Teen and Novice Drivers
Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) programs allow young drivers to safely gain driving experience before obtaining full driving privileges. Most programs include three stages:
- Learner Stage: supervised driving, cumulating with a driving test;
- Intermediate Stage: limiting unsupervised driving in high risk situations; and
- Full Privilege Stage: a standard driver's license.
During the 1990s, many states began enacting GDL laws. The programs and types of restrictions vary from state to state. Below are some highlights:
- Cell Phones/Texting: 37 states and D.C. ban all cell phone use by novice drivers. (See GHSA's Cell Phone laws page for more information.)
- Nighttime Driving Restriction: All states except Vermont restrict nighttime driving during the intermediate stage.
- Passenger Restriction: 47 states and D.C. restrict the number of passengers during the intermediate stage.
- Novice Driver Decal: New Jersey is the only state with a measure requiring those younger than 21 without full-privilege licenses to display a decal on their vehicle identifying them as new drivers.
NOTE: GHSA does not compile any additional data on GDL laws other than what is presented here. For more information, consult the appropriate State Highway Safety Office.
Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and State Highway Safety Offices.
Laws last reviewed by SHSOs in March 2023.
50 (10)
16
11 p.m. - 5 a.m.
No more than 1 under 18
16 years, 6 months
15
10 days
16 years, 9 months
15 / 6
6
30 (10)
16
Midnight - 5 a.m.
No more than 1
15
6
50 (10); 0 with driver's ed.
16
10 p.m. - 5 a.m.
First 6 months: no passengers under 20 Second 6 months: no more than one passenger under 20
17 years
18 years
15 15 / 6 without driver's ed.
6
50 (10)
16
1 a.m. - 5 a.m. (secondary enforcement)
First 6 months: no passengers under 20 Remainder: no more than 3 passengers under 20 (secondary enforcement)
18 years
15 / 6
9
45 (15)
16 / 3
Midnight - 4 a.m. (secondary enforcement)
First 12 months: no more than 1 under 21 (secondary enforcement) Thereafter: no more than 3 under 21 under certain conditions (secondary enforcement)
None
None
16
None
None
None
None
16 years, 6 months
15
12
40 (10)
16
No restriction
First 3 months: no passengers Second 3 months: no passengers except family (secondary enforcement
16
Midnight - 5 a.m.
First 6 months: no passengers (secondary enforcement)
Nighttime driving: 17 years Driving with passengers: 16 years, 6 months
15
18
40 (10)
18 years
15
6
30 (10)
16
Midnight - 5 a.m. (secondary enforcement)
No more than 1 under 21 (secondary enforcement)
6
50 (10)
16
11 p.m. - 6 a.m.
No more than 1
17 years
15
16 years
14
275* days (or 180 days after passing driver's ed.)
*effective July 1, 2021
50 (10 at night and 10 in inclement weather)*
*effective July 1, 2021
14 + minimum of 6 months
10 p.m. - 6 a.m. (exemption for going directly to or from school event, work or church event and driving agricultural machinery)*
*effective July 1, 2021
No passengers outside of household for first 6 months; 1 passenger outside of household after 6 months.*
*effective July 1, 2021
16 years, 6 months
15
6
40 (10)
15 / 6
EST: 6 p.m. - 6 a.m. EDT: 8 p.m. - 6 a.m.
No more than 2 under 21 unless to/from school
17 years, 6 months
16
6
50 (10)
16 / 6
1 a.m. - 5 a.m.
First 12 months: no more than 1 under 21
17 years with driver's ed. and 12 months free of crash or conviction 18 without driver's ed.
16
6
65 (10) + 5 in inclement weather
16 / 6
11 p.m. - 5 a.m.
First 6 months: no more than 1 under 18 Thereafter: no more than 3 under 18
Midnight - 5 a.m.
First 6 months: no passengers under 20 Second 6 months: No more than 3 passengers under 20
17 years
15
6
50; 100 without driver's ed.
16
16 years, 6 months with driver's ed. 17 years without driver's ed.
15 / 6 with driver's ed; 15 without driver's ed
6
50 (10)
16
10 p.m. - 5 a.m.
No more than 1
50 (10)
16
Age 16: Midnight - 6 a.m. Age 17: 1 a.m. - 5 a.m. (secondary enforcement)
First 12 months, no more than 1 unless supervised
Nighttime driving: 18 years Driving with passengers: 17 years
15 / 6
6
16
15 / 6
None
None
n/a
n/a
n/a
14
12 for drivers under 16; otherwise, 6 months or until age 18 (whichever comes first)
50 for drivers under 16; otherwise none
16; 15 for a parent-requested restricted license (restricted license may only operate a vehicle owned by their parents or legal guardian and may not drive a car with more passengers than the vehicle's manufacturer recommends)
Sunset or 9 p.m. (whichever is later) - 5 a.m.
No restriction (other than vehicle manufacturer recommendations)
16 years
16 years, 6 months
15
6
60 (10) during Learner Stage 2 (6) during Intermediate Stage
16
9 p.m. - 5 a.m.
No more than 1 under 21; if passenger under 21 is family, no other non-family passengers under 21
17 years with driver's ed. 18 years without driver's ed.
16
6
50 (15)
16 / 6
9 p.m. - 5 a.m. except NYC (unsupervised driving prohibited at all times) and Long Island (limited daytime unsupervised allowed)
No more than 1 under 21
No more than 1 under 21
16 years, 6 months
15
6
50 (10)
15 / 6
Midnight - 5 a.m.
18 years
16
6
None
17
11 p.m. - 5 a.m.
No more than 1 (exception limited to drivers' dependents)
16
1 a.m. - 4 a.m.
First 6 months: no more than 1 under 25
Nighttime driving: 17 years, 1 month Driving with passengers: 16 years, 6 months
15 / 6
None
40 (10)
Nighttime driving: 18 years Driving with passengers: 16 years, 6 months
15 / 6
6
50 (10); 100 (10) if driver's ed not offered within 30 miles
16
10 p.m. - 5 a.m. (secondary enforcement)
First 6 months: no passengers under 18 (secondary enforcement)
6
50 (10); 0 with driver's ed.
16
Midnight - 6 a.m. (secondary enforcement)
First 6 months: no more than 1 under 19 (secondary enforcement)
Nighttime driving: 17 years Driving with passengers: 16 years, 6 months
15
16 years
14 / 6
6
50 (10)
15
11 p.m. - 5 a.m.
First 6 months: no more than 1 under 18 Second 6 months: no more than 3 under 18
18 years
15
6
40 (10)
16
1 a.m. - 5 a.m.
First 6 months: no more than 1 under 19 Thereafter: no more than 3 under 19
18 years
15
12
None
16
Sun-Thurs: 10 p.m. - 6 a.m. Fri-Sat: 11:30 p.m. - 6 a.m.
None
Nighttime driving: 16 years, 6 months Driving with passengers: 17
15
6
50 (15) or 40 (15) if parent completes 90 minute class
16
Midnight - 5 a.m.
First 6 months: no more than 1 under 20 Second 6 months: no more than 3 under 20
10 p.m. - 5 a.m.
No more than 1 under 21
17 years
14 / 9
6
50 (10)
16
Nighttime driving: 18 years Driving with passengers: 17 years
16
6
40; 30 with advanced driver training
16 / 6
12:30 a.m. - 5 a.m. (secondary enforcement 12:30 a.m. - 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. - 5 a.m.)
First 6 months: no passengers under 18
60 (10)
16 / 6
Midnight - 5 a.m.
First 5 months: no passengers under 18 (secondary enforcement)
Nighttime driving: 18 years Driving with passengers: 16 years, 11 months
15 / 9
9
16 years
15
6
70 (10)
16
Midnight - 5 a.m.
First 270 days: no passengers
15
6
50 (15)
16
11 p.m. - 5 a.m.
No more than 1 under 21 between 6 p.m. - 5 a.m.
17 years
17 years
16
6
60 (10)
16 / 6
Midnight - 6 a.m.
No more than 1 under 20 unless supervised by instructor (secondary enforcement)
16 years, 6 months
14
12
50 (10)
16 (at 15, can drive without supervision to and from work or school)
First 6 months: 9 p.m. - 5 a.m.
First 6 months: no more than 1 non-sibling
First 6 months: no more than 1 under 18, parents may waive
17 years
14
12
20 (2) during Learner Stage 10 (2) during Intermediate Stage
16
12:30 a.m. - 5 a.m.
Nighttime driving: 18 years Driving with passengers: 16 years, 9 months with drivers ed.; 17 years, 3 months without driver's ed.
15 with driver's ed. 16 without driver's ed.
6
50 (10)
16 / 3 with driver's ed. 16 / 9 without driver's ed.
First 180 days: 10 p.m. - 5 a.m. After 180 days: 11 p.m. - 5 a.m. (Sun-Thurs); 1 a.m. - 5 a.m. (Fri-Sat)
First 180 days: no passengers
16
Sun-Thurs: 10 p.m. - 6 a.m Fri-Sat: 11 p.m. - 6 a.m.
First 12 months: no more than 1 under 20
Nighttime driving: 18 years Driving with passengers: 17 years
15
9
50 (10)
Nighttime driving: 16 Driving with passengers: 15 years, 6 months
14 / 6
6
50 (10)
15
10 p.m. - 5 a.m.
First 6 months: no more than 1 under 17
6
50 (10)
16
11 p.m. - 5 a.m.
No more than 1 under 18
17 years
15 / 6
No data
16
No data
No data
18 years
15
12
40 (6); 0 with behind the wheel training
16
Midnight - 5 a.m. (secondary enforcement)
First 6 months: no passengers Second 6 months: no more than 1 passenger under 21 Thereafter: No more than 3 passengers (secondary enforcement)
16
Age 16: 11 p.m. - 6 a.m. Age 17: 1 a.m. - 5 a.m.
None
18 years
15
12
50 (10)
18 years
16
6
40 (10 in intermediate stage)
16 / 6
September through June: 11 p.m. - 6 a.m. (Sun-Thurs); Midnight - 6 a.m. (Fri-Sat) July through August: midnight - 6 a.m.
First 6 months: no passengers Thereafter: No more than 2 passengers under 21
6
50 (10)
16 / 6
10 p.m. - 6 a.m.
No more than 1 (law also includes a seat belt provision: if a teen driver w/ permit or their passenger <18 is found unbelted, the permit holder's license suspended for 2 months)
17 years
16
Nighttime Driving: 18 Driving with Passengers: 17 years, 4 months
16
4 with driver's ed 6 without driver's ed
40
16 / 4
11 p.m. - 5 a.m.
First 6 months: no passengers except parents or instructor Second 6 months: no passengers except parents, instructor or immediate family
17 years
15 with driver's ed 15 / 6 with driver awareness program 16 without driver's ed. or program
12
50 (10)
16
Midnight - 5 a.m. (secondary enforcement)
First 6 months: no passengers Second 6 months: no more than one passenger (secondary enforcement)
17 years
15 / 6
6
50 (10)
16
11 p.m. - 5 a.m. (secondary enforcement)
First 12 months: no passengers under 20 (secondary enforcement) unless accompanied by parent, guardian or other adult 25 years or older
18 years
14
6
None
16
11 p.m. - 4 a.m.
No more than 1 under 21
Midnight - 5 a.m. (secondary enforcement)
First 6 months: no more than 1 under 18 (secondary enforcement)
16 years, 6 months
15 / 6
6
30 (10); 20 (6) with defensive driving course; 0 with driver's ed.
16
16 years, 6 months
14
6
40 (10)
16
1 a.m. - 5 a.m.
First 6 months: no passengers under 21
50; 0 with driver's ed.
16
Midnight - 6 a.m.
No more than 1
17
15
6
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