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Applicants for a first driver's license in all states must meet vision, knowledge, and
skills requirements. In other ways, licensure requirements vary from state to state.
All but New Hampshire issue learner's permits, but only 31 states and the District of
Columbia require permits before getting driver's licenses. In most states, brand new
permit holders may apply for licenses because only 17 states specify mandatory periods
that permits must be held. And once licensed, young and inexperienced drivers in most
states are permitted to drive anywhere, anytime. The exceptions are 8 states that prohibit
teenagers younger than specified ages from driving during the high-risk nighttime and
early morning hours. Another special restriction for young drivers in many states involves alcohol - license suspension or another penalty may result from violations of blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) that apply only to young drivers in 44 jurisdictions. These and other differences among young driver laws as of July 1996 are summarized here. |
| Learner's Permit | Initial Licensing Restrictions | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Required | ||||||
| Minimum | Before | Minimum | Permit | Special | Nightime | |
| Licensing Age | Regular | Permit | Expires | (lower) | Driving | |
| State | Learner's/Regular | License? | Period | After | BAC<21 yrs. | Prohibited? |
| Alabama | 15/16 | no | - | 4 yrs. | 0.02 | no |
| Alaska | 14/16 | no | - | 2 yrs. | 0.00 | no |
| Arizona | 15 yrs., 7 mo./16 | no | - | 12 mo. | 0.00 | no |
| Arkansas | 14/16 | yes | 30 days | 60 days | 0.02 | no |
| California | 15/16 | yes | 30 days | 12 mo. | 0.01 | no |
| Colorado | 15 yrs., 3 mo./16 | yes | 90 days | 8 mo. | - | no |
| Connecticut | 16/16.,6 mo.1 | yes1 | 180 days1 | undetermined1 | 0.02 | no |
| Delaware | 15 yrs., 10 mo./16 | no | - | 60 days | 0.02 | no |
| District of Columbia | 16/16 | yes | - | 3 mo. | 0.00 | no |
| Florida | 15/16 | yes | 180 days | 6 yrs. | 0.02 (eff. 1/1/97) |
16 yrs 11pm-6 am 17 yrs. 1-5 am |
| Georgia | 15/16 | no | - | 12 mo. | 0.042 | no |
| Hawaii | 15/15 | yes | - | 180 days | - | no |
| Idaho | 15/15 | no | - | 180 days | 0.02 | yes; after dark |
| Illinois | 15/16 | yes | - | 1 yr. | 0.00 | yes; 11pm-6am, M-Th midnight-6am F-Sun |
| Indiana | 15/16 yrs., 1 mo. | yes | 60 days | until age 16 yrs., 3 mo. |
0.02 (eff. 1/1/97) |
no |
| Iowa | 14/16 | yes | - | 2 yrs. from birthdate in yr. of issuance |
0.02 | no |
| Kansas | 14/16 | no | - | 1 yr. | 0.02 (eff. 1/1/97) |
no |
| Kentucky | 16/16 yrs., 6 mos.1 | yes | 180 days1 | 1 yr. 1 | 0.021 | no |
| Louisiana | 15/15 | no | - | 4 yrs. | 0.042 | 11pm-5am M-Th midnight-5am F-Sun |
| Maine | 15/16 | yes | 90 days | 18 mo. | 0.00 | no |
| Maryland | 15 yrs., 9 mo./16 | yes | 14 days | 180 days | 0.02 | yes; midnight-5am |
| Massachusetts | 16/16 yrs., 6 mo. | yes | - | 1 yr. | 0.02 | yes; 1-4am |
| Michigan | 14 yrs., 9 mo. | yes | 6 mo. | indefinite | 0.02 | 16 yrs. midnight-5 am |
| Minnesota | 15/16 | yes | 180 days (eff. 2/1/97) |
1 yr. | 0.00 | no |
| Mississippi | 15/16 | yes | 30 days | 1 yr. | 0.08 | no |
| Missouri | 15 yrs., 6 mo./16 | no | - | 6 mo. | 0.02 | no |
| Montana | 14 yrs., 6 mo./15 | no | - | 6 mo. | 0.02 | no |
| Nebraska | 15/16 | no | - | 12 mo. | 0.02 | no |
| Nevada | 15 yrs., 6 mo./16 | no | - | 8 mo. | - | no |
| New Hampshire | 15 yrs., 6 mo./163 | no | - | - | 0.02 | no |
| New Jersey | 16/17 | yes | - | 1 yr., 3 mo. | 0.01 | no |
| New Mexico | 15/15 | yes | - | 6 mo. | 0.02 | no |
| New York | 16/16 | yes | - | 3 yrs. | 0.02 (eff. 11/1/96) |
9pm-5am4 |
| North Carolina | 15/16 | no | - | 18 mo. | 0.00 | no |
| North Dakota | 14/16 | yes | 90 days | 1 yr. | - | no |
| Ohio | 16/16 | yes | - | 6 mo. | 0.02 | no |
| Oklahoma | 15 yrs., 6 mo./16 | no | - | 4 yrs. | 0.00 (eff. 11/1/96) |
no |
| Oregon | 15/16 | no | - | 18 mo. | 0.00 | no |
| Pennsylvania | 16/16 | yes | - | 120 days | 0.02 | midnight-5am |
| Rhode Island | 16/16 | yes | - | 180 days | 0.02 | no |
| South Carolina | 15/15 | yes | 15 days | 6 mo. | - | 6pm-6am EST 8pm-6am EDT |
| South Dakota | 14/14 | no | - | 180 days | - | no |
| Tennessee | 15/16 | no | 90 days5 | 1 yr. | 0.02 | no |
| Texas | 15/16 | yes | - | 1 yr. | 0.07 | no |
| Utah | 16/166 | yes | - | 6 mo. | 0.00 | no |
| Vermont | 15/16 | yes | - | 2 yrs. | 0.022 | no |
| Virginia | 15/16 | yes | 180 days | indefinite | 0.02 | no |
| Washington | 15/16 | yes | - | 1 yr. | 0.02 | no |
| West Virginia | 15/16 | yes | - | until age 16 yrs., 2 mo. | 0.02 | no |
| Wisconsin | 15 yrs., 6 mo./16 | yes | - | 6 mo. | 0.002 | no |
| Wyoming | 15/16 | no | 10 days | 1 yr. | - | no |
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1Learner's permit provisions take effect in Connecticut January 1, 1997.
Regulations establishing the expiration date for permits have not been issued.
By law the term cannot be less than 180 days. The Kentucky law becomes effective
October 1, 1996.
2 The special (lower) BAC for young drivers applies to people younger than 18 in Georgia, Louisiana, and Vermont. It applies to drivers younger than 19 in Wisconsin. 3 Learner's permits aren't issued in New Hampshire. Anyone 15 years and 6 months old may drive when accompanied by a driving instructor, parent, guardian, or other licensed driver who is 25 or older. 4 Licensing laws in New York prohibit 16 and 17 year-olds from driving in New York City. 5Tennessee's law requires license applicants to have permits that have been held for 3 months, but this requirement is waived for applicants who have successfully completed an approved driver education program. 6 Instruction permits are also issued in Utah to people 15 years and 9 months old. Valid for 1 year, these allow driving only with a professional driving instructor. Instructors may give students practice permits, valid for 90 days, that allow driving only with a parent or guardian.
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