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 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 Updated on December 28, 2022 Fact checked by Emily Swaim Fact checked by Emily Swaim LinkedIn Emily is a board-certified science editor who has worked with top digital publishing brands like Voices for Biodiversity, Study.com, GoodTherapy, Vox, and Verywell. Learn about our editorial process Print KidStock/Blend Images/Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Overview Driving Age by State Learner's Permits Driver's Education 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 (excluding suicide). Some scientists argue that many 16-year-olds 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 literature review 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, 3 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 18 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 17, 1 mos. New Jersey 16 17 18 New Mexico 15 15, 6 mos. 16, 6 mos. New York 16 16, 6 mos. 18 North Carolina 15 16 16, 6 mos. North Dakota 14 15 16 Ohio 15, 6 mos. 16 18 Oklahoma 15, 6 mos. 16 17 Oregon 15 16 17 Pennsylvania 16 16, 6 mos. 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 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 suggests many parents miss important opportunities to teach 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. Driver's Education To ensure teens learn as much as possible about safe driving, all 50 states and the District of Columbia have a three-stage graduated driver licensing (GDL) system in place, which can help reduce your teen's crash risk by as much as 50%. The GDL system is typically broken down into three stages: Learner’s Stage/Permit: Supervised driving and a driving testIntermediate Stage/License: Limited unsupervised driving in high-risk situationsFull Privilege Stage/License: A standard state driver's license In most states, teens are required to take a driver's education course before obtaining a full license. Your local DMV can provide more information about the requirements regarding age and other factors. Driver's education courses can be taken in high school, online, or through a private program. (Your local DMV will also have information about where to find a class.) Driver's education courses cover all of the essentials needed to be a safe driver, focusing on subjects such as road signs and signals, changing lanes, basic vehicle maintenance, and emergency situations. Students will also learn about alcohol safety, drug awareness, distracted driving, bicycle and motorcycle awareness and safety, organ donation, handicapped parking, and more. Generally, teens are able to begin the classroom portion of a driver's education course before obtaining a learner's permit, and move on to the driving portion after receiving one. Students can expect behind-the-wheel training, as well as a final knowledge exam. Making the Most of Driver’s Education To truly benefit from a driver's education course, you can expand on what your teen is learning outside of the classroom. The U.S. Department of Transportation recommends spacing out learning over time, using quizzing to promote learning of prior and new material, helping them set aside time to study, and asking deep questions that require logic, explanations, and reasoning. (For example, ask them about what they've learned and how it's applied to different on-the-road scenarios and decision-making.) Even if your teen is not required to complete a driver's education course, it is still a good idea to take advantage of everything it has to offer, especially if you feel they are not ready to tackle the road alone. The more your teen learns about driving laws, regulations, safety, and best practices, the more prepared they will feel once they're given a full driver's license—which in turn gives you more peace of mind about the freedom that comes with it. Most importantly, be a good role model! By practicing safe driving and setting aside time to take them on practice drives, you can help drastically improve their skills and awareness. 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 Among 16- and 17-year-olds, approximately one-third of fatal 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 suggest 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 regularly acts 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's Education: Additional Programs Teach Teen Driver Safety 12 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. WISQARS. Leading Causes of Death Reports, 1981 - 2019. Updated February 20, 2020. Romer D, Lee Y-C, 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. Williams AF. Graduated driver licensing (GDL) in the United States in 2016: a literature review and commentary. J Safety Res. 2017;63:29-41. doi:10.1016/j.jsr.2017.08.010 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 United States Department of Transportation. Teen Driving. Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Driver Training Schools. U.S. Department of Transportation. A Fresh Look at the State of Driver EducationIn America. 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. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2016;65(29):725–730. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6529a1 Ouimet MC, Pradhan AK, Brooks-Russell A, Ehsani JP, Berbiche D, Simons-Morton BG. Young drivers and their passengers: a systematic review of epidemiological studies on crash risk. J Adolesc Health. 2015;57(1):S24-S35. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.03.010 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. 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. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies