour certification); 75 Pa.C.S. Section 1503(a)(7), (c) (16-year floor from which permit issuance is derived); 75 Pa.C.S. Section 1507(a) (parental consent); 75 Pa.C.S. Section 1505(e)(2)(iii), as amended by Act 18 of 2024, P.L. 366, No. 18, eff. June 5, 2025 (distracted-driving educational-materials certification)
Provisional: 75 Pa.C.S. Section 1503(c) (junior license issuance, 16-or-17 statutory floor, curfew, passenger and occupant restrictions); 75 Pa.C.S. Section 1505(e)(1) (six-month permit hold that sets the practical earliest issuance age of 16 years 6 months)
Full license: 75 Pa.C.S. Section 1503(b) (early conversion route, driver's-education and 12-month clean-record conditions); 75 Pa.C.S. Section 1503(c) (automatic conversion to a regular license at 18)
6 months on the instruction permit. R.I. Gen. Laws 31-10-6(b)(2)(i)(A). Age 16 to 18, after a 33 hour driver training course and a written exam. Supervised by an adult licensed 5 years, seated beside you. R.I. Gen. Laws 31-10-6(b)(1).
Nighttime rule
Unsupervised driving is barred from 1 to 5 a.m., except to and from work or volunteer fire, rescue or EMS duty. R.I. Gen. Laws 31-10-6(b)(2)(ii)(B).
Passenger rule
For the first 12 months, no more than 1 passenger under 21, unless immediate family or household. R.I. Gen. Laws 31-10-6(b)(2)(iv).
Phones and devices
No phone rule specific to this license in the statute. Rhode Island's general hands-free law applies to all drivers. R.I. Gen. Laws 31-22-30.
Other limits
Must be in possession of the license, with everyone belted. Violating the curfew is treated as driving without a license; other violations draw a fine. R.I. Gen. Laws 31-10-6(b)(2).
Nighttime rule ends
Ends at the full license, earliest 17 years 6 months, or automatically at 18. R.I. Gen. Laws 31-10-6(b)(3).
Passenger rule ends
Same end point as night: full license, earliest 17 years 6 months, or 18. R.I. Gen. Laws 31-10-6(b)(3).
Full license age
Derived: the statute needs both age 17 and 12 months on the provisional license. Since the provisional license cannot start before 16 years 6 months, the 12 month hold controls, giving 17 years 6 months. R.I. Gen. Laws 31-10-6(b)(3)(i).
Other routes
No other route; a qualifying applicant may file by mail instead of in person, which is a filing convenience only. R.I. Gen. Laws 31-10-6(b)(3)(ii).
Exceptions
Hardship: The instruction permit, normally valid 1 year, may be extended for a reasonable period on a showing of hardship. R.I. Gen. Laws 31-10-6(b)(1).
Other: A new resident age 17 with an out of state license held 12 months may get a full license immediately. R.I. Gen. Laws 31-10-6.2.
180 days (6 months) on the beginner's permit. S.C. Code 56-1-50(F). Age 15, after passing the knowledge exam. From 6 a.m. to midnight, supervised by a licensed adult 21 or older with 1 year experience. S.C. Code 56-1-50(A), (B).
Nighttime rule
Alone only 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., 8 p.m. in daylight saving time. After that, a licensed adult 21 or older must ride along until midnight. S.C. Code 56-1-175(B).
Passenger rule
No more than 2 passengers under 21, unless with a licensed adult 21 or older. Family and students going to school are excepted. S.C. Code 56-1-175(C).
Phones and devices
No conditional-license-specific phone rule. South Carolina's general hands-free law applies to all drivers regardless of age. S.C. Code 56-5-3890.
Other limits
Requires a driver's training course, 40 hours of practice including 10 at night, a road test, and a school attendance condition. S.C. Code 56-1-175(A), 56-1-176.
Nighttime rule ends
Ends at the full license, earliest 16 years 6 months, after 12 months on the conditional license. S.C. Code 56-1-40(1).
Passenger rule ends
Same trigger and earliest age as nighttime, 16 years 6 months on the standard path. S.C. Code 56-1-40(1).
Full license age
Derived: the default floor is 17, but a 16 year old on the conditional license may get a full license after 1 clean year. That license starts at 15 years 6 months at the earliest, giving 16 years 6 months. S.C. Code 56-1-40(1).
Other routes
A slower route needs no driver education: hold the beginner's permit until 17, then apply directly for a full license. S.C. Code 56-1-40(1); 56-1-130(B).
Exceptions
Other: A special restricted or conditional license holder may get a waiver to drive alone until midnight for work, school or church. S.C. Code 56-1-180(C).
Farm: A conditional or special restricted license holder may drive a farm truck unsupervised, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., off the freeway. S.C. Code 56-1-130(D)(1).
Farm: A person driving farm implements of husbandry temporarily on a highway needs no license at all, with no stated minimum age. S.C. Code 56-1-30(4).
Changes, 2024 to 2026
House Bill 4673 (2024 Act No. 146): changed the pre-permit test wording and let applicants 18 or older test after 30 days. Effective November 13, 2024.
Learner: S.C. Code Ann. Section 56-1-50 (beginner's permit); Section 56-1-40(1) (minimum age gateway); the 180-day/full-licensing-eligibility rule is also independently required as a condition of the conditional driver's license at Section 56-1-175(A)(1) and the special restricted driver's license at Section 56-1-180(A)(1)
Provisional: S.C. Code Ann. Section 56-1-175 (conditional driver's license, ages 15 to <16); Section 56-1-180 (special restricted driver's license, ages 16 to <17, the parallel credential for a minor who reaches 16 without first holding a conditional license); Section 56-1-176 (shared school-attendance condition); Section 56-1-185 (postponement/suspension rules)
Full license: S.C. Code Ann. Section 56-1-40(1) (full-license minimum age and the conditional-license early-issuance exception); Section 56-1-185(A) (12-month clean-record / age-17 restriction-removal rule); Section 56-1-130(B) (driver's education required only for the Section 56-1-175/56-1-180 route)
6 months on the instruction permit (9 without driver education). SDCL 32-12-11. Drive 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. with an adult 18 or older with a year of experience. 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. only with a parent. No wireless device.
Nighttime rule
May drive alone 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. After 10 p.m. a parent or guardian must ride along, except direct trips to school, worship, work, or farm work.
Passenger rule
No passengers besides immediate family or household for the first 6 months. After that, one passenger under 18 unless a parent or another qualified adult rides along.
Phones and devices
No wireless communication device while driving. Enforced only as a secondary offense. SDCL 32-12-12.4.
Other limits
Vehicle capped at 20,000 pounds except farm machinery. No sawmill, mining, logging, road construction or dam work. All restrictions end at 18. SDCL 32-12-13, 32-12-14.
Nighttime rule ends
Ends when the driver gets the full operator's license at 16, or automatically at 18. SDCL 32-12-14.1.
Passenger rule ends
Zero-passenger rule ends after 6 months, easing to one passenger under 18. SDCL 32-12-12.5.
Full license age
South Dakota sets the operator's license age directly at 16 in SDCL 32-12-12, 32-12-17 and 32-12-29, not just through the hold period. The 6-month restricted permit hold finishes by age 15, so the 16-year floor controls on the standard path.
Exceptions
Farm: driving a farm tractor between home farm buildings and nearby farmland needs no license at all. SDCL 32-12-22.1.
School: a driver education student may drive without any license with an approved instructor beside them. SDCL 32-12-28.
180 days (about 6 months) on the learner permit. 55-50-311(a). Issued at 15 with parent approval after passing the written and vision tests. Ride with a licensed driver 21 or older. No driving 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. 55-50-311(a).
Nighttime rule
No driving 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. unless with a parent, an adult 21 or older they designate, or driving to school, work, or hunting or fishing. 55-50-311(e)(1).
Passenger rule
No more than one passenger unless a passenger is 21 or older and licensed, or the extra riders are siblings going to school with a parent's letter. 55-50-311(e)(2).
Phones and devices
No hand-held cell phone use while driving. A 50-dollar fine and a 90-day licensing delay. 55-50-311(n).
Other limits
Needs 180 days on the permit, no more than 6 points in 180 days, and 50 hours of practice with 10 at night before advancing. 55-50-311(b).
Nighttime rule ends
Ends after one year on the intermediate license, at 18, or at high school graduation under 18. 55-50-311(c), (i).
Passenger rule ends
Ends at the same point as the nighttime limit. 55-50-311(c), (i).
Full license age
The unrestricted license is available one year after the intermediate license issues, at the earliest 16, making 17 the earliest standard age. Turning 18, or graduating high school under 18, also qualifies outright. 55-50-311(c), (i).
Other routes
A driver who graduates high school before 18 can get the unrestricted license right away. Points, an at-fault accident, or a second violation can add 90 days. 55-50-311(f), (i).
Exceptions
Hardship: a Class H license for family hardship, daylight only, to preapproved destinations, for a resident at least 14. 55-50-312(f).
Other: a driver under 18 who has graduated high school skips the graduated license structure and can get an unrestricted license directly. 55-50-311(i)(1).
Other: operators of road machinery, a farm tractor, or an implement of husbandry on a highway need no license at all. 55-50-301.
6 months on the learner license, unless you turn 18. 521.204(b). Issued at 15 to 17 after passing exams and driver education. Ride with a licensed adult 21 or older, one year of experience. No wireless device use at all. 521.222.
Nighttime rule
No driving midnight to 5 a.m. except for work, school activity, or a medical emergency. Enforced only as a secondary offense. 545.424(a-1)(1).
Passenger rule
No more than one passenger under 21 who is not family. Same secondary enforcement. 545.424(a-1)(2).
Phones and devices
No wireless communication device use, including hands-free, except in an emergency. 545.424(a), (f).
Other limits
The curfew and passenger limit do not apply when riding with the same 21-plus supervising adult a learner license requires. 545.424(c).
Nighttime rule ends
Ends at 18. The law covers drivers under 18 by age, not a fixed period after licensing. 545.424(a-1).
Passenger rule ends
Ends at 18, for the same age-based reason as the nighttime limit. 545.424(a-1).
Full license age
Texas never issues a separate unrestricted license at 18. The curfew, passenger and phone rules in 545.424 apply only to drivers under 18, so they simply stop applying the moment a driver turns 18, whatever license they already hold.
Other routes
No earlier route to an unrestricted license was found. A hardship license stays under the same curfew, passenger and phone rules until 18.
Exceptions
Hardship: a Minor Restricted Driver License for economic hardship, family illness or vocational school. Same restrictions apply. 521.223.
Learner: Learner Permit. Provisional: Provisional Class D License.
Learner permit
6 months on the learner permit for applicants 17 or younger. 53-3-210.5(7)(b). Issued at 15, valid 18 months. Ride with an approved instructor, a parent or guardian, or another licensed adult 21 or older with written permission. 53-3-210.5.
Nighttime rule
No driving midnight to 5 a.m. under 17, unless with a licensed adult 21 or older, for work, a school activity, a farm job, or an emergency. 41-8-2.
Passenger rule
No non-family passengers until 6 months after licensing or age 18, whichever comes first. Secondary enforcement. 41-8-3.
Phones and devices
No wireless phone use, including hands-free, under 18. Exceptions for a medical emergency or reporting a crime. 41-8-4.
Other limits
A citation for the curfew or passenger rule is an infraction. An officer cannot seize or impound the vehicle for either violation alone. 41-8-2, 41-8-3.
Nighttime rule ends
Ends at a fixed age of 17, regardless of when the license was issued. 41-8-2.
Passenger rule ends
Ends the earlier of 6 months after licensing or turning 18. 41-8-3.
Full license age
Utah issues one license class that sheds restrictions with age. The passenger limit lifts at 16 years 6 months. The curfew runs to a fixed age of 17, the later of the two, so 17 is the full license age. 41-8-2, 41-8-3.
Other routes
The phone ban still applies to age 18 even after the nighttime and passenger limits lift at 17. No faster route exists. 41-8-4.
9 months on the learner's permit, or until 18. 46.2-335.2(B). Issued at 15 years 6 months. Ride with a licensed driver 21 or older, a parent, or an adult sibling. No driving midnight to 4 a.m. 46.2-335.
Nighttime rule
No driving midnight to 4 a.m., except for a job, a supervised school or civic activity, or with a parent beside you, or an emergency. 46.2-334.01(C).
Passenger rule
No more than one non-family passenger under 21 for the first year. After that, up to three, only for school or with a licensed adult present. 46.2-334.01(B).
Phones and devices
No under-18 phone rule remains in force. The general handheld ban covers all drivers; hands-free is allowed. 46.2-818.2.
Other limits
A driver-improvement clinic follows a first point-bearing conviction under 18. A second brings a 90-day suspension, a third a year's revocation. 46.2-334.01(A).
Nighttime rule ends
Ends on the holder's 18th birthday. 46.2-334.01(D).
Passenger rule ends
Eases after one year, but ends outright at 18 either way. 46.2-334.01(D).
Full license age
Virginia issues one provisional license that sheds its restrictions by age rather than a separate unrestricted card. The statute says the passenger and nighttime restrictions expire on the holder's eighteenth birthday, so 18 is the full license age. 46.2-334.01(D).
Changes, 2024 to 2026
HB 1224 extends the learner's-permit hold for first-time applicants 18 to 20 from 60 to 90 days and adds driver education. Effective January 2027. Does not affect anyone under 18.
Learner: Code of Virginia 46.2-335 A (minimum age, supervision terms, passenger and nighttime limits); 46.2-335.2 B (nine-month minimum holding period); 46.2-335 B (45-hour, 15-at-night supervised-driving certification)
Provisional: Code of Virginia 46.2-334 A (minimum age); 46.2-334.01 B, C, D, F (restrictions and their expiration); 46.2-335.2 A (bar on licensing before the permit and its holding period are satisfied)
12 months (one year) on the learner's permit. 23 V.S.A. 607(a)(3)(A). Issued at 15 with no convictions in the past two years and parent consent. Ride with a parent, instructor, examiner, or a person 25 or older. 617.
Nighttime rule
None. Vermont sets no nighttime curfew for a Junior Operator's License holder at any stage. 23 V.S.A. 614.
Passenger rule
First 3 months, only a parent, instructor, or a person 25 or older as passenger. Second 3 months, also siblings. Never more riders than seatbelts. 614(c).
Phones and devices
No junior-operator phone rule. Vermont's general handheld ban covers every driver, hands-free allowed. 1095b.
Other limits
No driving for pay or an employer for one year, except a family farm tractor. Never carries passengers for hire. 614(b).
Nighttime rule ends
Not applicable. No nighttime restriction exists at any point on the Junior Operator's License.
Passenger rule ends
No passenger restrictions after 6 months on the Junior Driver's License. 614(c).
Full license age
Vermont sets no nighttime curfew, so the passenger rule decides this. The Junior Operator's License issues at 16, and its passenger limit ends six months later, at 16 years 6 months, the earliest age with neither restriction. 614(c), 607(a)(1).
Other routes
A separate operator's license issues at 18, but the Junior Operator's License already drives free of restrictions from 16 years 6 months. 606.
Exceptions
Farm: a person 12 or older may drive a farm tractor between parts of the owner's farm with no license at all. 602, 602a.
Learner: 23 V.S.A. § 617(a), (c) (learner's permit issuance, age floor, and two-year duration); § 615(a)(1)(A), (C) (supervised-operation conditions and the under-15 bar); § 607(a)(3)(A)-(C) (one-year minimum permit hold, 40/10 supervised-hour requirement, and six-month clean-record requirement before a Junior Operator's License)
Provisional: 23 V.S.A. § 607(a) (issuance, 16-17 age floor, and prerequisites); § 614(b)-(c) (employment and passenger/seatbelt restrictions); § 607a(a) (recall schedule)
Full license: 23 V.S.A. § 614(c) (passenger-restriction structure and its six-month end point); § 607(a)(1) (16-year Junior Operator's License issuance age that starts the six-month clock)
6 months on the instruction permit for the driver education route. 46.20.075(1)(a). Issued at 15 with driver education, or 15 and a half without. Ride with an instructor or a licensed driver with 5 years of experience. No wireless device use. 46.20.055.
Nighttime rule
No driving 1 a.m. to 5 a.m., unless with a licensed driver 25 or older, or for school, religious, or work activities. 46.20.075(3).
Passenger rule
No non-family passengers under 20 for the first 6 months or until 18. After that, up to 3 non-family passengers under 20. 46.20.075(2).
Phones and devices
No wireless device use while driving, hands-free included, except to report a crime or an emergency. Enforced as a primary offense. 46.20.075(4).
Other limits
No hour or passenger limit for agricultural driving. Any violation is a traffic infraction. 46.20.075(5), (7).
Nighttime rule ends
Ends after 12 clean months, at 17 at the earliest, or at 18 regardless. 46.20.075(8).
Passenger rule ends
Same 12-month clean-record trigger as the nighttime limit, earliest at 17. 46.20.075(8).
Full license age
The intermediate license issues at 16 at the earliest. Driving free of the curfew and passenger cap requires 12 clean months, landing at 17 on the fastest path. Without a clean record, both rules instead run to 18. 46.20.075(8).
Other routes
17 is already the fastest path. A driver who skipped driver education and got a permit at 15 and a half instead gets a first license at 18. 46.20.055.
Exceptions
Farm: a juvenile agricultural permit, no minimum age, for farm work only in a named locality, until 18. 46.20.070.
Changes, 2024 to 2026
ESHB 1878 phases in driver education for first-time applicants 18 to 24 and raises the permit fee to $35. Effective 2025 to 2030. Does not change the minor ages.
SB 5800 lets a broader group of responsible adults certify the required 50 supervised driving hours. Effective January 1, 2025. No age or restriction changed.
6 months on the instruction permit, violation-free. 343.085(1)(b). Issued at 15 if enrolled in school and driver education. Ride with a qualified adult beside you. No cell phone use, handheld or hands-free. Absolute sobriety required. 343.07(1g).
Nighttime rule
No driving midnight to 5 a.m. in the first 9 months or until 18, unless with a qualifying adult, or going between home, school, and work. 343.085(2m)(a)2.
Passenger rule
No more than one non-family, non-qualifying passenger for the first 9 months or until 18. Immediate family riders are unlimited. 343.085(2m)(a)1.
Phones and devices
No cell phone use, handheld or hands-free, on an instruction permit or probationary license at any age. 346.89(4)(a).
Other limits
A violation adds 6 more restricted months, or until 18. Demerit points double after a second moving violation. 343.085(2m)(b).
Nighttime rule ends
Ends after 9 violation-free months or at 18, whichever comes first. 343.085(2m)(d).
Passenger rule ends
Same 9-month-or-18 end point as the nighttime limit. 343.085(2m)(d).
Full license age
Wisconsin keeps the same probationary card and instead ends its curfew and passenger rules 9 months after issuance or at 18, whichever comes first. The earliest probationary license is 16, so 16 years 9 months is the earliest full license age. 343.085(2m)(a), (d).
Other routes
No faster route exists. At 19 the same license is relabeled Regular and demerit points stop doubling, but no new driving restriction applies. 343.03(3)(f).
Exceptions
Hardship: a restricted license for ages 14 to 18 to drive a family-owned vehicle when necessary, no night driving. 343.08.
Learner: Wis. Stat. § 343.07(1g) (permit issuance, age 15); § 343.06(1)(c), (cm) (school enrollment, driver education, and the 50-hour/10-night supervised-driving prerequisite, incorporated by the 1g cross-reference); § 343.085(1)(b) (6-month permit-holding prerequisite for a probationary license); § 346.89(4)(a) (cell phone ban)
Provisional: Wis. Stat. § 343.085(1)(b) (age-16 and 6-month-permit-hold prerequisites); § 343.085(2m) (restrictions, exceptions and duration)
Full license: Wis. Stat. § 343.085(2m)(a), (d) (restriction period and its end); § 343.03(3)(f) and § 343.20(1)(a) (separate probationary-license card/label duration, for the age-19 note above)
Learner: Level One Instruction Permit. Provisional: Level Two Intermediate Driver's License.
Learner permit
6 months on the level one instruction permit. 17B-2-3a(d)(1)(B). Issued at 15 with notarized parent consent. Ride with a licensed driver 21 or older. Drive only 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. No phone except to call 911. 17B-2-3a(c).
Nighttime rule
Drives alone 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. From 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. needs a licensed driver 21 or older, unless going to work, school, or a religious event. 17B-2-3a(d).
Passenger rule
No non-family passenger under 20 for the first 6 months. For the next 6 months, no more than one. 17B-2-3a(d)(2)(D).
Phones and devices
No wireless device use under 18, except to call 911. 17B-2-3a(d).
Other limits
Seatbelts required for all occupants. Zero alcohol tolerance. Must stay enrolled in school with satisfactory progress. 17B-2-3a(d)(2)(C), (F).
Nighttime rule ends
Ends at the level three license, age 17 at the earliest, or when the permit expires at 18. 17B-2-3a(d), (e).
Passenger rule ends
Ends at the same point as the nighttime limit, 17 at the earliest. 17B-2-3a(d), (e).
Full license age
The statute states the age directly: a level two licensee gets the level three license at 17, after holding the level two license conviction-free for 12 months. The earliest level two age, 16, satisfies both conditions together at 17. 17B-2-3a(e).
Learner: W. Va. Code section 17B-2-3a(c) (level one instruction permit: eligibility, age, terms and conditions); section 17B-2-3(a)(1) (general under-18 licensing prohibition and its graduated-license exception)
Provisional: W. Va. Code section 17B-2-3a(d) (level two intermediate license: eligibility, age, 180-day holding period, restrictions)
Full license: W. Va. Code section 17B-2-3a(e) (level three full Class E license: age, 12-month holding period, eligibility)
10 days on the instruction permit before a license. 31-7-111(f). Issued at 15. Ride with a licensed adult 18 or older, fit to control the vehicle, beside you. Permit valid one year. 31-7-110(a).
Nighttime rule
No driving before 5 a.m. or after 11 p.m. unless with a licensed adult 18 or older, for work, school, a religious activity, or a medical need. 31-7-110(h)(ii).
Passenger rule
No more than one passenger under 18 outside family, unless with a licensed adult 18 or older. Seatbelts required. 31-7-110(h)(i).
Phones and devices
No cell phone or texting rule tied to this permit. Wyoming's general texting ban covers every driver. 31-5-237.
Other limits
Violating the curfew or passenger rule brings a mandatory 30-day suspension. A vehicle cannot be stopped for that alone. 31-7-110(k), (n).
Nighttime rule ends
Ends when the driver trades the permit for a full license, at 16 years 6 months at the earliest. 31-7-110(h).
Passenger rule ends
Same trade-in point as the nighttime limit, 16 years 6 months at the earliest. 31-7-110(h).
Full license age
The statute bars a driver's license under 17 unless the applicant is 16 and has held the intermediate permit 6 months with driver education. The earliest intermediate permit age is 16, so 16 years 6 months is the earliest full license age. 31-7-108(a).
Other routes
Without driver education, the only other route is turning 17 outright, no matter how long the intermediate permit was held. 31-7-108(a).
Exceptions
Hardship: a restricted license for ages 14 to 16 on proof of extreme inconvenience, 5 a.m. to 8 p.m., within 50 miles. 31-7-117(c).
Learner: W.S. 31-7-110(a) (standard instruction permit, minimum age 15 and supervision terms); W.S. 31-7-111(f) (10 day minimum hold before a driver's license, including the intermediate permit, may issue)
Provisional: W.S. 31-7-110(g) (minimum age and prerequisites for the intermediate permit); W.S. 31-7-110(h) (restrictions); W.S. 31-7-110(k) (suspension for violation)
Full license: W.S. 31-7-108(a)
Verified
Each row's Details button opens the holding period, restrictions, recent changes and the agency link. Statute and agency links open in a new tab.
Rule changes enacted since 2024
Legislatures in 19 states enacted a change to a learner permit, provisional license or full license rule, effective from 2024 through 2027.
Arkansas. HB1913 (Act 928 of 2025): removed the under 18 cap on the intermediate license and raised the clean record for conversion from 6 to 12 months. Effective 2025-08-03.
Colorado. HB 24-1021: requires a 30 hour driver's ed course for every under 18 applicant, ending the old 3 track system. Applies to applications from 2027-01-01. HB 26-1079, the Cole Bradley Act: requires written parent or guardian permission for a motorcycle endorsement on the permit, unless the minor is emancipated. Effective 2026-08-12.
Connecticut. SB 413 (PA 26-24): lets a permit holder's sibling ride along if that sibling also holds a youth instruction permit. Effective 2026-10-01.
Florida. SB 994 (2025): changed the required driver's ed course from the old 4 hour class to the new 6 hour DETS course. Effective 2025-07-01.
Georgia. SB 10 (Act 513): added reckless stunt driving to the offenses that block a Class D or Class C license. Effective 2024-07-01.
Iowa. Senate File 22 rewrote the phone law into a general all-driver hands-free ban and repealed the teen-specific device rules; no age or holding period changed. Effective July 1, 2025. Senate File 2109 replaced the Minor School License with the special minor's restricted license, adding work and farm destinations. No standard-path age changed. Effective July 1, 2024.
Indiana. House Enrolled Act 1200 (P.L. 156-2026) lowered the driver-education pathway's probationary age from 16 years 90 days to a flat 16. Effective July 1, 2026. IC 9-24-3-2.5(a)(1)(A).
Kentucky. House Bill 15 lowered the permit age from 16 to 15, set age 16 for the intermediate license, and age 17 for the operator's license. Effective March 25, 2025.
Louisiana. Act 2025, No. 288 repealed the total teen phone ban and enacted a general handheld-only rule for all drivers, hands-free excluded. No age changed. Effective August 1, 2025.
Mississippi. Senate Bill 2695, 2024: lets the Commissioner add first year license rules and, starting July 1, 2027, requires driver education before any first license. Effective July 1, 2024.
Montana. Senate Bill 380, 2025: dropped the non driver's education learner age from an effective 16 to a flat 15. Effective October 1, 2025.
North Carolina. Senate Bill 157 (S.L. 2023-13): set the Level 1 hold permanently at 9 months and added a school transport passenger exception. Effective January 1, 2024. Senate Bill 245 (S.L. 2025-91): dropped the 12 hour driving log requirement for Level 3 and expanded remote license issuance. Effective September 30, 2025. House Bill 1094 (S.L. 2026-46): eliminated the driving eligibility certificate requirement for Level 1, 2 and 3 licensing. Effective October 1, 2026.
New Jersey. Senate Bill 2789, 2023: added a 50 hour, 10 at night practice log before a probationary license issues. No age changed. Effective February 1, 2025.
Ohio. House Bill 96: extended the driver training and 50 hour practice requirement from applicants under 18 to those under 21. Effective September 30, 2025. House Bill 434: added exemptions to the under 21 driver education rule for certain military and foreign visa applicants. Effective November 25, 2025.
Oklahoma. Senate Bill 2184 (2026 O.S.L. c. 217): lowered the driver education learner permit age from 15 and a half to 15. Effective May 6, 2026.
Pennsylvania. Senate Bill 37 (Act 18 of 2024, Paul Miller's Law): added a distracted driving certification and a general phone ban. Effective June 5, 2025.
South Carolina. House Bill 4673 (2024 Act No. 146): changed the pre-permit test wording and let applicants 18 or older test after 30 days. Effective November 13, 2024.
Virginia. HB 1224 extends the learner's-permit hold for first-time applicants 18 to 20 from 60 to 90 days and adds driver education. Effective January 2027. Does not affect anyone under 18.
Washington. ESHB 1878 phases in driver education for first-time applicants 18 to 24 and raises the permit fee to $35. Effective 2025 to 2030. Does not change the minor ages. SB 5800 lets a broader group of responsible adults certify the required 50 supervised driving hours. Effective January 1, 2025. No age or restriction changed.
The Connecticut and North Carolina changes above take effect October 1, 2026, already in force by this page's publish date.
How we verify every age
Every value on this page follows the same six-step check.
Primary sources onlyEvery age traces to the state's official statute text, from the legislature's own code site or its designated publisher.
Two sources per valueA value is verified only when the statute and the agency page agree. Where they differ, the more recently enacted law decides, and where an agency document is out of date the row says so.
Changes from 2024 to 2026Every state's bill tracker was checked for enacted bills from the 2024, 2025 and 2026 sessions that change an age, a holding period or a restriction.
One rule for the full license columnFull license age is the earliest point where the standard path's nighttime and passenger restrictions end, the same rule in every state.
The auditTen states were re-checked cold against the statute, compared to the IIHS table and the widely cited law firm table, with every mismatch traced to the statute.
RefreshA row with a bill taking effect later is checked again on that date; every row gets a full re-verification each September.
Texas teen driver license rules
Texas issues a Learner License at 15 and a Provisional License at 16, under Tex. Transp. Code Chapter 521. A Provisional License holder under 18 follows Section 545.424 until the 18th birthday, not for a fixed period after the license issues.
15
A Learner License is available at 15, under Tex. Transp. Code 521.222(a), with a licensed adult at least 21 and a year of driving experience beside the driver, under 521.222(d). It must be held at least six months before a Provisional License issues, under 521.204(b).
16
A Provisional License is available at 16, after the six month Learner License hold and driver education, under 521.204(a). Until 18, Section 545.424 bars driving midnight to 5 a.m. except for work, school or a medical emergency, bars more than one passenger under 21 who is not family, and bars all wireless device use, hands free included, under 545.424(a) and (f); enforcement is secondary under 545.424(e).
18
At 18, the Section 545.424 restrictions stop applying, because they cover a person under 18 years of age, not a fixed period after the Provisional License issues. Texas does not issue a new license class at 18; the same license simply continues.
Hardship license
A Hardship License, also called a Minor Restricted Driver License, is available at 15 under Tex. Transp. Code 521.223, on three grounds: unusual economic hardship for the family, a family member's illness, or enrollment in a vocational program requiring a license. It still requires driver education, the standard exam, and the Section 545.424 restrictions like any driver under 18.
Some pages describe these restrictions as lasting only 12 months after the Provisional License issues. That was the law from September 1, 2011 to September 1, 2013, under H.B. 2466; H.B. 3483 removed it and tied the restrictions to age instead, which is why older pages still say 12 months.
Media questions
Josh Alexander, founder and managing attorney of J Alexander Law, answers media questions about Texas teen driver rules.
The youngest learner permit age here is 14 years, in Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, North Dakota and South Dakota; it allows supervised driving only, with a licensed adult in the vehicle.
What is a provisional license?
A provisional license is the first credential that allows general unsupervised driving on the standard path, even with hours or passenger limits, and the provisional license age is the minimum age for it. A credential for school or work only stays in the learner stage.
At what age do provisional license restrictions end?
This page calls that the full license age, the earliest point on the standard path with no nighttime or passenger restriction.
It ranges from 16 years, in Idaho, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota, to 18 years, in 16 of the 51 jurisdictions, including Texas.
What is a graduated driver license?
A graduated driver license has three stages, a learner permit, a provisional license and a full license, with fewer restrictions at each stage. All 51 jurisdictions here use this structure; Texas calls the stages a Learner License and a Provisional License.
Which states have graduated driver licensing laws?
All 50 states and the District of Columbia, 51 jurisdictions, use a three-stage graduated license system on the standard path, listed with the statute for each in the table above.
What are the teen driving laws in California?
California's instruction permit age is 15 years, 6 months, and its provisional license age is 16 years, under Veh. Code 12509(a) and 12814.6(a).
For the first 12 months after the provisional license issues, a driver may not drive 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. or carry a passenger under 20 without a qualifying licensed adult; those restrictions end at the full license age of 17, under Veh. Code 12814.6(b)(1).
If a crash is why you are here
After a teen driver crash
A crash involving a teen driver raises questions under Section 545.424, including who was in the car and what time it happened.
If that describes your situation, the case review is free.
Cite this page
Cite this page as J Alexander Law, "Driving age by state, 2026," verified September 16, 2026.
J Alexander Law. Driving age by state, 2026: learner permit, provisional license and full license ages with statutes. Verified September 16, 2026. https://severeinjurylawyers.com/driving-age-by-state/
To cite one state alone, the statute link in that row is the primary source; this page compiles all 51 statutes.
Embed the table
Copy the code below to embed this table, with attribution to J Alexander Law.
<iframe src="https://severeinjurylawyers.com/driving-age-by-state/embed/" title="Driving age by state, 2026, J Alexander Law" loading="lazy" style="width:100%;height:760px;border:0;"></iframe>
<p style="font-size:0.8em;margin-top:4px;">Data by <a href="https://severeinjurylawyers.com/driving-age-by-state/">J Alexander Law</a>. Statutes and agency pages as of 2026-09-16. Not legal advice.</p>
