Teens Teen Life Driving Age by State What You Need to Know for Your Teen to Safely and Legally Drive By Denise Witmer Denise Witmer is a freelance writer and mother of three children, who has authored several books and countless articles on parenting teens since 1997. Learn about our editorial process Denise Witmer Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Joel Forman, MD on May 11, 2017 Joel Forman, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician and associate professor of pediatrics, environmental medicine, and public health at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Learn about our Review Board Joel Forman, MD Updated on July 18, 2019 Print KidStock/Blend Images/Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Overview Driving Age by State Learner's Permits Restrictions Safety Verywell / Jessica Olah Getting a driver's license is a rite of passage for many teenagers. But sadly, car crashes are the number one cause of death for young people. Many scientists argue that 16-year-olds just aren't mature enough to drive. Their brains aren't yet fully developed and they're more likely to take risks, become distracted, and make mistakes. Overview As a way to help teens slowly gain driving responsibilities one step at a time, states adopted graduated license programs. These programs have restrictions for newly licensed drivers, such as a limit on the number of passengers or a curfew. A 2017 study found that graduated license programs have been instrumental in reducing car crashes among 16 and 17-year-olds. In fact, it's been so successful that some states are considering adopting graduated license programs for 18 to 20-year-olds who are becoming first-time drivers. Each state in the United States establishes their own driving laws, including laws about the age at which teens can begin driving, and the rules vary greatly about graduated license requirements. Driving Age by State The age at which teens may obtain their learner's permit and the laws about graduated licenses vary by state. Be sure to check your local laws to find out when your teen can begin driving. State Learner's Permit Restricted License Full License Alabama 15 16 17 Alaska 14 16 16, 6 mos. Arizona 15, 6 mos. 16 16, 6 mos. Arkansas 14 16 18 California 15, 6 mos. 16 17 Colorado 15 16 17 Connecticut 16 16, 4 mos. 18 Delaware 16 16, 6 mos. 17 District of Columbia 16 16, 6 mos. 18 Florida 15 16 18 Georgia 15 16 18 Hawaii 15, 6 mos. 16 17 Idaho 14, 6 mos. 15 16 Illinois 15 16 18 Indiana 15. 16, 6 mos. 18 Iowa 14 16 17 Kansas 14 16 16, 6 mos. Kentucky 16 16, 6 mos. 17 Louisiana 15 16 17 Maine 15 16 16, 9 mos. Maryland 15, 9 mos. 16, 6 mos. 18 Massachusetts 16 16, 6 mos. 18 Michigan 14, 9 mos. 16 17 Minnesota 15 16 17 Mississippi 15 16 16, 6 mos. Missouri 15 16 18 Montana 14, 6 mos. 15 16 Nebraska 15 16 17 Nevada 15, 6 mos. 16 18 New Hampshire 15, 6 mos. 16 18 New Jersey 16 17 18 New Mexico 15 15, 6 mos. 16, 6 mos. New York 16 16, 6 mos. 17 w/classes or 18 North Carolina 15 16 16, 6 mos. North Dakota 14 15 16 Ohio 15, 6 mos. 16 18 Oklahoma 15, 6 mos. 16 16, 6 mos. Oregon 15 16 17 Pennsylvania 16 16, 6 mos. 17 with classes or 18 Rhode Island 16 16, 6 mos. 17, 6 mos. South Carolina 15 15, 6 mos. 16, 6 mos. South Dakota 14 14, 6 mos. 16 Tennessee 15 16 17 Texas 15 16 18 Utah 15 16 17 Vermont 15 16 16, 6 mos. Virginia 15, 6 mos. 16, 3 mos. 18 Washington 15 16 17 West Virginia 15 16 17 Wisconsin 15, 6 mos. 16 16, 9 mos. Wyoming 15 16 16, 6 mos. Learner's Permits Research shows many parents aren't good at teaching kids to become safe drivers. Instead, they depend too much on driver's education programs. Once your teen has a learner's permit, don't think of yourself as a passenger when your teen is behind the wheel. Think of yourself as a teacher. Help your teen learn to recognize potential safety issues while driving. Give instructions to help your teen improve and provide plenty of constructive feedback. Each state has different laws about learner's permits and how many hours a teen needs to be behind the wheel. Take those laws seriously and make sure you're helping your teen gain the experience they need to become a safe driver. Restrictions While a lack of sleep impairs everyone's performance, studies show sleep deprivation takes the most serious toll on teens. Teens are more likely to make errors when driving later into the evening. Nighttime Approximately two out of five teen car crashes occur between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. So, many states have enacted curfews to prevent teens from driving during the overnight hours. For example, Alabama doesn't allow newly licensed teens to drive between midnight and 6 a.m., North Carolina doesn't allow teens to drive between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Passengers Researchers have found that for each passenger a teen has in the car, the risk of a car crash increases. Friends can serve as a serious distraction and they may encourage your teen to take unnecessary risks. Consequently, many states have decided to restrict passengers in cars driven by teens. While some states don't allow newly licensed teens to have passengers for several months, others restrict the number of minor passengers that can be in a car. Exceptions are usually made for siblings. Cellphone Talking on the phone while driving serves as a major distraction that increases the likelihood a teen will make driving mistakes. So many states have adopted specific cellphone restrictions for young drivers. Unfortunately, some studies show cellphone restrictions may actually increase the chances that a teen will attempt to send text messages while behind the wheel. In an attempt to conceal cellphone use, teens may become even more distracted by trying to type messages on the sly. It's vital for parents to talk to teens about the risks of distracted driving. If a teen is caught sending messages or using a cellphone while driving, there should be clear consequences. Safety When it comes to letting your teen drive, don't depend on your state laws to keep your child safe. Create your own rules and restrictions for your teen's specific needs. Keep in mind that just because your teen is old enough to drive legally, it doesn't mean they're mature enough to handle the responsibility. If your 16-year-old is aggressive, impulsive, or irresponsible, don't let them behind the wheel just yet. In order to be safe drivers, teens need to be able to think clearly, make good decisions, and resist temptations. Once your teen has a driver's license, increase their freedom slowly. Remember, you don't have to grant new privileges just because the graduated licensing laws allow them to drive at night or use a cellphone in the car. You can continue to impose restrictions of your own. A Word From Verywell If your teen violates the law or breaks your rules, give them consequences. Take away their keys for a while or restrict the hours or places your teen drives. And consider enrolling your teen in programs that teach driver safety beyond driver's education. You might get a discount on car insurance, but more importantly, additional driver training could save your teen's life. Beyond Driver Education: Programs That Teach Teen Drivers to be Safe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get diet and wellness tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Romer D, Lee YC, Mcdonald CC, Winston FK. Adolescence, attention allocation, and driving safety. J Adolesc Health. 2014;54(5 Suppl):S6-15. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2013.10.202 Teen and novice drivers. Governors Highway Safety Association. Goodwin AH, Foss RD, Margolis LH, Harrell S. Parent comments and instruction during the first four months of supervised driving: an opportunity missed?. Accid Anal Prev. 2014;69:15-22. doi:10.1016/j.aap.2014.02.015 Martiniuk AL, Senserrick T, Lo S, et al. Sleep-deprived young drivers and the risk for crash: the DRIVE prospective cohort study. JAMA Pediatr. 2013;167(7):647-55. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.1429 Shults R, Williams A. Graduated Driver Licensing Night Driving Restrictions and Drivers Aged 16 or 17 Years Involved in Fatal Night Crashes — United States, 2009–2014. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2016; 65(29):725–730. Chen LH, Baker SP, Braver ER, Li G. Carrying passengers as a risk factor for crashes fatal to 16- and 17-year-old drivers. JAMA. 2000;283(12):1578-82. doi:10.1001/jama.283.12.1578 Mccartt AT, Kidd DG, Teoh ER. Driver cellphone and texting bans in the United States: evidence of effectiveness. Ann Adv Automot Med. 2014;58:99-114. Additional Reading Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Teen Drivers: Get the Facts. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: Consumer Safety Brochures. Williams AF. Graduated driver licensing (GDL) in the United States in 2016: A literature review and commentary. Journal of Safety Research. August 2017.